Netflix’s “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” brings a whole new meaning to pre-marital anxieties. The series follows a bride-to-be, Rachel (Camila Morrone), who begins to unravel in the week leading up to her wedding to Nicky (Adam DiMarco). Without spoiling the surprises too much, the terror relates to a curse that spans generations and dooms relationships. To make matters worse, Nicky’s family are a little on the strange side, and Rachel thinks they might be hiding something.
“Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” is a binge-worthy horror series that many viewers will breeze through. The downside of finishing it, though, is that it will leave many folks wanting more. For now, it remains to be seen if Haley Z. Boston’s showwill be renewed for a second season– and don’t get your hopes up yet, as the miniseries was conceived as a one-and-done affair. However, there are plenty of shows out there that will scratch one’s itch for more slow-burn horror and entertainment about chaotic weddings. With that in mind, here are five you can watch right now.
Harper’s Island
“Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” isn’t the only great horror TV series about weddings. Ari Schlossberg’s slasher “Harper’s Island” is about an island (duh) with a grisly past, as it was once home to a serial killer who picked off the locals. Years later, a group of people gather to celebrate a Big Day, only to find themselves being hunted down one by one. Has the killer returned, or is there another maniac on the loose?
“Harper’s Island” is more fast-paced than “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,” but both shows boast compelling central mysteries and keep their cards close to the vest. That said, if you’re looking for more terrifying entertainment that depicts weddings in a bloody light, look no further than this one. Sadly, “Harper’s Island” only ran for one season, and while it may leave you wanting more, it’s still worth every horror fan’s time.
Rosemary’s Baby
Boston was influenced by the 1968 film “Rosemary’s Baby” while making “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen.” The 2014 miniseries starring Zoe Saldaña isn’t as popular as its cinematic predecessor, but it’s an entertaining horror show that shares some similarities with Boston’s series.
“Rosemary’s Baby” is a story about the fear of motherhood, chronicling Saldaña’s eponymous character as she deals with pregnancy and her bizarre neighbors, who might be part of a Satanic cult. In both stories, women find themselves in perilous situations where they can’t seem to trust a single soul, as everyone appears to have nefarious intentions.
There’s even a moment in “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” where Rachel fears Nicky’s family are Satanists — an idea that feels plucked right out of “Rosemary’s Baby.” Of course, the horror in “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” takes a different route, but both shows do a great job of making their protagonists feel alone, doomed, and fearful of everyone.
Midnight Mass
Mike Flanagan’s “Midnight Mass” is another Netflix miniseries that favors slow-burn terror over fast-paced action. This one tells the story of a remote island whose residents start experiencing miracles after a new priest arrives, but something sinister lurks beneath the surface.
“Midnight Mass” and “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” tell distinctly different stories — the former centers on vampires and religion, while the latter focuses on marriage and curses. That said, both series are masterclasses in creating an oppressive sense of dread that gets under your skin. You just get the impression that it’s only a matter of time until something very bad is, indeed, going to happen.
Flanagan believes “Midnight Mass” couldn’t be made today, as it came to fruition at a time when Netflix was more open to greenlighting bizarre, original projects of this ilk. Fortunately, the series exists and it is available to stream right now.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Mike Flanagan’s horror shows could have filled this list, as his slow-burn, atmospheric style complements “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen.” However, “The Fall of the House of Usher” is one of the more satirical entries in his oeuvre, as it puts a “Succession”-style spin on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. So, why should “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” fans check it out?
The terror at the heart of “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” involves a curse that can be traced through a bloodline. The only way to survive it is to marry the right person, as choosing wrong (or not going through with it) carriesterrible repercussions for the victim and their loved ones. “The Fall of the House of Usher” is also concerned with family curses, resulting in some very grisly scenes when all hell breaks loose for the Usher clan.
The best thing about “The Fall of the House of Usher” is the way it weaves together several of Poe’s iconic stories into a singular, modern narrative, drawing from works like “The Masque of the Red Death” and “The Raven.” As such, don’t go into the series expecting a standard adaptation of its namesake tale.
Big Day
“Big Day” and “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” couldn’t be more tonally different, so this might seem like an odd choice. The Netflix series leans into nightmare fuel, while “Big Day” is a lighthearted comedy that doesn’t involve any bloodletting. That said, both series chronicle the pressure their respective couples feel in the lead-up to their wedding days, so they share some thematic overlap.
“Big Day” is like “24” with a romantic comedy twist, as the story unfolds in near real time on their wedding day. The sitcom centers around Danny (Josh Cooke) and Alice (Marla Sokoloff) as they are forced to overcome an array of problems before they tie the knot — including dealing with family members who aren’t entirely pleasant.
Familial themes are also at the heart of “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,” but the Netflix series explores these ideas through a more macabre lens. Still, “Big Day” is the perfect show to watch if you want to laugh after being spooked by “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen.”
