Introduction to the Duffer Brothers’ Latest Horror Series
The creators of Stranger Things have launched a new dread-filled drama titled Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, which follows a seemingly happy couple as they travel to an idyllic wedding location—a poorly-lit cabin in the woods. The unfolding events are deeply unsettling.
When I learned that the Duffer brothers had a new series on Netflix, I felt compelled to watch, though not without hesitation. I find identical twins who create films inherently eerie, even when the productions are not named Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. My nervous system resists horror, and I struggle to understand those who enjoy it. Isn’t life frightening enough already?
Plot and Setting
The first episode, released Thursday 26 March, carries a title that feels like a working one. It’s reminiscent of calling Mrs Doubtfire “Heartwarming Drag Act” or Free Willy “Pelagic Marine Predators Do Not Belong in Captivity.” The story begins four days before the wedding of Nicky (Adam DiMarco) and Rachel (Camila Morrone), which is the central event.
The couple is driving to Nicky’s parents’ vacation cabin in the woods, where the wedding is planned to take place amid snow-covered surroundings. However, the atmosphere quickly turns eerie. They discover a baby locked inside a car near an empty bar. Rachel goes to find the parents and use the restroom, where a man watches her. Meanwhile, a distorted version of Paul Anka’s song Put Your Head on My Shoulder plays, adding to the unsettling mood. A better sound system might have eased the dread, but such concerns are understandably low priority at rest stops.
The Cabin and Its Haunting Atmosphere
One might question the practicality of holding even a family-only wedding in a vacation cabin, but there is no need for concern. Upon arrival, the cabin is vast, reminiscent of the Overlook Hotel, featuring winding corridors and a central atrium with a haunting family portrait. The portrait includes an empty chair, seemingly reserved for Rachel’s image, and a scrubbed-out ex-wife. It is guarded by stuffed Irish wolfhounds, whose eyes Rachel is warned not to meet.
Personally, I would leave any situation where I was told not to look something in the eye, whether it be Medusa, Tom Cruise, or a taxidermied dog. Yet, Rachel remains. Such decisions frustrate me about horror narratives. I find myself yelling at the screen, "Don’t go in there!" or "He’s certainly a murderer!"—missing the point entirely.
Characters and Creepy Encounters
That night, Rachel ventures to the kitchen and encounters Nicky’s siblings—Jules and a baby-voiced Portia. For no apparent reason, Portia recounts Jules’s childhood trauma involving the Sorry Man: a terrifying figure drawn to blood who searches for his lost wife within the entrails of other brides. All perfectly normal. Portia warns,
“Don’t let the Sorry Man see your insides,”
instead of offering a simple goodnight.
I will refrain from revealing more. However, as expected, the show excels in presenting off-kilter imagery and limbo-like scenes permeated with dread. The presence of Jennifer Jason Leigh as a mysterious matriarch elevates the series. When she appeared at midnight uttering strange things, I became jumpy and had to lower the volume. I found myself annoyed at how frightening it all was.
Lighting and Atmosphere Details
Why is the house so dark? What kind of bulbs are used in the lamps, two watts? How do they manage to read cooking instructions or insert contact lenses? Is it possible that no one here requires vision correction? Does no one check their phone or emails?
Ominous Signs and Wedding Horror Tropes
A bleak fate appears to await Rachel after she finds a blood-dripping note on the floor that reads,
“Don’t Marry Him”
Sex and death have long been linked in horror; the combination of marriage and murder offers a chilling twist. The show cleverly plays with the trappings of a wedding from hell: the charged politics of the dress, heirlooms borrowed and blue, soulmates, and twig-festooned décor. Party organizer Portia complains,
“This is supposed to be live-edge cedar, not Blair Witch Project.”
Most notably, the series gives a chilling new meaning to the phrase "having cold feet."
Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts
Perhaps this series suits your tastes. Do I wish this family had access to reliable Wi-Fi, complete with signal boosters, given the house’s unusual layout? Do I believe there is something unusual about horror fans, possibly sexual? Do I worry I won’t sleep tonight? Absolutely. A thousand times, yes!
