Shows Like Something Very Bad is Going to Happen: The quiet sense of dread, discomfort and emotional unravelling of Something Very Bad is Going to Happen creates a maddening atmosphere where everything seems slightly off. The constant feeling of something just being wrong, or about to go wrong, creates an atmosphere that prioritises tension building, mood and psychology rather than jumpscares or spectacles.
Just like the Netflix miniseries, if you want to watch something that keeps you hooked and unsettles you throughout the runtime, without making you jump in your seats, then these shows will be right up your alley.
Shows Like Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
Sharp Objects
Unlike other shows on the list, this psychological thriller follows Camille, a recovering alcoholic who recently got discharged from a psychiatric hospital, returning to her hometown to investigate the murder of two young girls and coming under the influence of her abusive mother. The shift pushes her over the edge as she desperately tries to confront several demons all around her.
The series’s horror elements lie in human behaviour, generational trauma and repression as we slowly figure out Camille’s past and what haunts her. Every scene feels heavy and oppressive, as if to signify that there’s something just under the surface. The claustrophobic small-town tension is used brilliantly in the show and, instead of spreading terror through supernatural elements, the show prioritises using psychological decay to get under our skin and leave us shocked.
The Haunting of Hill House
A fan-favourite, this Mike Flanagan Netflix series follows a family that has faced some serious trauma in their past in their childhood home. Once happy and complete, the family slowly unearths something unnerving in their house, that they have to face even in their adulthood to hopefully find peace.
This series balances its supernatural elements with more relatable themes of grief, fear and trauma so well that it truly gets under your skin. The trauma that the kids face and the way it shapes them in their adulthood is something that can leave viewers uncomfortable and heartbroken, while the ghost story at its core spins a terrifying web with a deeper meaning behind it.
Moving between the past and the present, the narrative slowly creates a complete picture, highlighting how trauma, when left unchecked, can fester over time and destroy everything in its wake. The series does a great job at making us feel like the tragedy is not something we are waiting to happen, but one that has already happened.
The Leftovers
When 2% of the global population suddenly disappear one day in 2011, those left behind find it difficult to rebuild their lives. As panic sets in and religion crumbles, cults form all around who take advantage of people’s emotions. In the midst of this are a bunch of families whose different journeys intertwine in a time of need.
This series starts on an ambiguous note, mentioning how people disappeared, but we don’t ever definitively know why. This isn’t about supernatural beings, but rather how people struggle to come to terms with grief and how to cope when there are no answers to fall back on. The helpless and hopeless nature of the series is an uncomfortable reminder of how little control we actually have in life. The emotional instability of the characters and the surprising nature of the world that they have to live in makes for a surprisingly terrifying watch.
The Outsider
This Stephen King adaptation follows an oridinary suburban parent who finds himself accusd of a grisly murder. Sending shockwaves across the community, local detective Ralph Anderson jumps right into solving the crime, but finds it increasingly complex the deeper he goes inside.
In true Stephen King fashion, The Outsider blends crime and supernatural horror seamlessly. Grounded in realism at first, it slowly undoes itself to delve into the supernatural realm, getting increasingly unnerving as time moves on. There’s something far more sinister underneath the grisly murders and the deliberate pacing makes you feel the heaviness in the air. The tension simmers, leaving fans to find themseves completely destroyed by the end.
Archive 81
The supernatural horror series follows conservator Dan Turner, who finds himself getting pulled into a mysterious situation when he is asked to restore Hi8 tapes. Slowly realising that a missing director and a mysterious cult are at the helm of the situation, Dan realises he’s in for more than just conservation too late.
The series is told through recordings and fragmented narratives which, in itself, is quite unnerving to watch. But the best part about this show is that it never feels like you’re getting close to the truth. Just when you think you have it in your grasp, things immediately get away. This disconnect adds to the unease of watching the show and you always feel like you’re being watched at every turn. Unfortunately, this one’s never coming back to explain that open ending, so you’re stuck with this helpless feeling!
Which of these shows are you excited to watch next? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read:
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