‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen’ Review: An Inconsistent Cautionary Tale

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Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen!

Isn’t true love wonderful? The Duffer Brothers, the creators of Stranger Things, are tackling a new psychological horror series on Netflix called Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. It centers around a couple getting married, and explores the idea of soulmates – do they actually exist, and is there someone meant for everyone? But the show goes deeper, looking at how society pressures women to fit certain expectations – like getting married and having children before they’re seen as past their prime, all due to the ticking of their biological clock.

The eight-part series explores how women often lose themselves after marriage, focusing on the pressures of joining a new family. A particularly striking scene in the second episode shows Rachel, the bride, feeling overwhelmed as her future mother-in-law and sisters-in-law intensely scrutinize her. Jennifer Jason Leigh, as the mother-in-law, gives Rachel a wedding dress and family jewelry, symbolizing the weight of tradition and inherited experiences. This theme – dealing with the past and what’s passed down through generations – is central to the show, and Rachel must navigate these complex family dynamics and the trauma that comes with them.

Rachel gets frustrated with Nicky’s (Adam DiMarco) family, telling him they treat her like an empty shell – as if her personality doesn’t matter, only that she marries Nicky so they can mold her into the wife they want. While the show, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, explores these issues effectively, the way the story unfolds isn’t quite as strong. The first half of the series genuinely feels scary and suspenseful.

The first episode features interesting animal imagery, often symbolizing change or a fresh start. This imagery isn’t necessarily negative – similar to the ‘Death’ card in Tarot, it suggests letting go of the past. While everyone experiences some kind of change, Rachel is the only one who emerges truly unaffected, finding a new sense of purpose beyond just getting married. Throughout the show, these initial animal symbols reappear, cleverly connecting back to the beginning.

The story unfolds through Rachel’s eyes, and she’s immediately filled with a sense of unease, telling Nicky she fears something terrible is about to occur. The first four episodes skillfully build this feeling of dread, creating a truly tense atmosphere. The second episode is particularly strong, as Rachel’s suspicion that her in-laws are trying to harm her spirals out of control. The idea of dangerous in-laws is frightening enough, and framing the horror this way is remarkably effective.

The show loses its initial momentum in Episode 4, trading suspense for a lengthy explanation (though it’s great to see Victoria Pedretti in the flashback). Revealing Rachel’s family history so early weakens its impact. After that point, the series shifts from a genuinely scary thriller into a family drama with only hints of horror, and the chilling atmosphere that made it so compelling disappears. The interesting horror elements from the first half are largely dropped. While the ending isn’t terrible, the way the story gets there feels uneven.

The show takes some confusing turns in its later episodes, and shifting away from the horror elements actually weakens the story. The pacing is uneven, with some scenes feeling unnecessarily long. However, the biggest problem is how the character of Julian (Jeff Wilbusch) is handled. The show drastically changes his personality, and this ruins the compelling relationship he had with his wife, Nell (Karla Crome). Early on, they’re a playful, provocative couple, and Julian initially seems like he’s hiding something. Then, he abruptly becomes a hero, which feels unearned and doesn’t make sense given his previous behavior.

Although Crome and Wilbusch share a convincing connection, Morrone and DiMarco don’t feel like a natural couple, even with their on-screen intimacy. Interestingly, Morrone and Crome have stronger chemistry together, and the series hints at this. The main romantic pairing doesn’t quite work, and the character of Nicky isn’t particularly engaging. This may have been a deliberate choice, considering the show’s ending.

Honestly, the movie wants you to want these two to end up together, especially knowing about Rachel’s curse, but Nicky? He’s just…forgettable. Still, the actors do the best they can with the story they’re given. I thought Morrone was good, but Wilbusch really stood out – he gave a complex, fascinating performance, even if his character took some weird turns. He could have been a really great villain! It’s a shame they didn’t use Leigh enough, because I think they had potential there.

The show Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen seems unsure of its direction, and this lack of focus is apparent in its later episodes. It tries to combine scary moments with family issues, but doesn’t quite succeed. A prime example is a drawn-out argument between Rachel and Nicky in the final episode; the reveal about Nicky’s beliefs could have happened much earlier and saved time.

Despite some inconsistencies, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen has plenty to offer. The show cleverly explores the horror of women being controlled by oppressive systems, and it realistically portrays the complexities of marriage, both good and bad. In the end, Rachel manages to overcome the painful patterns of the past, breaking the cycle of trauma for her family and rejecting societal pressures. It’s a satisfying and optimistic conclusion.

Do soulmates actually exist? The movie Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen doesn’t seem to think so, or at least, it suggests being very careful when choosing a partner. It’s a warning that you might not get along with your in-laws, or even face bigger problems – like a long-standing family curse!

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2026-03-26 10:18