“Tense, mysterious and emotional” ….that’s all I wanted.
For those who are still recovering from Halloween, there is one more scare lurking around the corner and that’s Shelby Oaks. After a long wait, its finally here in the UK and after seeing it, I have some thoughts, not only on the film but also around the direction of the Film Industry, let’s indulge.
Intro/Context
I have been waiting for this film for such a long time, ever since it was announced, it kept getting re-released and delayed, the trailer info wasn’t released until only very recently. So far, the reviews have been mixed, People who are not fans of horror, will be very dismissive about this film and not particularly impressed, but for people like myself who followed Chris Stuckmann’s channel for around 12 years and understands film making as an art form, I believe he is showing us just how much he loves films and is embracing that with the audience, and in the heat of franchise fatigue and the overload of streaming services and content, I for one love this intention as its a breath of fresh air in the industry. Long story short, I think Shelby Oaks reignites the long-lost found footage genre with a twist.
But, lets first understand the plot. The film follows a woman who is on the search for her long-lost sister who was a part of a paranormal investigator team, that vanished out of thin air, with no obvious leads, the search slowly becomes an obsession when she realizes a demon from their childhood may have been real, not imaginary. At the heart and center of this film, is a performance carried by Camile Sullivan, who showcases the love and vulnerability needed in a situation like this.
Other themes include the mysteries surrounding the paranormal, UFOS even and the role that the media plays in that frenzy. So, there really is something for everyone here.
Throwback to 90’s and 2000’s
Lets be real, the current state of Hollywood and the cinematic experience is kind of all over the place and a bit up and down, its rare that we get see a film whose director leaves a mark of passion through every written word, every shot and of course includes homages, while they might frustrate some, to me they felt fun and of good taste, because he is referencing classic relevant films of the genre.
On the media context side, where most of our content is consumed either through online or streaming where the picture quality never really feels cinematic, Chris tells an emotionally motivated story that to me felt authentic and genuine and also maintained a decent level of cinematic quality throughout. Although, the tone of the film can be miss directional at times, the story behind the films production as well as the actual haunting case of the missing sister was a dual interesting and often compelling experience.
This leads me nicely into what I liked about shelby oaks, which is the film felt devoid of forced studio interferences, this is a low- budget indie film that takes a break from your typical big studio franchise pictures which often feel governed by pre-determined checklists. Shelby Oaks felt more like a genuine nostalgia trip, and I mean that sincerely, the world building felt unique and the story kept me on my toes throughout and there were no extra unnecessary plot diversions in my eyes.
This film is a throwback to those late 90’s and early 2000’s horror films which is the reason why I admired the picture. This film felt like its own piece that was being written by someone with a singular vision and voice, and I felt that passion. Films that come to mind from a similar field and tone of voice are Signs (2002), Blair Witch Project (1999) and perhaps a tonal modern dramatic touch of Prisoners (2013) and Hereditary (2019). Now, I cant say for certain that Chris’s vision was completely fully realized, as he did have a helping hand from various producers who took control in a few scenes, but we saw glimpses.
On that note, he is a huge fan of dramatic horror films, we know how much he likes The Babadook (2014), which is a film about depression but also has this dark fairytale esque plot that centers around monsters. Here, I think he is trying to tell an authentic story, drawing from his love of the genre as well as personal experiences, trying to capture the emotions of what Mia is going through, as well as scare the audience at the same time. The scares come through with various attempts, which did convey an unsettling glimpse of a wider horror universe. One fact I have learnt after watching this, is that horror films that try to establish and mold their own universe are usually the most unpredictable and intense of the lot.
Areas For Improvement
Of course, it’s not without its flaws. This is Chris’s first feature film, after all. Camille’s performance is solid, but I wanted more from her character — the relationships around her could have been fleshed out more to give the story a stronger emotional pull. Certain plot points that did not gel well with me included the time length the sister goes missing, which is 12 years, which I felt was an excessive amount and not truly believable.
The film also struggles with tone at times. It sometimes explains too much, other times not enough. The constant switch between genres — found footage, mystery, psychological horror — can be a bit uneven. A more experienced director might have balanced these tones more effectively.
Still, these are forgivable growing pains, especially for a debut.
Chris’s Story and message
Films of today can feel so shallow and pre packaged, the term factory filmmaking has been referenced several times but has never felt so relevant as it is today. This film at least breaks that cycle and bridges that gap between indie and studio, with the overall message to take away is that anyone can tell a story and anyone who has an idea can pursue that if they work hard at it. At the end day, its about capturing the intensity and raw horror of the situation, thats what its all about.
I do generally hope and feel that Shelby Oaks could become a cult horror classic, a low indie film that gains some attention in the next 5-10 years, we have been missing a throwback horror like this in recent years in my opinion.
Rating
Overall, I want everyone to see Shelby Oaks in cinemas because it is generally frightening and unpredictable, with an effective performance that carries the emotional weight of the story, but also raw imagery that leaves you on the edge of your seat. It will appeal to modern horror fans especially with the opening 25 mins with its use of the documentary form, as well as appeal to retro fans of the 2000’s with its glorified gory content. If I was to be completely objective with the issues considered, Shelby Oaks gets a solid B.
As a fan of Chris Stuckmann’s channel and now this, I will leave this review with two thumbs up and huge congratulations to Chris and the production team.
So going forward….
I can definitely see Chris Stuckmann working in TV, especially on crime horror content, I would also like to see Shelby Oaks as a graphic novel as well.
TheReviewAwakens 