“There's Something About the Johnsons” almost certainly refers to Ari Aster’s short film “The Strange Thing About the Johnsons” , a 2011 psychological horror about incest, abuse, and denial inside a suburban family.

Quick Scoop

What it is

  • A 2011 American short psychological horror film written and directed by Ari Aster.
  • Centers on the Johnson family, where the son is the abuser and the father is the victim of a long‑term incestuous relationship.
  • Known online as one of the most unsettling, disturbing short films, often discussed in horror forums and reaction videos.

Core plot in simple terms

Without going into graphic detail:

  • The film opens with father Sidney trying to reassure his son Isaiah about sexuality, but the power dynamic twists in a horrific direction over the years.
  • As Isaiah grows up, he becomes sexually and emotionally abusive toward Sidney, who feels trapped, ashamed, and terrified.
  • The mother, Joan, sees disturbing signs, including catching an intimate moment between father and son, but chooses denial for a long time.
  • The story escalates toward violence and tragedy, ending with a deadly confrontation and the destruction of Sidney’s written memoir, which detailed the abuse.

Why it’s trending in forums

On horror and film discussion boards, people often talk about:

  • How the movie flips the usual abuse narrative (child abusing parent, not the other way around), making it even more jarring.
  • The way it portrays family denial , bystanders looking away, and how taboo topics get buried until it is too late.
  • Reaction videos and storytime breakdowns on YouTube, where creators walk through the film and share shock, discomfort, or symbolic interpretations.

Common viewpoints:

  • Some see it as a taboo-shock experiment : “what is the most extreme subject you can put on screen and still make it watchable?”
  • Others read it as an allegory about abuse in general , showing how victims are silenced and families protect appearances rather than people.
  • A portion of viewers feel it goes too far and is exploitative rather than meaningful, so it generates strong disagreement.

Content warnings (important)

This is a very heavy, serious topic. The film includes:

  • Incest and long‑term sexual abuse.
  • Emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and victim‑blaming.
  • Physical violence and death in the family context.

If you are sensitive to abuse, family trauma, or sexual violence , this film can be extremely triggering, and it is worth thinking carefully before watching.

If you came from a forum thread

Many “there’s something about the Johnsons” or “there’s something strange about the Johnsons” posts are:

  • People discovering the film for the first time and sharing their shock or confusion.
  • Viewers asking “What was this about?” and discussing symbolism or moral messages.
  • Horror fans recommending it as a “you won’t forget this one” short film, while often adding heavy trigger warnings.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.