A decade after carving out his voice as one of the most prominent online film commentators, Chris Stuckmann finally steps behind the camera for his feature debut, Shelby Oaks — a chilling supernatural mystery shot in his native Ohio and produced in collaboration with genre mainstays Paper Street Pictures.
Stuckmann not only directs, but also pens the original screenplay, crafting a narrative that sinks its claws into one of horror’s most divisive but beloved formats: found footage.
Full disclosure — we don’t hand out found-footage praise lightly. But when this subgenre hits the mark, it burrows deep. And Shelby Oaks is shaping up to do just that.
The film spirals around the eerie disappearance of a group of paranormal investigators known as the Paranormal Paranoids. Twelve years later, their story resurfaces as Mia Brennan (Camille Sullivan — Hunter Hunter, The Unseen) digs into the cold case of her missing sister Riley, the group’s lead investigator. But Mia’s search doesn’t just lead her into the shadows—they live there. What starts as a missing persons case quickly unspools into something far more sinister, as long-buried childhood horrors claw their way back into the light.
Sullivan is supported by a genre-rich ensemble: Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, Emily Bennett, and Derek Mears.
Behind the scenes, Stuckmann is joined by producers Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead, with horror heavyweight Mike Flanagan stepping in as executive producer alongside Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka under the Intrepid Pictures banner.
Flanagan, no stranger to stories about grief, trauma, and otherworldly terrors, offered guidance throughout the filmmaking process. “I was impressed with Chris’ work ethic, his intellect, his talent and his determination,” Flanagan said. “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.”
From script to post, Flanagan provided notes, mentorship, and vital connections—lending Shelby Oaks a lineage that traces directly back to the resurgence of modern indie horror.
Shelby Oaks had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20, 2024. Early buzz from critics praised its slow-burning first half, its suffocating atmosphere, and Sullivan’s standout performance.
The nightmare begins for general audiences when Shelby Oaks hits U.S. theaters via Neon on October 3, 2025.
