Chris Stuckmann just made the jump from film critic to full-blown horror filmmaker, and if the first trailer for Shelby Oaks is any clue, we’re in for a wild, spine-tingling ride this spooky season. Is this the found footage fright-fest to bury the others? Or will Stuckmann’s debut be another casualty in the haunted woods? Let’s break down why this first look at Shelby Oaks has everyone talking—and clutching their nightlights.
Chris Stuckmann Brings VHS Horrors Back with “Shelby Oaks” Trailer
The Shelby Oaks trailer wastes no time pulling you into its web of missing persons, haunted videotapes, and raw, escalating dread. The setup? Mia (played by Camille Sullivan, in what fans are calling a breakout performance) is obsessed with finding her sister Riley, who disappeared after claiming to see something lurking outside her window. Cue the arrival of a creepy, blood-stained VHS tape and the start of Mia’s harrowing descent into Shelby Oaks, an abandoned town with secrets sharper than its shadows.
With vibes that call back to The Ring, The Blair Witch Project, and even Silent Hill, Stuckmann’s film leans heavily on atmospheric horror. The combination of faux-documentary, found footage, and classic handheld camera work ramps up the tension and unease. From the trailer alone, it’s clear: Stuckmann’s keen eye for what makes horror movies tick is alive and twitching here.
What Makes “Shelby Oaks” a Must-Watch for Horror Fans?
A big reason for the buzz? Stuckmann hasn’t come to play—or to recycle the same old scares. The film’s picked up by NEON (the studio behind horror gems like Cuckoo and Together) and even has horror heavyweight Mike Flanagan producing. The music is handled by The Newton Brothers, so you know every scare has the right creepy soundtrack.
The plot goes beyond missing people and VHS tapes. There’s a meta layer: the film takes inspiration from a series of viral online “Paranormal Paranoids” videos, and the movie’s launch followed a massively successful Kickstarter campaign—making it the most crowd-funded horror film ever. That’s pretty meta for a first-time director, and it lends the project a vivid sense of community anticipation and fan investment.
Critical reception after early screenings has been strong, especially for the film’s unsettling atmosphere and Sullivan’s performance. Some critics note a few rough edges—hey, it’s a first film!—but for the most part, the chills are real, and horror fans might just have their new October tradition. The release is locked for October 3 in U.S. theaters, so mark your calendars for some big-screen scares.
If you’re looking for a fresh scream this Halloween (or just another excuse to sleep with the lights on), Chris Stuckmann’s Shelby Oaks just catapulted itself to the top of the watchlist. Dust off your old VHS player (or maybe don’t), and prepare to get “Shelby-fied.” This is one found footage journey you won’t want to take alone.
