Have you ever thought about what moves a well-known film critic to do the opposite and step behind the camera? If so, don’t ask again. We are discussing Shelby Oaks, the paranormal scare story that’s been attracting attention above all thanks to the fact that it is the directorial debut of a YouTube film critic, Chris Stuckmann.
Seldom is the director’s chair a critic’s destination, especially when such a feat as this one is achieved. Stuckmann has amassed massive subscribers mainly by analyzing others’ movies, so the result was heavily awaited. After so much talk, could he really perform his own work? For many, it seems that the verdict is a loud “yes.”
From a Fan Project to Horror Sensation
The making of Shelby Oaks is almost as interesting as the movie itself. No, it was not a big studio beast from day one. No, it was a Kickstarter-born project driven by pure passion and, amazingly, Kickstarter.
Chris Stuckmann sent out his invitation to the fanbase, and they showed up in an impressive way. Shelby Oaks became the most funded Kickstarter horror film in history, with a fund of over $1.3 million. Picture it for a moment more than a million dollars contributed by the fans who trusted the vision of the critic. That is the proof of the confidence and enthusiasm he had been nurturing for years.
Moreover, if that wasn’t an additional reason for the fans to rejoice, the horror maestro Mike Flanagan, the director of The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, came on board as an executive producer. Flanagan is said to have really liked the way Stuckmann went directly to the people and his unshakable resolve. When a person of Flanagan’s stature approves of what you are doing, then you can be quite sure that there is something special going on. This blending of grassroots popularity and big figures from the entertainment industry was really what helped Shelby Oaks become so talked about way before its premiere.
The Disappearance at Shelby Oaks
So, what is the film actually about? Fundamentally, Shelby Oaks is a spooky mystery entwined with fear of the unknown. Camille Sullivan delivered the power-packed performance of Mia Brennan, who was a woman overwhelmed with one of the most tragic quests, the search for her lost younger sister, Riley Brennan (Sarah Durn).
Riley wasn’t just any missing person; she was the leader of an online group that was doing a paranormal investigation. Imagine those YouTube ghost-hunting channels, but less funny and more serious. Her team was called the Paranormal Paranoids. Interesting, huh?
The whole team disappeared in 2008 while they were filming a supposedly abandoned, very scary ghost town in Ohio called Shelby Oaks. No less than a dozen years later, three bodies are found, but no sign of Riley. This is not a simple disappearance; it’s a cold case surrounded by local legend and escalating fear.
As Mia finds out more and more disquieting video footage and signs, her need for answers increases. These are not just unrelated pieces; they point her into a rabbit hole, hinting at something much worse than a mere mishap. What if the fictional demon, a terrifying memory from childhood that Mia and Riley shared, was not so fictional after all? That’s the big scary question that spins out the whole narrative.
A Blended Horrifying Style
The unique stylistics of Shelby Oaks is one of the most talked-about things about the film. Just to be clear, it is not a simple found footage film, nor is it a traditional narrative all the way through. Stuckmann blends these multiple formats brilliantly.
Initially, the movie is done in a faux-documentary style. As a viewer, you are attracted; the film grabs your attention as a viewer as it makes you feel like you are watching a true-crime special about the Paranormal Paranoids’ disappearance. It gives the film a sense of immediate reality and adds mystery to the plot.
Nevertheless, after an excruciating and distressing incident that Mia undergoes, the film effectively makes the transition into a more traditional narrative. This alteration brings the characters to life, provides emotional depth, and allows for a wider cinematic view, which is the case with found footage. It is a smart move to have the best of both worlds the raw, immediate horror of found footage, combined with the storytelling power of conventional filmmaking. This mixing keeps the audience on their toes; at times, they are unsure what to expect next.
The Critical Verdict: Chilling Debut, Some Hiccups
When a film gets this much publicity, the question on everybody’s mind will be, what do the critics have to say about it? And in the case of Shelby Oaks, the feedback is mostly upbeat. At the moment, it has an 85% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It is a strong position to be in for any first-time director, not to mention one that has come from a critical background.
The critics have applauded the film for several major aspects:
-
- Atmosphere: One of Stuckmann’s most praised achievements is his power to make an absolutely frightening and chilling atmosphere. It is a horror type that stays with you long after you’ve experienced it.
- Camille Sullivan’s Performance: A lot of commentaries pointed out Camille Sullivan’s taking over as Mia and said her “phenomenal” performance was the best word to describe it. Her work, as it is reported, acts as the core of the film, depicting relentlessness and horror in a way that makes the audience feel that way.
- Initial Intrigue: The first half of the film, especially its found footage and mystery elements, was characterized as “intriguing and creepy,” thus effectively hooking the audience in the riddle.
That said, like most movies, some opinions existed in the opposite direction. Some critics argued that the second half of the film lost the drive of the first. The terms “convoluted” and “over-reliance on cliche horror tropes” were used with reference to certain scenes, mainly as the mystery aspect diminishes and the movie becomes more of a conventional narrative. Apparently, making the exact transition from mystery to exposition without giving away too much is still a tough thing to do even for skilled filmmakers.
Final Thoughts: A Promising New Voice in Horror
So, what is the place of Shelby Oaks among the other ghoulish beings of the horror genre? It’s definitely one of the most inviting and promising first entries. Chris Stuckmann shows that he is not merely a film critic but also a filmmaker of one compelling scary story.
It is an incredible accomplishment to go through the process starting with a Kickstarter phenomenon and getting to a feature film distributed by NEON (with reshoots just for extra gore!). While some of the critics mentioned that the second part of the film was less powerful than the first, most of the reviews agree that the sum of the parts is a satisfying and disturbing horror experience, mainly due to the strong lead performance and the clever integration of the different genres.
If you are a fan of spiritual mysteries, found footage, or simply intrigued by what happens when a critic becomes the maker, Shelby Oaks is absolutely one of the movies you should keep an eye on for its release in October 2025. Not merely a horror flick, it conveys the message of love, the power of community, and the unexpected journey of a YouTuber who aspired high.