Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen: A Netflix Horror That Strays from Stranger Things
Netflix’s new horror series, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, arrives with the Duffer Brothers’ name attached as executive producers and Haley Z. Boston as creator. While it treads familiar ground in the horror realm, the eight-episode run struggles to sustain the same momentum that made Stranger Things a global sensation.
Plot in brief The story centers on a couple, Rachel (Camila Morrone) and Nicky (Adam DiMarco), who head to his sprawling, dysfunctional family estate to tie the knot. Tensions rise even before the couple arrives, with ominous chatter about serial killers, an abandoned baby, and a chilling encounter at a bar. Once at the country house, the in-laws and relatives prove disquieting, and talk of evil lurking in the surrounding woods begins to feel less like background flavor and more like a looming threat. The show introduces a menacing figure known as the Sorry Man, a bridesbane legend at the heart of the central nightmare. The premiere ends with a twist: Rachel receives a wedding invitation bearing the warning “don’t marry him.”
Pacing and comparisons to Stranger Things The opener lands with mood and atmosphere, delivering spooky visuals and a tangible sense of foreboding. But the series then lingers, spending two additional episodes ratcheting up oddities within the family and dropping ominous hints that the wedding may be cursed. For many viewers, the pace grows tiresome before Episode 4 shifts gears to reveal the curse’s backstory. This approach stands in contrast to the brisk, purpose-driven pilot of Stranger Things, which immediately connected viewers to Hawkins, its people, and the central mystery.
When the series does pick up speed, it does so with a vibe reminiscent of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix horror — long-buried family secrets surface, and a chilling arc unfolds. Yet those slow-burn instincts don’t always carry the weight of more compelling characters beyond Rachel and Nicky’s wedding party, leaving the other guests feeling thin in comparison.
Influences and tone There are clear echoes of Ready or Not in the overarching wedding-day curse premise, but Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen unfolds at a more deliberate pace. The result can feel less riveting than its inspirations, suggesting the core concept might have worked better as a film rather than a sprawling eight-episode arc.
Overall take and recommendation The show presents a potentially strong premise and some effective horror moments, but its execution leans too heavily on a creeping pace that wears out its welcome before delivering a satisfying payoff. If you’re drawn to slow-burn family horror, there are moments of promise, but the experience may frustrate viewers looking for the quick, propulsive energy that helped Stranger Things become a phenomenon.
All eight episodes of Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen are streaming on Netflix now. If you’re in the mood for more scares, you can check out our list of the best horror series ever.