Betty Gilpin Haunts 'Widow's Bay' Set

Betty Gilpin found herself 'haunting' the set of Apple TV's "Widow's Bay" when she arrived to film a surprise flashback episode, airing as the sixth installment.

This episode transports viewers to 1702, revealing the original sin that cursed Widow's Bay. Gilpin portrays Sarah Warren, who discovers her husband made a deal with the devil to save their starving town.

The stylistic departure, shot on film and helmed by horror director Ti West, contrasted with the main series' production. Gilpin described the experience as feeling like "ghosts in somebody else's house."

Filming included interiors built on existing sets and a location shoot at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, Massachusetts, a site tied to the Salem Witch Trials.

This detour into the town's past deepens its mythology, explaining details like the well's contents and a mysterious chair. The curse binds residents to the island, with death awaiting those who try to leave.

Creator Katie Dippold aimed to explore the town's skewed perception of its founder, Richard Warren. Initially, the script considered Richard Warren having lost his face, but this was altered for the flashback episode.

The narrative focuses on Sarah's optimism clashing with the island's horrors and her husband's monstrous nature, offering a commentary on societal pressures and personal dread.

Gilpin's performance, balancing horror and comedy, was crucial. She likened the filming process to making "The Crucible," a slasher film, or a "clown school" at times.

Hamish Linklater, as Richard Warren, portrayed both the menacing 1702 founder and the comedic undead figure in the present day. His performance in the prosthetic version first established the character's post-death attributes.

Linklater drew on his experience from "Midnight Mass" for the secluded island setting. His portrayal of Richard's struggle to survive and eventual demise as he was sealed back into his coffin provided a fitting, albeit dark, conclusion.

Dippold, Gilpin, and Linklater each took away unique experiences from this historical narrative detour.