If You Loved 'Stranger Things', This Horror Show From Its Creators Will Haunt You in a Whole New Way

After finishing Stranger Things, the Duffer brothers immediately took on a new project, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. This show is a deconstruction of the genre, much like the cult classic The Cabin in the Woods.

The series is already being called the biggest horror event of the year, and it has every chance of living up to that status.

What Is 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' About?

Rachel and Nicky are a couple about to be married. They are on their way to the groom's family's country house for the wedding.

Strange things begin to happen along the way: a child is left in the car on a deserted road, a shadowy man is seen in a toilet stall, and a note is left warning against the wedding.

The estate itself seems haunted, with stuffed dogs made by the silent family patriarch and locked doors.

'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' Skillfully Subverts Audience Expectations

Showrunner Haley Z. Boston conceived the idea for the project when her peers suddenly started getting married. The concept of lifelong commitment and the fears surrounding it provided perfect material for exploration through the lens of horror.

The series draws on a rich arsenal of horror tropes, making nods to classics throughout its eight episodes. Eerie camera pans through the woods evoke the atmosphere of The Evil Dead, found-footage references recall The Blair Witch Project, and traditional séances and jump scares abound.

Most importantly, however, the show constantly breaks convention. Rather than exploring marriage as a state, it focuses on the wedding itself – an extremely nerve-wracking event where any small detail can seem tragic and meeting relatives can turn into a nightmare.

The Show Reconstructs the Horror Genre Itself in a Way That Is Reminiscent of 'The Cabin in the Woods'

In the second half, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen transitions from the terrifying and unexplored to the absurd, reminiscent of the cult classic, The Cabin in the Woods.

While the 2011 black comedy deconstructed the slasher subgenre, the Duffers' new project tackles the institution of marriage – an institution far older and therefore fraught with more demons.

The result could fit seamlessly under the A24 brand, but Netflix also has a successful horror lineup on which Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen builds.

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is a smart, inventive, and genuinely creepy story that will make you think twice about who you invite to your wedding.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen'?

• Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen has 83% from critics and 65% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.7/10.

Where to Watch 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen'?

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is available to stream on Netflix.