SOMETHING VERY BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN (2026)

[M.10rda]

Long (and somewhat premature) post about a new Netflix mini-series that I've watched half of and yet feel confident that it rises sufficiently to the level of Cinema and "Good Movies" to post about it here instead of over in the TV board. NO plot spoilers whatsoever below - I will just discuss its qualities in generic cinematic terms for those who need more info. TLDR for fans of TWIN PEAKS, "Yellowjackets", Mike Flanagan's Netflix oeuvre, and serious horror films generally: definitely commit to the first two episodes and then proceed appropriately.

.......This is 8 episodes/roughly 8 hours that looks and feels (generally and halfway through) like extremely high-quality theatrical/arthouse horror that doesn't skimp on the gruesomeness. The "showrunner" is Haley Z. Boston, who wrote Ana Lily Amirpour's very interesting THE OUTSIDE and nothing else to my knowledge. Boston writes the first two episodes (at least) which are directed by Weronika Tofilska, one of the directors of BABY REINDEER. These first two episodes are two non-stop hours of intense anxiety, suspense, dread, and horror - carefully written and beautifully, thoughtfully, truly brilliantly directed by Tofilska... who only on the basis of this work is a damn virtuoso talent. If these two episodes were a theatrical feature, it would be one of the most nerve-wracking films of this century. Things sincerely don't let up for a second until the final moments of Episode 2.

Then Episode 3 starts. New director - Axelle Carolyn, who co-directed HAUNTING OF BLYE MANOR, the weakest Flanagan mini-series - and new writer. Automatically this episode feels different and inferior - not terrible, but a weak 3.5/5 next to the strong 5/5 of the first two installments. For the first time SVBIGTH feels like a TV show instead of a (Great) movie.

Episode 4 bounces back in terms of horror tension and quality. Same director - Carolyn does a good job here - and new (third) writer. Here is the biggest (unresolved) potential issue w/ part 4: the first three parts introduce many questions and mysteries, and part 4 seems to answer/resolve all of them. This is surprising though hopefully not catastrophic - #4 clarifies SVBIGTH's central conflict, which I presume will get played out/resolved in the show's second half. I hope Tofilska & Boston return to personally handle the final parts.

Netflix is promoting SVBIGTH as "from the creators of STRANGER THINGS", the Duffer Bros. They're the executive producers and I give them credit for giving a bunch of women the reins to create some exceptionally strong horror content, though if they also compelled Boston to bring on other writers for Episodes 3+4 - shame on you/pull it together, Duffers. Fwiw this show is almost nothing like STRANGER THINGS and (imho) it's off to a much stronger start. As of the end of "Yellowjackets" S3, it's pretty clear that show has pooped the bed on its early and real prospects to match TWIN PEAKS w/ a distaff approach to surreal analog horror. SOMETHING VERY BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN is still in contention. I guess we'll see how the second half pans out, but those first two episodes, woof!   

[indianasmith]

I just finished it, and it was a WILD ride!
One of the most effed up endings I have ever seen. . .  but certainly no shortage of blood and grossout moments.
I was thoroughly entertained!

[M.10rda]

I too have finished it.

Some general/non-spoiler-y thoughts per my initial post:

It's very good and it's worth the investment.

Weronika Tofilska returns to direct Parts 7+8 and does a really lovely job. She needs a handsomely budgeted feature, stat.

Haley Z. Boston only co-writes Part 8. I assume she still had control of the writers' room over the entire project. 4 more new writers (iirc) come onboard for parts 5-8, including one named "Ben" that clearly identifies as "a man" and another named "Alex" who, I dunno. Only one of those four has any previous recognizable credits (as a staff writer for "Stranger Things"). As a writer, I hate this, and as a feminist, I kind of hate this, too... I would've rather the Duffers let Boston write the whole thing herself or w/ a couple of femme co-writers. The writing is, overall, imperfect. Writing 8 perfect hours of horror (or six and a half total, maybe) is tough for one writer, maybe impossible for a group. But, overall, it is pretty good.

Part 6 sometimes feels, as with Part 3, like TV dogpaddling between major plot beats. At its worst its clumsy, but it does also include some excellent sequences that move the plot forward and clarify the conflict. So, though padded, it rises above the (middling) nadir of Part 3.

On the other hand, Part 5 bounces immediately back from what could've been the showstopping Part 4. It's tightly scripted, tightly directed (by #3 director Lisa Bruhlmann, who also directs Part 6), and, in spite of having no actual "horror" content, is possibly the most tense and nerve-wracking episode in the series. (I guess it helps if you have serious social anxiety and a drinking problem.)

My fear after Part 4 was that Boston & co. had resolved all the compelling mysteries of the series. In fact I was wrong, and they smartly find ways to go deeper into the lore and tease out significant tension and uncertainty even through Part 8. Honestly that final Part (an hour) maybe inflates things by 10-15 minutes, but the resolution is, ultimately... satisfying in its inevitability.

My most serious criticism of SOMETHING VERY BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN - which, by the way, I do think is an exceptional piece of work - is inextricable from the particulars of its production. As a three and a half or four hour feature film that cuts out every bit of fat, SVBIGTH is probably impeccable, beyond reproach. But who was going to give Boston and Tofilska the money to make that 3.5-4 hour art film - and build that house??? Probably no one. So, again, if the only way the world could get SVBIGTH was to get the 8-part episodic Netflix version....... insert Seinfeldmoji here.

I will commend one (sort of) specific thing here:
The most terrifying thing about SVBIGTH is how it dramatizes magical thinking or OCD - both of which I suffer from - and portrays them as entirely real phenomena that will manifest with profound and dire consequences if ignored.  Then it positions its protagonist against the person or people who ostensibly care about her the most, and make them the true antagonists of the drama, because they refuse to believe that her magical thinking is entirely justified and legitimate.      If you've never experienced this pathology in your own life... take my word for it... this is seriously scary $#!t...! Like... this was tough for me to get through at times and I lost a little sleep over it. (In other words, nice work, Boston & company.)

Finally:
Camila Morrone is a juggernaut in her first big breakthrough role. EMMY NOMINATION, please??? Tour-de-force. A young Adjani!

Good use of JJL. Wonderful casting against-type of Levine.

Zlatko Buric as The Witness is a truly Struycken-esque figure. Gus Birney as Portia is an indelibly iconic Lynchian she-creature: Lil, Nicole Thorne, all of Grace Zabriskie's characters... and Aunt Gladys from WEAPONS while we're at it.

I understand there are murmurs of a "second season"... presumably by way of a "sequel" exploring the Custard mythos, not an episodic "Highway To Heaven" starring the new Witness........