‘Shelby Oaks’ is a 2024 American supernatural horror mystery film produced, written, and directed by Chris Stuckmann in his feature directorial debut, with Mike Flanagan serving as an executive producer. The film stars Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Sarah Durn, and others. It is a continuation of an online series of fictional found footage videos featuring a paranormal investigative team called the Paranormal Paranoids, which also starred Durn. The plot follows a woman, portrayed by Sullivan, who is determined to find her sister and refuses to give up despite facing numerous seemingly supernatural obstacles. Her sister, Durn, went missing while investigating the mysterious abandoned town of Shelby Oaks, and although authorities and online sleuths suspect she is dead, the truth remains unknown.
The film begins with a found footage style reminiscent of the Blair Witch series, which made this format popular. However, it boasts a well-crafted story and quality production elements, from editing to sound design, which is particularly crucial in horror films. Director Chris Stuckmann, a film critic and YouTuber, shows his dedication through this labor of love. Despite limited production funding, he successfully raised money through Kickstarter to bring this project to life. What he achieves with this low-budget production is quite astonishing. While I appreciated the found footage format akin to Blair Witch, Stuckmann elevates that concept further by weaving it into a quality movie filled with horror, story, and several genuine jump-scares.
One aspect that stood out to me was the quality of acting, despite the absence of major headline actors. I also appreciated the use of cameras; even with close-up scenes, the cinematography effectively contributes to the horror of uncovering what happened to this ghost-hunting exploration YouTube team. It demonstrates how quality cinematography can shine in settings that don’t rely on expansive outdoor scenes.
On a personal note, I appreciated the Ohio locations used in the film, as I have visited several in the last 2-3 years. The prison scenes will be familiar to anyone who has seen ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. The film shows the prison as it appears today, run-down and abandoned, outside of typical tourism. The lost town and amusement park are also places that my wife and family recently explored.
Overall, I really liked this movie; it provided good scares and thought-provoking concepts. It made me reflect on how determined I would be to search for a loved one who went missing. People might pursue this for a while, but what drives someone to continue despite the doubts of others? The love between siblings, spouses, and others can be extraordinary. In a world that often seems filled with hate, as a follower of Jesus, I’m reminded of the call to love, even my enemies. Just like in the movie, while there may be supernatural obstacles, the directive to love remains unchanged. This doesn’t mean that evil doesn’t have consequences; it certainly does, and we should hold it accountable. However, the ultimate condemnation lies with God. We must be careful not to let the evil around us sway our thoughts and actions to the point of supporting it, even while striving to do what is right.
I love good horror and have expressed this many times, both in person and online. Evil is dark, it exists, and nothing illustrates the battle between good and evil—and its consequences—better than horror. It can serve as a parable within one of the simplest film formats, and ‘Shelby Oaks’ is a quality example of this. Who will we allow to influence us? Will we succumb to evil and become complicit in it, or will we choose the path of good, which has the potential to yield positive results?
This movie is set to release on the weekend of October 24, and it’s definitely worth considering if you haven’t yet. On a scale of 1 to 10, this is a solid contemporary film that reflects the passion of its creators. For that reason, I give it a score of 7.5.