Netflix Horror Creator Unpacks Blood-Soaked Finale of 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen'
In an exclusive interview with Metro, creator Hayley Z Boston has revealed the creative process and emotional inspiration behind the shocking, blood-drenched conclusion to Netflix's horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. The finale, which aired recently, delivers exactly what the title promises: a catastrophic, supernatural event that leaves viewers reeling.
The Bloody Wedding Massacre
The series concludes with a wedding ceremony that descends into absolute carnage. After Nicky (Adam DiMarco) hesitates at the altar, questioning whether he and Rachel (Camila Morrone) should proceed with their marriage despite a family curse, the supernatural consequences unfold with terrifying speed. As night falls, partygoers begin hemorrhaging uncontrollably, transforming the celebration into a scene of horrific violence.
Boston explained that the show's opening sequence—featuring a flash-forward to Rachel's visions of blood flowing through the wedding venue—was deliberately designed to hook audiences immediately. "The show was always going to start with something shocking. I think that's a way to get audiences on board," Boston stated. "The title does a lot for this show. I'm telling you up front that you can expect something horrifying."
Rachel's Fateful Decision
Throughout the finale, Rachel faces a critical choice: drink a potion that would guarantee Nicky is her soulmate and potentially avert the curse, or trust in their relationship without supernatural intervention. She chooses the latter, setting in motion the catastrophic events that follow.
Boston revealed she had reservations about "mixing magic" between the soulmate concoction and the established curse mythology, which influenced Rachel's decision. "The show, I think, is quite emotionally grounded," the showrunner explained. "Although the ending goes into this crazy supernatural place, I didn't want too much of the show prior to that to feel that way, so that you continue to buy in."
Personal Inspiration Behind the Horror
The creator disclosed that the entire series originated from a single, vivid image: "a woman spontaneously bleeding to death at the altar." This concept emerged during a period when Boston, then 27, was watching friends get married while grappling with her own fears about commitment.
"I was thinking a lot about what makes people right for each other and this image came to me of a woman spontaneously bleeding to death at the altar," Boston shared. "That is where it started and it went from there."
She cited classic horror films including Carrie, Rosemary's Baby, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer as key influences, noting how these stories "use the genre to externalise what they're going through internally."
The Evolution of the Bloody Concept
Originally, the series was conceived with even broader supernatural implications. Early versions would have centered on Nicky's sister Portia's wedding (played by Gus Birney) and expanded the bleeding phenomenon into a global catastrophe, similar to HBO's The Leftovers.
"I just knew that it was going to end with a bunch of people spontaneously bleeding to death," Boston confessed about the initial pitch to Netflix. "I was thinking about the mythology and the fact that I need to explain why people are bleeding to death, then it morphed more into what it is."
With evident satisfaction, she added: "I never thought the bleeding to death would be too much, and I'm glad that they let me do it."
Rachel's Controversial Survival
In the aftermath of the massacre, Rachel awakens from apparent death, her white wedding dress irreparably stained. The curse claims another victim instead, allowing Rachel to escape the bloody scene. In a symbolic act of liberation, she discards her engagement ring out the car window as she drives away.
Boston acknowledged that Rachel's decision to prioritize her own survival over sacrificing herself for others is "morally questionable." The writers' room engaged in extensive debate about whether audiences would continue to support Rachel after this choice.
"She's condemning all these people to death and the argument was, well, she doesn't owe them anything," Boston explained. "Why should she sacrifice herself for these people? I hope that you're still rooting for Rachel at the end, but I'm also open to people deciding she made the wrong decision and debating that."
The Show's Ultimate Message
Despite the supernatural horror elements, Boston hopes the series sparks genuine conversations about relationships. "You watch the show with your partner, and maybe you get into a conversation that illuminates some things in your relationship that you didn't see before," she expressed. "That's my hope."
The creator's personal philosophy about relationships—that "what makes two people right for each other is that they see each other"—is woven throughout the narrative, exemplified by the survival of secondary characters Jules (Jeff Wilbusch) and Nell (Karla Crome).
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen is currently available for streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a horror experience that blends supernatural terror with profound questions about love, commitment, and self-preservation.
