The success of Netflix’s number one show in the US signals more than just another viral series; it reveals an unsettling truth about the future of horror on the streaming giant’s platform. Netflix became the unofficial winner of the streaming wars, in part, due to the sheer variety of TV shows it offers, and those come as a result of the talented and brilliant minds helming them.
The Haunting of Hill House, Dracula, and Marianne have proved that Netflix is a serious contender when it comes to its horror offerings. However, the streamer has found itself in a precarious position regarding the future of its horror titles due to the revelations brought about by the meteoric success of the Duffer Brothers’ new hit show, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen.
Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen Has A Lot In Common With Mike Flanagan’s Shows
Created by Haley Z. Boston and executive produced by Matt and Ross Duffer, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is the latest series to snatch the coveted number one spot on Netflix’s Top 10 shows worldwide (via FlixPatrol). The horror show centers on a fairly simple premise: an engaged couple, Rachel (Camila Morrone) and Nick (Adam DiMarco), are a week away from tying the knot when a series of unfortunate events begins to unfold.
Mike Flanagan, who has cemented his reputation as a master of horror television, was surprisingly not at the helm of Netflix’s latest terrifying show. However, it’s worth noting that Something Very is Going to Happen has a distinct storytelling style that echoes Flanagan’s work. Flanagan’s portfolio, which includes Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Haunting of Hill House, all share core traits that define them.
One of the most striking parallels between Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen and Flanagan’s terrifying shows is the tone. Something Very Bad is incredibly dark, has stunning visuals, and a haunting score to accompany its unsettling moments. Perhaps the most glaring similarity between Boston and Flanagan’s shows is that they delve deep into horror concepts.
Instead of just including scary elements for the sake of it, both Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen and Flanagan’s shows explore complex family relationships and deep psychological wounds. Although the horror series from these creators includes the regular tropes like gore and hauntings we’ve come to expect from the genre, they also ensure that fresh ideas are given center stage.
Another interesting tether between Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen and Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor is Victoria Pedretti, who has starred in all three series as Alexandra, Nell, and Dani, respectively. What’s intriguing about the characters Pedretti plays in these shows is that they are all haunted by the inevitability of their deaths.
How Losing Mike Flanagan & The Duffer Brothers Will Impact Horror Projects On Netflix
Although Netflix’s library includes an expansive list of horror TV shows, there’s no denying that the best were created by the Duffer Brothers and Mike Flanagan. To this day, Stranger Things remains one of Netflix’s most popular shows, and the same can be said about Flanagan’s horror titles.
The work created by Flanagan and the Duffer Brothers was hugely popular with critics and general audiences alike. So naturally, the loss of these creators will be a huge blow for Netflix, particularly because of how recognizable they are. Flanagan began his partnership with Netflix in 2016, stayed with the streamer until 2022, and left for Amazon Studios when his contract came to an end (via Collider).
The Duffer Brothers signed with Netflix in 2015 and have had a pretty lucrative relationship with the streaming giant. Their contract with Netflix ended in 2026, and the Duffer Brothers will be moving to Paramount, where they plan to pursue their dream of creating original feature films under a four-year deal with the studio.
For now, it’s impossible to tell what the future of Netflix’s horror titles will be like. However, there is still a possibility that Netflix will be able to find creators who are just as brilliant as the Duffer Brothers and Mike Flanagan. Perhaps we’ll see more of Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen‘s Haley Z. Boston on the streaming platform.
- Release Date
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March 26, 2026
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Haley Z. Boston
- Writers
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Haley Z. Boston
Cast
