THE STORY – A certain atmosphere of horror is felt the week before the celebration of an unfortunate wedding.
THE CAST – Camila Morrone, Adam DiMarco, Gus Birney, Karla Crome, Sawyer Fraser, Jeff Wilbusch, Ted Levine & Jennifer Jason Leigh
THE TEAM – Haley Z. Boston (Creator & Writer), Lisa Brühlmann, Weronika Tofilska, & Axelle Carolyn (Writers)
The premise of “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” sounds like a lengthy setup to an adequate punchline. What do you get when you cross a superstitious woman on the cusp of getting married with the supernatural validation of her dread? You get a passable Netflix horror series. The series follows Rachel (Camila Morrone), a behavioral psychologist who travels to her future husband’s family’s cabin and is immediately unsettled by the atmosphere. In the days leading up to her wedding, her discomfort only grows as her relationship with golden boy Nicky (Adam DiMarco) is put under a microscope. Every episode ominously counts down the days until the wedding, complete with a booming emphasis of a title drop proclaiming that yes, something very bad is going to happen.
What surprised me most about this show was its creative presentation. The series incorporates scenes shot from the POV of an unexpected presence, found-footage sequences, and other inspired uses of lighting and framing to evoke this unsettling atmosphere at all times. Though I was not always engaged by what was happening on-screen, I always paid attention to how it was executed.
But while the show has an admirable visual flair in its depiction of the grotesque, it is at its best when it leaves behind supernatural jump scares and instead finds horror in instantly relatable emotions like not connecting with your partner’s relatives and doubting whether the person you’re with truly understands you. The interpersonal drama is far more compelling—and ultimately horrifying—than the show’s attempts to shock you with bloody imagery and admittedly well-placed screeching music. The actually terrifying scenes in this series are largely character-driven; Portia’s (Gus Birney) monologue in the first episode about a nightmarish figure her brother Jules (Jeff Wilbusch) saw in the woods as a child is chilling not only because of the content but because of how absolutely unhinged it is to tell this story as your first impression to a woman about to marry into your family. It reveals so much about this family’s collective psyche and delivers an incredible payoff in the season itself.
Unfortunately, that results in the show peaking early with its fourth and fifth episodes and never quite reaching that high again. That pair of episodes feels like the natural climax of the series, making the show at once its most eerie and its most character-focused. The reveals in these episodes should provide ample momentum for the series to barrel towards its fateful finale, but instead, the show oddly loses a lot of steam. There are still moments of riveting horror, but after we get the big answer about why these events are happening, it feels as though the writers are just going through the motions until the end. What certainly doesn’t help is the fairly slow pacing in the second half, which builds to a climax that earns the show its title but comes across as a bit too straightforward. After the twist was revealed, there was no doubt in my mind that this was the conclusion we were headed towards, making the roughly five methodical hours it took to get us here feel somewhat unwarranted.
Yet despite my qualms with the writing, “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” is a fairly addictive watch, thanks squarely to the star power of Camila Morrone. She elevates this material, conveying Rachel’s panic, delusion, and desperation excellently. Some story beats that could come off as ridiculous or clichéd feel utterly believable because Morrone makes us care deeply about this character. Her character’s arc is a major highlight in the show, and even if we have seen similar themes executed in similar ways before, she conveys this trajectory in a manner that is simply spellbinding. When Rachel understandably spirals as the events in this series escalate, her emotive expressions are impossible to look away from. Morrone is largely able to ground a show that could have easily felt outlandish by breathing so much life into Rachel.
It is ironic that this show’s other standout performance, Gus Birney, does the exact opposite. Portia is such a delightfully fake character, down to her singsongy voice and over-the-top need for attention. She steals every scene she is in, doubling as both a greatly appreciated comedic relief and an unexpected source of horror. The rest of the cast clearly understands the show’s tone and amplifies its haunting atmosphere, but it is Birney who takes it to another delicious level.
For as hyped up by the show itself as the conclusive terrible event is, it is a shame that what ultimately transpires is so conventional—especially when so much of this show is anything but. The bold directorial choices often work in this series’s favor, making for a striking visual experience. The ensemble undoubtedly understands the tonal assignment and fits perfectly into this off-putting environment. Morrone is an immaculate lead here, giving the narrative a sense of gravity and stakes. Yet the story and pacing unfortunately limit this miniseries from reaching its full potential. “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” is thrilling at times, but a touch too ordinary to be memorable.
THE GOOD – Camila Morrone anchors this plot excellently and keeps it from going off the rails. The ominous direction is often quite inspired.
THE BAD – The pacing is a tad glacial, culminating in a finale that is more tedious than satisfying.
THE EMMY PROSPECTS – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series Or Movie
THE FINAL SCORE – 6/10
