'White Lotus' Star Adam DiMarco Reveals Genius Twist in New Netflix Horror

The nuptials horror series, 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,' produced by the Duffer brothers and starring Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco, has managed to sustain a constant tension throughout its eight episodes, culminating in a gruesome wedding at a remote country home. The production has reached the top spots in Netflix's content ranking, establishing itself as a success within the platform.

Adam DiMarco, who plays one half of the engaged couple, shared with Metro that even he felt disturbed during filming, especially in the scene where Ted Levine's character manipulates the corpse of a dog for taxidermy purposes. 'That got me. I was like, this is real, this isn’t a prop,' DiMarco commented, underscoring the realism that permeated the filming.

Despite his inclination for psychological thrillers, DiMarco joined this horror project with plenty of gore. He assured that, despite what is seen on screen, the team had fun filming, even with the challenges that the genre implies: long night shoots and abundant fake blood, which required extensive cleanups. 'But the juice is worth the squeeze at the end of the day, especially when it turns out like this,' DiMarco stated, reflecting his satisfaction with the project.

The 35-year-old Canadian actor is recognized for his role as Albie in the second season of 'The White Lotus,' set in Sicily. Although his character Nicky in this new series is not a replica of Albie, DiMarco acknowledged certain similarities during an interview. 'I did want to create a little distinction,' DiMarco explained from New York. 'I feel like Albie was a lover, and then Nicky’s more of a lover and a fighter.'

DiMarco admitted that some of Nicky's decisions prior to the wedding are, to say the least, questionable. However, he considers that part of his job is to justify those actions. 'You kind of have to be your character’s lawyer,' he explained. 'You have to be able to defend them in their day in court. So I had to sympathise with his choices, even if on a first read, I was like, man, what are you doing?'.

Delving into the series' twists, DiMarco confessed that he himself was surprised by some of them. The characters of The Sorry Man, who haunts the woods around the cabin, and Larry Poole, the local serial killer who used his custard empire as a cover, are mentioned from the first episode. DiMarco thought that one of them would be the main villain of the series.

However, the mid-season twist, which shows through found footage the traumatic and bloody birth of the character of Rachel (Morrone), completely changes the direction of the plot. 'It turns everything on its head,' DiMarco commented. 'I felt like the pedal was hit to the floor at that moment. I just couldn’t wait to see where it went. It’s two pretty great misdirects by Haley [Z Boston, the show’s creator]'.

The legend of The Sorry Man is introduced by Nicky's deranged family, with a monologue that DiMarco doubted the series could justify, until the flashback explains the origin of that mythology. 'It really makes total sense, which was crazy. When I was reading that, I thought, “Oh this is genius”'.

Essentially, the series is about a hereditary curse, which poses a disturbing question to the viewer: when getting married, how sure can you be that the person at the altar is really 'the one'? DiMarco and Morrone worked intensely behind the scenes to maintain uncertainty in the minds of viewers. They created a detailed history of their characters' relationship and added moments of physical intimacy to their performances.

Morrone and DiMarco deliver solid performances, skillfully handling the numerous claustrophobic close-ups that could expose less experienced actors. They are totally believable as a couple in love, as well as in their questioning of whether they are right for each other.

Unfortunately, the initial tension is not fully maintained throughout the eight episodes, as Nicky and Rachel's classic wedding jitters transform into full-blown heebie-jeebies. One of the best moments comes in the fourth episode, when all expectations about The Sorry Man are brutally subverted. The standout actress from Netflix's 'You', Victoria Pedretti, makes a special appearance, bringing an ideal face for horror.

'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' delivers on its promise and ends in a blood-soaked frenzy, which unfolds like a panic attack.

'I think you can express a lot about a couple and their dynamic non-verbally,' said DiMarco. 'Just body language and the energy they have between each other.' Much of the filming is done in close-ups of the actors' faces, partly to exacerbate that claustrophobic and chilling feeling that the series seeks to convey. Even when the camera created a literal barrier between DiMarco and Morrone, they found a way to be together in the scenes.

'Cami and I would try to extend a hand underneath and we would squeeze each other, just to know there’s something physically connecting you to the other,' DiMarco recalled. 'Because there’s nothing to react to if there’s a big camera. Acting is reacting. That’s the classic expression.'

DiMarco and Morrone manage to convince the audience that they are soulmates. But when your life is on the line, how sure can you be? 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' is available for streaming on Netflix. The series explores themes of trust, destiny, and the dark secrets that can lurk even in the closest relationships.