Duffer Bros. New Netflix Horror Series SOMETHING VERY BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN is Being Called “Captivating” and a “Blood-Soaked, Dread-Filled Nightmare” in First Reactions
Just a few months after Stranger Things wrapped up its run, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer are already back in the horror game with a new Netflix series that’s getting people talking for very different reasons.
Their latest project, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, dropped its full first season on Netflix on March 26, and the early wave of reactions paints a pretty interesting picture. Some critics are all in on the eerie tone and slow-burn tension, while others aren’t quite sold on the pacing.
I’ve only watched the first episode so far, but I’m liking what I’m seeing. There’s something off about it, and it feels like the kind of show that could spiral into something seriously wild.
The story centers on a young couple heading toward their wedding day, with the entire season unfolding over the week leading up to the ceremony. That setup gives the series a built-in sense of dread, and critics seem to agree that it leans hard into that discomfort.
Laura Jane Turner from Digital Spy called the show “captivating,” adding, "Despite some flaws and untapped potential to push its impressive themes a little further, it brings something fresh and original that's absolutely worth your time."
Over at Tom’s Guide, Rory Mellon drew comparisons to The Haunting of Hill House from Mike Flanagan, saying, "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen appears to have come from the Alfred Hitchcock school of tension-building."
The wedding backdrop seems to be doing a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to tone. Mai El Mokadem from A Shot Magazine described how the celebration "curdles into something far more sinister – a blood-soaked, dread-filled nightmare."
Meanwhile, The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan leaned into the psychological angle, noting that the show taps into a very real fear, asking, "Can you think of anything worse than being trapped by sacred ritual to the wrong person?"
Not everyone is completely on board, though. Some viewers have taken issue with the presentation and pacing. One social media user, Pramitheus, mentioned that the lighting made parts of the show harder to watch.
HuffPost’s Candice Frederick didn’t hold back, saying "Something Very Bad is Going to Happen should have been a 90-minute movie, not a series with 8, nearly one-hour episodes."
Time’s Judy Berman echoed that sentiment, saying the series takes "way too long" before things really kick into gear.
So yeah, it sounds like this is one of those shows where your mileage may vary depending on how patient you are with a slow burn.
The series is led by showrunner Haley Z. Boston, with the Duffers producing, and it stars Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco as the couple at the center of the chaos. The supporting cast includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ted Levine, Gus Birney, Jeff Wilbusch, and Karla Crome.
If the first episode is anything to go by, this thing is building toward something nasty. The question is whether the payoff will hit hard enough to justify the ride.
You can check out Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen on Netflix now.