SOMETHING VERY BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN – Review by Abby Perkins (Mentorship Program Critic)
Are you sure he’s the one? Before you walk down that aisle, make sure you know the answer – the wrong choice could be your doom. Through eight episodes of unexpected twists and gory surprises, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen leaves you leaping for that next episode button. It’s original and clever, while also taking inspiration from what works in horror – relying on atmospheric creepiness without the overuse of jump scares, found footage, through-the-lens point-of-view, and an unanticipated betrayal that shakes everything up. The success of the show lies in its ability to remain engaging even when the hide-behind-the-blanket moments take the backseat.
Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, created and produced by Haley Z. Boston, follows Rachel, played by Camila Morrone (The Night Manager, Daisy Jones & the Six), and Nicky, played by Adam DiMarco (Overcompensating, The White Lotus), a young couple whose wedding week unexpectedly becomes a bloodbath. If you don’t want spoilers, I recommend stopping here.
Rachel and Nicky arrive at his parents’ mountain home after a frighteningly unusual drive in the dark and snow. Despite their three-year relationship, Rachel has never met Nicky’s family, so when she walks into a 5,000 square foot house with taxidermy dogs and disturbing family portraits, she doesn’t know how to react. To make things worse, Nicky’s family is just as frigid and odd as their trek there. Jennifer Jason Leigh, channeling some Single White Female energy, stars as Nicky’s mother, who, with the help of her neurotic daughter Portia, Shining Vale’s Gus Briney, tries to manipulate the perfect wedding, eerily in the image of her own. It becomes increasingly clear to Rachel that something is not right here, and a vicious case of deja vu doesn’t make it any better. About a third in, what seemed like a Ready or Not style horror turns paranoia into reality when Rachel learns her family is cursed: marry your soulmate by sunset on your wedding day or die a brutal, bloody death. It is up to Rachel, with the help of Nicky’s brother Jules (Jeff Bilbusch of The Calling) and his wife Nellie (Karla Crome of Misfits) to figure out if Nicky is truly her soulmate, testing their relationship beyond repair.
Through eight episodes of unexpected twists and gory surprises, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen leaves you leaping for that next episode button. It’s original and clever, while also taking inspiration from what works in horror – relying on atmospheric creepiness without the overuse of jump scares, found footage, through-the-lens point-of-view, and an unanticipated betrayal that shakes everything up. The success of the show lies in its ability to remain engaging even when the hide-behind-the-blanket moments take the backseat. Continue reading on THE FEMALE GAZE
ABOUT ABBY PERKINS
Raised in Richmond, Virginia by a large family of actors, artists, dancers, and singers, Abby Perkins has been surrounded by art since she was born. As a directing student at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Abby has developed short films and scripts focusing on coming-of-age, social commentary and satire, and the perspective of women. She will be moving to Brooklyn in Spring 2026, hoping to chart a career in digital marketing and short form content in the commercial and independent filmmaking worlds.
ABOUT AWFJ/UNCSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) have partnered to launch the AWFJ/UNCSA Mentorship Program, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic study and the professional world of film criticism. The program creates a vital pathway for the next generation of cultural commentators to transition into the industry. Its mission is to support aspiring film, television, and streaming reviewers by providing them with a professional platform and direct mentorship from established critics. By connecting UNCSA’s rigorous arts conservatory training with the AWFJ’s extensive journalistic experience, the program seeks to cultivate critics who are not only knowledgeable about cinema but also skilled in the craft of engaging, analytical writing for a broad audience. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to the future of film criticism, ensuring that emerging talent is nurtured, equipped with practical skills, and given the opportunity to build a professional portfolio before graduation.
