Shelby Oaks

''Shelby Oaks'' is a 2024 American supernatural horror mystery film produced, written, and directed by Chris Stuckmann in his feature directorial debut. It stars Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, and Keith David. The film is also produced by Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead.

''Shelby Oaks'' had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States by Neon on October 3, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed toward the first half, the atmosphere, and Camille Sullivan's performance.

Cast

Production

Development

In July 2021, YouTuber and film critic Chris Stuckmann signed on to write and direct a supernatural horror mystery film titled ''Shelby Oaks'' for Paper Street Pictures. The film is based on an online marketing campaign depicting a series of found footage videos about a fictional paranormal investigative team named the Paranormal Paranoids. The film was produced by Stuckmann, Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead.

The production was scheduled to begin in late 2021, but was delayed due to insufficient funds and a potential strike by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) trade union. Funding was achieved via a Kickstarter campaign that began on March 1, 2022. On March 21, ''Shelby Oaks'' became the most-funded horror film project on Kickstarter after raising $650,000. The campaign crossed the $1 million mark from 11,200 backers by March 25.

During the Cannes Film Festival in May 2022, Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, Charlie Talbert, Emily Bennett, and Sarah Durn were revealed as the cast. Stuckmann and his wife Samantha Elizabeth co-wrote the story, while Andrew Scott Baird served as cinematographer.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on May 9, 2022, and concluded on June 5. Filming took place at various locations in Ohio, including Greenwood Farm, Ohio State Reformatory, Chippewa Lake Park, and Cleveland Public Library. Reshoots occurred in March 2025 to increase the violence and gore and refine the film, which doubled the film's budget.

Post-production

By August 2023, post-production was suspended due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The film's producer Koontz stated that ''Shelby Oaks'' was "in the final stages of post-production, including the all-important automated dialogue replacement, when actors re-record their lines. We need the actors in, but we are not a priority project because we are not in production, but we're trying to finish this film in the next month". In January 2024, Stuckmann announced that post-production was finished and that he and the studio were searching for film festivals to screen the film.

Mike Flanagan, Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka served as executive producers on ''Shelby Oaks'', under their production company Intrepid Pictures. On joining the project, Flanagan said: "I was impressed with Chris' work ethic, his intellect, his talent and his determination ... I watched his Kickstarter campaign for ''Shelby'' with great interest as it really took off ... There was so much about Chris' experience and story that reminded me of what I went through on my first film '' Absentia'', he's on a really exciting path, and it has been a pleasure to share a few small steps with him on his way." Flanagan provided Stuckmann with notes and feedback from the script stage to post-production as well as offering additional industry connections.

The film was scored by the Newton Brothers, frequent collaborators of Flanagan. During post-production, filmmakers David F. Sandberg, Sev Ohanian, and Scott Beck and Bryan Woods also gave notes after watching a rough cut. In July 2024, Neon acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film. By March 2025, Derek Mears joined the cast and Brett W. Bachman was hired to re-edit the film.

Release

''Shelby Oaks'' had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20, 2024. The film also screened at the 25th FrightFest film festival on August 23, 2024. The film is scheduled to be released in the United States by Neon on October 3, 2025. The film was previously set to be released on August 22, 2025.

Critical response

BJ Colangelo of ''/Film'' gave the film a 8/10 rating, writing that "with Sullivan's phenomenal performance and Stuckmann's keen eye, ''Shelby Oaks'' allows us to witness the start of one of the most promising new voices in horror." Alison Foreman of '' IndieWire'' gave the film a B–, saying it "was obviously written by a critic, one with a near-legendary knowledge of the pop culture archives, and it's directed with a palpable confidence that could lead to better things." Michael Gingold of '' Rue Morgue'' gave a positive review, praising "the doomy atmosphere Stuckmann elicits through both the accumulating detail in the found-footage material and the eerie visuals he and Baird conjure up as Mia gets closer to the town's heart of darkness."

In a more mixed review, Katie Rife of ''IGN'' gave a rating of 6/10, commenting that "the first half of ''Shelby Oaks'' creates an intrigue that the second half just can't sustain." Clint Worthington of ''RogerEbert.com'' gave a similar review, writing that "the first half has a fascinating DIY investigatory feel to it – it channels the true-crime impulse to pore over footage to zoom in on new details, or chase down leads late at night despite all warnings. But as the clues start to take shape, the central mystery starts to feel a bit too familiar, an uninspired gumbo of everything from ''The Blair Witch Project'' to '' Rosemary's Baby'', with even more obvious cues eagle-eyed horror hounds will recognize." David Cuevas of ''Next Best Picture'' gave the film a 3/10, concluding that "as an admirable genre attempt, Stuckmann's passionate directorial voice brings home a few note-worthy scares and compelling ideas to the table. However, throughout its timeline, ''Shelby Oaks'' aimlessly intersects formulaic cliches and other predictable beats with non-existent punctuation."

References

External links

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{{Portal bar, United States, Film, Internet, Speculative fiction, Horror

2020s American films
2020s English-language films
2020s mystery horror films
2020s supernatural horror films
2024 directorial debut films
American independent films
American mystery horror films
American supernatural horror films
English-language mystery horror films
Films affected by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike
Films produced by Aaron B. Koontz
Films produced by Mike Flanagan
Films scored by the Newton Brothers
Films set in amusement parks
Films set in Ohio
Films set in prison
Films shot in Cleveland
Intrepid Pictures films
Kickstarter-funded films
Neon (company) films