The Duffer brothers, fresh off running most of Stranger Things, are executive producers on a new Netflix horror series called Something Very Bad is Going to Happen. The show was created by Haley Z. Boston and runs eight episodes. It stars Camila Morrone as Rachel and Adam DiMarco as Nicky.

The setup

The basic premise is simple. Rachel and Nicky are heading to a big cabin in the woods so they can get married among Nicky's family. Before they even arrive, a stack of odd and worrying incidents pile up: a conversation about a serial killer, an abandoned baby, and a tense encounter with a strange man in a bar.

Once they reach the country house the family behavior gets worse. Nicky’s relatives are unstable, the woods carry whispers of evil, and there is talk of a creature called the Sorry Man who kills brides. Rachel repeatedly tells Nicky that “something very bad is going to happen,” and the first episode ends with a wedding invitation that has “don’t marry him” written on the back.

The pacing problem

Here is the main issue. The show keeps viewers in that awkward, anxious space for the first three episodes. The plot beats are largely the family acting strange and a stream of omens warning Rachel not to get married. That makes the early part feel like a long stretch of one character being gaslit and pressured, which grows tiring after a while.

This is a contrast to how Stranger Things handled its opening. That series used its pilot to establish the town, introduce its core characters, and then push forward with the disappearance of Will Byers and the tease of Eleven. In short, it grabbed attention fast. Something Very Bad waits until episode four to reveal the central curse through a flashback, and by that point some viewers may have already checked out.

When it works

When the series stops circling and starts revealing the backstory, it becomes better. The later episodes dig into family secrets and a broader, chilling narrative. The tone at that stage shares DNA with other slow-burn Netflix horror shows, and there are moments that feel reminiscent of Ready or Not in their wedding-day dread.

Still, the characters who carry the early episodes are less compelling than the standout figures on comparable shows. That makes the slow build feel less rewarding until the story opens up.

Why it matters

  • Structure: The decision to delay the core mystery for several episodes makes the show feel overextended.
  • Tone: The series is effective when it leans into family secrets and creepy atmosphere, but it needs patience from the viewer.
  • Format question: This material might have been tighter and more effective as a film or a shorter miniseries.

Final thoughts

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is worth watching if you enjoy atmospheric, family-centered horror and you do not mind a slow start. If you need fast payoff and a strong pilot hook, this may frustrate you. The Duffers and Haley Z. Boston eventually deliver a compelling story, but it takes longer than it should to get there.

All eight episodes are available on Netflix. If you liked the parts that pick up later, the payoff is satisfying. If you prefer an immediate grab like the opening of Stranger Things, temper your expectations.