Netflix Redefines Horror with ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen’
In the saturated landscape of streaming horror, Netflix has managed to deliver a spine-chilling knockout with ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen’—a show that wraps deeply unsettling family drama in layers of bloody mystery and relentless suspense.
A Sinister Wedding at the Edge of Sanity
The story hinges on Rachel, played with raw intensity by Camila Morrone, who journeys to her boyfriend Nicky’s remote family cabin to tie the knot. What follows is a slow descent into paranoia, as the strangeness of her soon-to-be in-laws swells with every passing moment. Each Cunningham family member feels sharply drawn: Portia is brash and provocative, Victoria exudes an eerie elegance, and every one of them harbors secrets inside cryptic traditions that never let you feel at ease. For anyone watching, Rachel’s desperation is painfully relatable—finding yourself alone, mistrustful, and surrounded by rituals that don’t quite check out.
Pushing Horror Boundaries with Every Turn
Where this Netflix original excels is in its manipulation of genre conventions. Haley Z. Boston, at the helm as creator, writer, and showrunner, channels the macabre spirit of authors like Shirley Jackson while cleverly twisting tropes like the haunted cabin, the unwelcoming family, and unnerving séances. The result isn’t pastiche; it’s a tribute that feels fresh due to its unpredictability and the continual ramping of tension. Rarely does a horror series dare to throw so many narrative curveballs without feeling messy—and even the occasional unexplained oddity, like Nicky’s bizarre move with the bedroom chest or Rachel’s father’s prolonged absence, only add to the unsettling atmosphere rather than detract.
Visual & Auditory Storytelling Par Excellence
Technically, the show is a stand-out. Cinematographers Bobby Shore and Krzysztof Trojnar blend harsh realism with expressionistic flourishes, constantly shifting visual grammar to disorient and captivate. The series slips effortlessly between immersive found-footage segments, unnerving camera tilts, and candle-lit tableaus that give each episode a distinctive mood. The lighting, particularly in the shadowy confines of the family bar and nightmarishly narrow hallways, intensifies the claustrophobia and dread—a clear indicator of a production team obsessed with detail.
The series’ aural landscape is equally innovative, thanks to Grammy-winner Colin Stetson, whose score pulses with unusual instrumentation and discordant rhythms. Stetson’s experience scoring ‘Hereditary’ is evident; the music elevates the scares without ever drawing attention away from the action, amplifying the show’s twisted sense of unease through subtle audio cues rather than predictable jumpscares.
A Horror Experience That Balances Terror, Humor, and Absurdity
What further distinguishes ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen’ is its willingness to blend horror with sharp moments of dark humor and absurdity. Amidst the mounting terror, there are flashes of comic relief that both disarm and heighten the horror that follows—turning every laugh into a trapdoor for the next big scare. These tonal shifts are handled with surprising grace, making the dread even more effective when it finally lands.
The show stands as a new benchmark for what TV horror can accomplish: it refuses to coddle its audience, doles out genuine surprises, and digs deep into the mechanics of fear, not just with gore and shock but with expert pacing, labyrinthine storytelling, and deeply human performances. The creative choices aren’t always explained and not every question is tidily answered, but that’s what makes the experience linger long after the credits roll: In the world of ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,’ the true horror is never knowing if you’re safe…or if the worst is still yet to come.
