Saying ‘I do’ is supposed to be joyous — unless something very bad happens

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Although you’d think a horror screenwriter would be hard to frighten, Haley Z. Boston—the creator and executive producer of Netflix’s chilling new series, “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen”—says that’s not true for her.

“I get scared by almost everything,” explained 31-year-old Boston in a recent video call. “Even horror movies frighten me, but that’s actually a big part of why I enjoy them – they really give me a scare! A lot of horror fans become numb and want something truly shocking, but I’m easily frightened.”

If you’re easily scared or prefer lighthearted stories, you might want to be careful about watching Boston’s new series, which began Thursday. It’s a creepy blend of the dreamlike style of David Lynch and the unsettling tension of “Rosemary’s Baby.” The show follows the strange and worrying things that happen in the week before Rachel (Camila Morrone) and her fiancé Nicky (Adam DiMarco) are supposed to get married, all while Nicky’s mother, Victoria (Jennifer Jason Leigh), keeps a close watch.

Rachel discovers unsettling secrets about Nicky’s family and her own history, leading her to believe that getting married could be dangerous. She becomes increasingly afraid of what might happen on her wedding day.

Boston noticed a common phrase at weddings – people claiming they ‘never once had a doubt.’ This struck him as odd, because he felt it was natural to constantly question things. He decided to explore this idea in a horror series, making doubt itself the source of the horror.

Boston is fascinated by horror. She even has a tattoo referencing her favorite movie, Brian DePalma’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “Carrie.” She’s made a name for herself writing for spooky and unusual shows like Netflix’s “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” which explores witchcraft and filmmaking in 1990s Los Angeles, and “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” also on Netflix.

Maya Boston’s short film, “The Outside,” which is part of an anthology by an Academy Award-winning director, was based on a comic book called “Some Other Animal’s Meat.” The film tells the unsettling story of a woman who begins to change after buying a beauty product she sees advertised on TV. Boston explained that the story resonated with her because it’s about feeling like an outsider and being different.

Boston started writing stories when she was eleven years old. Seeing Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” as a teenager sparked her interest in making movies. She was captivated by the film’s storytelling and enjoyed the revenge plot. It made her wonder about the filmmaking process – how movies are made and who is responsible for bringing them to life.

She initially thought she might become a doctor, like her parents, but everything changed when she took a writing class at Northwestern University. She realized then that writing was her true passion. “I knew right away that this was what I was meant to do,” Boston explained.

After college, she relocated to Los Angeles and started working in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor while continuing to write scripts in her free time. A horror script she wrote during her college years helped her get an agent. Shortly after, a pilot she developed – a thrilling murder story with a focus on female relationships, influenced by the show “Killing Eve” – led to 22 meetings with potential producers and networks. Her first meeting was with acclaimed director Sam Raimi, known for his early, popular horror films like “Evil Dead.” “I was only 24, and taking that leap felt incredibly daunting,” she explained. “I think sometimes it’s better to just jump in without overthinking how scary it is.”

When “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” began production, Boston unexpectedly became the show’s lead creative force, despite having limited on-set experience. However, according to Morrone, Boston handled the role with remarkable poise and professionalism. Morrone described her as having a natural grace, able to remain calm and collected even when facing challenges. Because Boston deeply understood the character and story, she confidently addressed any issues that arose, drawing on her inherent knowledge of the material.

This show is deeply meaningful to Boston, stemming from her own experiences with relationships. Having parents with what appeared to be a perfect marriage created pressure when she started dating. She used her anxieties about finding a similar partnership as inspiration for the series. Boston explained that her parents have been together for 37 years, and she felt burdened by their example. She often compared her own relationships to their long-lasting marriage, which she admits wasn’t a productive way to think about it.

The idea for the series came to her around her 27th birthday, as she noticed many of her friends were getting married. She developed the concept while working on other projects, and by the time she started writing the first episode, she had a strong grasp of the story and characters. This allowed her to finish the pilot in just two weeks.

When she presented the series idea, she met with Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of “Stranger Things.” They were very enthusiastic about her concept and agreed to executive produce “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen” through their production company, Upside Down Pictures.

Ross explained that after reading just one page of the script, it was obvious the writer had a truly original style. He said it was unlike anything they’d seen before, and they immediately knew they wanted to be a part of the project and help the writer realize her creative vision.

Matt praised Haley’s unique comedic style, describing it as dark and dry, but also remarkably authentic. He particularly appreciated how realistically her characters spoke, noting that this level of natural dialogue is uncommon in most scripts.

Filming for the series took place in Toronto in January 2025, with Weronika Tofilska (known for “Baby Reindeer”), Lisa Brühlmann (“Killing Eve”), and Axelle Carolyn (“American Horror Story”) directing. Boston explained that she and the team frequently used films – ranging from “The Celebration” to “Uncut Gems” – as quick references to establish the desired mood for each episode. Boston shared that she’s drawn to stories that start with something familiar and then introduce a single twist that completely changes your perspective.

Now that her film, “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,” is set to boost her reputation in the movie industry and establish her as a rising star in horror, Boston is already working on her next project – a film she plans to direct herself. She explained, “I’m a big fan of the horror world, but it’s still largely dominated by men, and I’m eager to become a bigger part of it.”

She explained that horror has often centered around female characters, and studying feminist theory within the genre, particularly in the 1970s, revealed how it compelled male viewers to empathize with women—seeing a woman survive is incredibly impactful. She noted the interesting trend of men directing horror films focusing on women, and while she admires classics like ‘Carrie’ and ‘Rosemary’s Baby,’ she feels they lack a certain depth.

This show is an amazing first step for my career in this field, and I’m excited to keep the momentum going.

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2026-03-27 13:31