Scares with a Side of Laughter: Take Two

Spoiler-free Review!

There’s something about this time of year that really makes me wish I was more into horror movies. But as a self-professed scaredy cat, the scariest movies I’ve watched tend to fall somewhere around Hocus Pocus and Sweeney Todd. As I mentioned before, the best way for me to enjoy spooky content is when there’s a bit of humor involved.

So let’s dive into a couple of series that play with classic horror tropes while leaning into humor, making them all the more enjoyable for those of us who prefer our scares with a side of laughter.

BBC’s Ghosts (2019–2023): A Heartfelt and Humorous Haunting

Created by: Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, and Ben Willbond

Starring: Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Lolly Adefope, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond, and Laurence Rickard

A young woman learns she has inherited Button House, a dilapidated manor from a distant relative. Eager to make the most of the opportunity, she and her husband take up residence with plans to renovate the property and turn it into a charming bed and breakfast. The only problem? They don’t realize they aren’t the only occupants, and the ghosts aren’t exactly thrilled about the new arrangement.

When I first saw this series pop up on HBO Max a couple of years ago, I was hesitant to watch it because of the name alone. Because yes, I did not want to commit to a scary series along the lines of a Mike Flanagan show or American Horror Story. Thankfully, I took a chance on Ghosts, and it quickly became one of my favorite comedy shows of all time. Also, it’s no coincidence that over half the cast have been contestants on various series of Taskmaster. If you know, you know.

The main draw of Ghosts is the quality of the writing, the depth of the characters, and the performances of the actors involved (many of whom are also the writers and creators). When the ghosts decide they want the new residents gone, they figure the best way to run someone out of their home is to do a little haunting. The problem is that these spirits represent snapshots from wildly different periods of history, ranging from caveman times to the 1990s, and they don’t always agree on how best to get the job done. Each ghost has a distinct personality and set of preferences, and some even have special abilities that call back to classic haunting tropes, such as moving small objects or making lights flicker.

Yet the spirits of Button House have their own problems to deal with, from petty disputes and unresolved trauma from their past lives to figuring out how to keep every day from becoming monotonous when you’re stuck in the same place for eternity. It’s all presented with witty remarks and surprisingly heartfelt moments, while never shying away from the absurdity of certain situations. Beneath all the bickering and ridiculous schemes, there’s a genuine sense of affection for these characters, even when they’re being absolutely insufferable.

As a special note, I’m aware that a US version of Ghosts was released as well. I watched the first two seasons, and while I enjoyed them, the show never quite captured the same charm or heart as the original for me. I’m also very much looking forward to the upcoming film for the original series, Ghosts: The Possession of Button House. which is set to release at the end of October.

Widow’s Bay (2026): Balancing Humor and Horror

Created by: Katie Dippold

Starring: Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, and Kevin Carroll

It seems I’ve really been in the mood for remote island thrills lately. Apple TV’s recent series, Widow’s Bay, caught me by surprise. If you’re looking to up the scares a bit while still enjoying a healthy dose of humor, this might be just the show for you.

Widow’s Bay follows Tom Loftis, the mayor of a quiet New England island, who is desperate to turn his struggling community into the next Martha’s Vineyard and make it a popular tourist destination. Yet despite his best efforts, he has to contend with locals whose superstitions make them wary of change. And as much as Loftis tries to shrug off their warnings, even he can’t keep dismissing the strange occurrences that begin to unfold.

This series is a great blend of dry humor that feels both absurd and surprisingly relatable. Each episode builds on the uneasiness lurking beneath the island’s seemingly charming exterior, with the story playing on different horror tropes that Loftis and his team must try to explain away. But are the locals simply superstitious, or does something genuinely sinister lurk beneath the surface of Widow’s Bay?

As the series progresses, we learn more about the characters, lore, and history of the island, revealing just how much thought has gone into giving the show depth beyond its occasional scares. I went from laughing to employing my classic “mute the scene and look slightly off-camera until the scary thing ends” method of dealing with horror. But much like The Haunting of Hill House, the story and characters kept me coming back for more, despite my uneasiness about what might happen next.

Thankfully, Widow’s Bay also knows when to ease up on the scares. The show leans into atmospheric horror rather than relying entirely on jump scares, letting the tension build before using humor to give us a little breathing room even as the underlying threat continues to grow. And that balance is a big part of what makes the series work for someone like me, who enjoys a creepy atmosphere but doesn't necessarily want to spend an entire episode hiding behind a pillow.

It also helps that the show comes from Katie Dippold, who worked on Parks and Recreation before creating Widow’s Bay. While the two series are obviously very different in tone, that background in character-driven comedy makes for an interesting connection. The humor here doesn’t simply interrupt the horror; it grows out of the characters themselves, their personalities, and the increasingly absurd situations they find themselves in.

A Little Fright, a Little Fun

So if you’re in the mood for shows that offer spooky vibes without diving too far into horror, Ghosts and Widow’s Bay are excellent options. They occupy different ends of the spectrum, from lighthearted haunted-house comedy to a much creepier blend of comedy and horror, but both offer thoughtful writing, distinct settings, and impressive ensemble performances.

Whether you want to laugh at a group of ghosts squabbling over the best way to haunt a house or watch a small island’s unsettling secrets slowly come to light, there’s something here for you.

What more could you want from a cozy scary story?

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