Cinematographer Christian Sprenger says Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” was designed to balance comedy and horror without revealing its tone too early. Drawing on the visual language of 1970s films such as “Jaws” and “The Shining”, the team aimed for a nostalgic, realistic look in which tension comes from pacing and anticipation rather than heavily shadowed or stylised lighting.

The series follows Mayor Tom Loftis, played by Matthew Rhys, as he tries to revive an isolated island community whose residents believe it is cursed. Sprenger mainly used an Arri Alexa 35 to avoid an overly sharp contemporary appearance, while the 1702-set sixth episode was filmed on an Arri Alexa 265 in the tall 1.43:1 IMAX format to heighten claustrophobia; its lighting relied heavily on firelight and candles.