In theaters on October 24, 2025, through Neon, Shelby Oaks is a Supernatural Horror that offers an intriguing mystery and creepy vibes. Mixing mockumentary, found footage, and traditional narrative storytelling, the film marks YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann’s long-awaited directorial debut, following Mia’s desperate search for her long-lost sister, Riley. As her obsession deepens, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from their childhood might not have been imaginary after all. Shelby Oaks starts strong with a unique story structure and builds genuine tension, but it ultimately collapses into familiar Horror tropes and a finale that undercuts everything that came before.
Camille Sullivan’s (Intelligence series, Hunter Hunter 2020) performance is one of the film’s greatest strengths, grounding the chaos with raw emotional depth and a palpable sense of grief. Even as the story veers into the surreal, she keeps it anchored in something human and heartbreaking — a woman torn between hope and horror, unable to let go of the past. With limited screen time for the supporting cast, Sullivan shoulders the film almost entirely on her own, delivering a performance that is as commanding as it is vulnerable.
Additionally, a shout-out to Robin Bartlett (The Powers That Be series, Mad About You series) as the unnerving Norma. Even with limited screen time, she leaves a lasting impression and helps make the film’s climax genuinely chilling. The film’s set pieces and production design are impressively crafted, turning ordinary spaces into sources of unease. Strong visual detail and moody cinematography keep the creep factor high from start to finish.
Shelby Oaks clearly draws inspiration from classic Found Footage Horror films and often feels like a spiritual cousin to the Paranormal Activity series. It builds slow-burn tension around a demonic presence, using suspense framing—lingering on empty spaces and corners to suggest a threat—to create an eerie, unsettling vibe. However, it never quite delivers the relentless scares that made its predecessor so effective. Despite these stylistic strengths, the film struggles to translate its tension into genuine fear.
The problem with Shelby Oaks is that it never truly delivers scares. While it has all the ingredients of a compelling horror film, the execution fails to bring them together in a way that genuinely frightens. The film frequently features dogs or wolves lurking in the background, and we catch fleeting glimpses of the demonic being, but despite their constant presence, neither the animals nor the entity ever feels genuinely threatening or scary.
In the end, the film’s journey might have felt more rewarding if the ending had not been so rushed, leaving the story’s tension and buildup feeling pointless. The ending’s reveal feels painfully familiar, as if the creative energy ran dry or studio interference cut the film short, leaving it flat and predictable.
Despite its flaws, Shelby Oaks represents a significant milestone for Stuckmann, marking his transition from YouTube critic to filmmaker. He successfully crowdfunded over $1.3 million and brought on acclaimed Horror director Mike Flanagan as executive producer. It is an ambitious first effort, and one can hope it is just the beginning of his filmmaking journey. He joins the ranks of YouTubers like Danny and Michael Philippou, who have found success in the Horror world with 2023’s Talk To Me and 2025’s Bring Her Back.
Though Shelby Oaks does not fully land as a Horror experience, it showcases Stuckmann’s creativity, determination, and vision. It is a bold first step that hints at what he might achieve when he combines his cinematic ambition with sharper execution. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Shelby Oaks 2 out of 5 stars.
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