8 Best Mysterious TV Series to Watch After 'Widow's Bay', Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
These shows feature inexplicable events, small towns harboring big secrets, and characters struggling to hold onto their sanity as the reality around them begins to unravel.
Widow's Bay proved to be a real discovery for fans of dark, mysterious stories that blend supernatural horror and dark humor masterfully.
If you've watched all the episodes and are looking for something similar – unsettling, and tinged with surrealism – then this list is for you.
8. 'Shining Vale', 2022-2023
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71%
Patricia Phelps is a housewife and author of erotic novels who hasn't written a word in seven years. Struggling with writer's block, she had an affair with a plumber. Now, she and her husband, Terry, are trying to atone for her actions in couples therapy.
Determined to put the past behind them, Terry moves Patricia and their two teenage children to Shining Vale, a suburb in Connecticut. The family settles into an old, rather sinister-looking mansion.
The real estate agent failed to mention the secrets buried beneath the creaky floorboards – talking about this terrible place is a major taboo in Shining Vale. Yet the moment Patricia steps across the threshold, she senses an otherworldly presence.
7. 'Storm of the Century', 1999
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
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In 1999, inspired by the disappearance of the Roanoke colonists in 1587, Stephen King wrote a screenplay about a small island community invaded by an unfathomable force.
A snowstorm engulfs Little Tall Island, Maine, bringing with it a maniac named Andre Linoge – a man who knows the townspeople's every secret and possesses the power to kill with his mind. The mysterious stranger vows to destroy the entire town unless they hand over a child for him to raise.
Like Tom Loftis, the main character of Storm of the Century, Mike Anderson is concerned about the future of the children born on the island.
6. 'Midnight Mass', 2021
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
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The series begins with Riley Flynn's return to his hometown, the fishing community of Crockett Island, which is cut off from the mainland.
After spending four years in prison for killing a young woman in a drunk-driving accident, Riley must mend relationships with his family, reconcile with God, and save the town from vampires.
Helping Riley on his spiritual journey is Father Paul Hill, a newcomer to this somber enclave. With the preacher's arrival, the area becomes a place of both miracles and nightmares: people are healed of their ailments, yet an infernal evil begins to creep into their souls.
5. 'Stan Against Evil', 2016-2018
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
Four centuries ago, the residents of Willards Mill, a small New England town, burned witches at the stake with such brutality that the condemned cursed the town as they died. Since then, the town's sheriffs have been dying off at an alarming rate.
Stanley Miller, a sarcastic and rough-around-the-edges man, held the position for an unprecedented 28 years. However, following his wife's death, he was fired for misconduct and drunkenness.
He was replaced by the energetic Evie Barret. On her first day, she encounters a witch risen from the dead. With some help from Stan, she resolves to put an end to the evil haunting the town once and for all.
4. 'From', 2022-...
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
While traveling across the US, the Matthews family stumbles upon a fallen tree blocking the road. In an attempt to bypass the obstacle, they end up in a strange, unmapped settlement cut off from the outside world.
Escaping this backwater, which is surrounded by a dense forest and a mystical barrier, is impossible. A hundred people have already been trapped in this space-time anomaly. Among them are Sheriff Boyd and his son, who experienced a harrowing tragedy there.
The inability to leave is only half the trouble, though. At night, the town is besieged by man-eating monsters, and residents frequently lose their minds under the influence of sinister dark forces.
3. 'Gravity Falls', 2012-2016
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
It might be surprising to see an animated children's series on a list of shows similar to Widow's Bay – but only if you haven't watched Gravity Falls. After all, fans know that the show appeals to all ages, featuring just as many adult topics as innocent jokes.
The story centers on siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines, who visit their great-uncle Stan in the small town of Gravity Falls. Before long, they find themselves facing a host of supernatural events – and occasionally saving the entire world.
2. 'Deadloch', 2023-...
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
The body of a football coach washes up on the coast of Deadloch, a fictional town where nothing ever happens. Dulcie, a stern senior sergeant, and Eddie, a volatile detective, take up the investigation.
The two investigators clash due to their contrasting personalities and methods. While Eddie recklessly prys into the locals' affairs, Dulcie strives to preserve the community's neighborly spirit.
The night after he is interrogated, the case's key witness is found dead on the beach, and the prime suspect meets a similar fate.
1. 'Eerie, Indiana', 1991-1992
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
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As early as the 1990s, TV series about small towns populated by odd residents and plagued by supernatural phenomena were already being made. Although the stories and budgets were smaller back then, these projects remain engaging thanks to their charming retro atmosphere and sense of naivety.
The main character, Marshall Teller, is a teenager who moves with his parents to the town of Eerie and befriends a local boy named Simon. Together, they observe the town's eccentric inhabitants and the mysterious events unfolding around them.
