YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann screened his debut feature, “Shelby Oaks,” on Oct. 20 at the Union Theater, four days ahead of its worldwide release. Stuckmann fans and horror enthusiasts lined the Union’s sidewalks, waiting in anticipation. However, despite the buzz, the film fell short, unable to meet viewers’ high expectations.
Given Stuckmann’s prominent online presence, it came as no surprise that the film tried to address the connection between digital and real-life horror. “Shelby Oaks” uses a found-footage, mockumentary style for the first third of the film before abruptly transitioning to a more conventional narrative that lasts for the remainder of the movie. The mockumentary style attempts to ground the film in the real world, but the narrative portion becomes unrealistic and borderline ironic, resulting in a feature closer to “Scream” than “The Blair Witch Project.”
“Shelby Oaks” follows the “Paranormal Paranoids,” an online group of horror junkies, as they explore haunted locations, coincidentally encountering ghosts and spirits. Eventually, Riley Brennan, the group’s most famous “paranoid,” played by Sarah Durn, goes missing in Shelby Oaks, Ohio, leaving behind a disturbing video showing her disappearance and a glimpse of what took her. Twelve years after her disappearance, the film turns to Riley’s sister, Mia, played by Camille Sullivan, as she begins her search for Riley after a man delivers a mini-DV tape labeled “Shelby Oaks.”
Mia’s search for her sister occupies much of the film, leaving little room to establish the story’s villain — the demon from Riley’s childhood nightmares. As Mia’s journey unfolds, she learns about the demon, ultimately ending up at an abandoned amusement park, where Riley shot her last video. Despite horror clichés like wandering off alone and following eerie figures without hesitation, the film maintains a distinctly creepy atmosphere through its lighting and angles, courtesy of cinematographer Andrew Scott Baird.
Stuckmann’s debut proves he understands the kind of sound design, gore and jump scares needed to create a horror movie. Stuckmann’s experience as a film critic on YouTube seems to have shaped the film’s modern yet classical approach to horror, opting for traditional methods to evoke unease. With her intense delivery and believable screams, Camille Sullivan’s acting transformed Mia from a character into a real person. However, where visuals and mood excel, the message and pacing of the film disappoint.
Shifting suddenly from mockumentary to traditional horror stunts the film’s logic, raising more questions than answers. Maintaining the mockumentary style might have made the film’s obvious nature feel more exciting and fresh, but ultimately, the decision to switch styles works against the film. While “Shelby Oaks” doesn’t fully deliver on its premise, the atmosphere created by Stuckmann makes it an impressive effort for a low-budget entry in a highly competitive genre.
2 out of 5 demon babies
