Horror TV Suffers From Overly Complicated Plots

Shows like 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' and 'From' are confounding viewers with messy, convoluted narratives.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:00pm

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The horror genre is thriving on the big screen, with recent indie hits like 'Barbarian' and 'Nope' delivering simple yet effective scares. However, many horror TV shows have fallen into the trap of overcomplicated, confusing plots that leave viewers struggling to follow the story. Series like Netflix's 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' and MGM+'s 'From' are piling on twists and turns, making the viewing experience more of a chore than a thrill.

Why it matters

While intricate, multilayered plots can be engaging for some viewers, horror TV seems to work best when it focuses on delivering genuine scares rather than getting bogged down in excessive narrative complexity. This trend highlights a disconnect between the success of straightforward horror films and the struggles of horror shows to maintain audience interest.

The details

Shows like 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' and the upcoming fourth season of 'From' are examples of horror TV series that have become overly complicated. 'Something Very Bad' features a convoluted curse where the main character will die if she doesn't marry her soulmate by sundown on her wedding day, with the curse passing to the next generation if she leaves her partner at the altar. Meanwhile, 'From' has been compared to 'Lost' for its tendency to introduce new mysteries without providing satisfying answers. In contrast, recent acclaimed horror films like 'Barbarian' and 'Nope' have found success by focusing on simple, effective scares.

  • The fifth and final season of 'Stranger Things' featured multiple scenes where characters explained the plot using household objects.
  • The season 1 finale of HBO Max's 'IT: Welcome to Derry' introduced a new twist about Pennywise experiencing past, present, and future simultaneously.

The players

The Duffer Brothers

The creative duo behind the hit Netflix series 'Stranger Things', known for their complicated plots.

Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane

The showrunners of HBO Max's 'IT: Welcome to Derry', who introduced a new time-bending element to Pennywise's origin story.

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What they’re saying

“How is that [possible] and why, that's a whole exploration that we intend to flesh out during the next two seasons.”

— Andy Muschietti

The takeaway

While intricate plots can be engaging, horror TV shows should focus more on delivering genuine scares rather than getting bogged down in excessive narrative complexity. Straightforward horror films have found recent success by keeping the story simple and effective, a lesson that could benefit many horror series struggling with overcomplicated plots.