One Line Summary

A survivor of a childhood cult accepts a dream invitation to a luxury island retreat, only to discover that paradise still speaks the language of control.

Opening Impression

How Bad Things Can Get shifts from influencer polish into creeping psychological dread, proving that trauma never stays buried, even in sunlight.

Synopsis

Ruth, the sole survivor of the Prosper Commune, is drawn to a pristine island retreat promising renewal. Beneath ritualised calm and curated wellness, old patterns of power reassert themselves.

Analysis

Structure: A disciplined slow burn that tightens incrementally.

Character: Ruth is cautious and resilient, shaped by trauma rather than defined by it.

Themes: Control, performance, and the coercive edge of modern self-improvement.

Verdict

How Bad Things Can Get is unsettling, intelligent, and quietly ferocious. A thriller that understands how power hides behind wellness language.