Shelby Oaks perfectly blends found footage, mockumentary, and the horror genres in a way that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Chris Stumann knows horror. He has been a fan of the genre forever, which really comes through in his directorial debut, Shelby Oaks. What started as fun YouTube videos that he and his wife filmed themselves has turned into one of the most unforgettable horror movies of the year. Perfectly blending several genres: found footage, mockumentary, and horror/thriller, this is a cannot miss movie.
The story follows Riley (Sarah Durn) who is the host of a YouTube Channel, Paranormal Paranoids. The group of four investigate places that are rumored to be haunted. When they all suddenly go missing, Riley’s sister Mia (Camille Sullivan) immediately begins looking for her.
Shelby Oaks starts as a mockumentary, where the story of Riley and her friends is being told. It is comprised of interviews with Mia, as well as clips from footage from YouTube investigations and from the camera that was found at the last place Riley was seen. The first part of this film is eerie and terrifying, largely due to the way that it is filmed.
For me, paranormal experiences have always interested me. Movies like The Blair Witch Project are intense and will give me nightmares. Mostly because they not only feel like something that could happen, but due to the way that they are shot, you are right there with the main characters through it all.
Without spoilers, there is a turning point in Shelby Oaks that comes in a shocking and abrupt way. My jaw dropped and even though I was already enjoying the first half of the movie, it was then that I leaned forward and found myself all the way in.
As someone who has a sister, and has two daughters, I could heavily relate to the strong bond between Riley and Mia. If anything like this happened to my sister I would never, ever give up hope. And I would certainly wish that my daughters would do the same for each other. Perhaps because of this, there were several scenes that really hit me right in the gut (and the heart) throughout Shelby Oaks.
Sarah Durn and Camille Sullivan both deliver incredible performances. They are both two pieces to the puzzle and it leaves the audience wondering when, if ever, they will come together. Even without them having that face-to-face time on screen, it is easy to see and feel the sisterly bond.
In the back half of the film, a switch flips, and we get into a much darker story. I found myself hanging onto every word, and being extremely present in every every scene, as I tried to work it all out. There is a creature, and multiple jump scares, that shook me to my core. It is this part of the story that ties everything together, making Shelby Oaks as a whole an extremely effective horror.
No spoilers here but the ending left me with my jaw on the floor. I truly cannot wait to see what Chris Stuckmann does next.
About Shelby Oaks
A woman’s desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realising that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real.
Shelby Oaks marks the debut feature from Chris Stuckmann, with assured visual storytelling and razor-sharp tension, it boldly announces the arrival of a compelling new voice in genre cinema.
Starring Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III and Michael Beach, Shelby Oaks is a one-of-a-kind horror that defies genre conventions, delivering a uniquely immersive and terrifying journey.
Shelby Oaks is one the most the most-funded horror film project on Kickstarter, attracting over 4500 backers and with support of acclaimed horror filmmaker and executive producer Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Midnight Mass).
Shelby Oaks played at Fantastic Fest 2025 and comes to theaters October 24th and in UK Cinemas on October 31st.
