732 - Something Very Bad is Going to Happen

732 - Something Very Bad is Going to Happen

From Scriptnotes Podcast by John August and Craig Mazin

April 21, 2026 · 45 min · Season 15 · Episode 732

About this episode

John discusses the evolution and production of the horror series 'Something Very Bad is Going to Happen' with writer/showrunner Haley Z. Boston.

John welcomes writer/showrunner Haley Z. Boston for a post-mortem on her terrifying new series, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen. They look at how the series evolved from initial idea through production, her experience as a first-time showrunner, the special relationship between women and horror, and how she constructs terror on the page. We also chart her early career, and answer listener questions on splitting scenes and how to handle an overwhelming amount of development notes. In our bonus segment for premium members, it's spoiler territory as we look at what we can learn from the clever red herrings and misdirects of the series. Links: Haley Z. Boston on Instagram Something Very Bad is Going to Happen on Netflix Read along with an excerpt from the pilot Saying 'I do' is supposed to be joyous — unless something very bad happens by Gina McIntyre for LA Times Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film by Carol J. Clover Tasting Day Freaks Only Atomic Wave Dance by The Comet is Coming Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book! Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Become a Scriptnotes Premium member , or gift a subscription Subscribe…

People in this episode

Host: John August

Guest: Haley Z. Boston

Topics covered

  • horror
  • showrunning
  • screenwriting
  • women in film
  • listener questions
  • development notes

Keywords

  • horror series
  • showrunner
  • screenwriting
  • development notes
  • listener questions
  • red herrings
  • misdirects

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Netflix, Scriptnotes

Books & works: Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, Saying 'I do' is supposed to be joyous — unless something very bad happens, Atomic Wave Dance

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