'Widow’s Bay' star discusses how filming in Massachusetts helped bring story to life

Widow’s Bay star Kingston Rumi Southwick has spoken about the importance of filming the Apple TV horror comedy in real Massachusetts seaside towns, saying the locations helped immerse the cast in the show's supernatural setting.

Southwick, who portrays Evan in the series, reflected on the production experience in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor said filming in small coastal communities outside Boston helped create the atmosphere that defines the fictional island town at the centre of the series.

“We would shoot in these smaller sea towns outside of Boston, in people’s houses. I would talk to the owners, and they would have their own Widow’s Bay-esque stories,” Southwick said.

He added that hearing local stories contributed to the feeling that the cast was working in a genuinely haunted seaside town.

“It really put you into the mindset of being in a sea town that’s haunted, so I’m glad that we shot in Massachusetts because I had never been, and the place is a very big part of the story.”

Widow’s Bay has gained attention for its blend of horror, mystery and comedy, with the setting playing a central role in the narrative.

The fictional New England island is home to strange local legends, unexplained events and a long history of supernatural occurrences.

Southwick also referenced one of the show's lingering mysteries involving the statue of Richard Warren, a historical figure whose headless monument stands prominently in the town.

“You see the town and Richard Warren with his head cut off, that’s really what it looks like. You could be there today, and it’ll look basically the exact same,” he said.

While viewers know the story behind Warren’s fate, the series has yet to explain what happened to the missing head of the statue, a detail that remains unresolved following the first season.

With a second season already confirmed, fans are expected to revisit several unanswered questions when the series returns.