Chris Stuckmann, known from YouTube, makes his feature-length directorial debut with Shelby Oaks, which emerged as one of the most original horror films for the “true crime generation” after its screening at Fantastic Fest. The film centers on Mia (Camille Sullivan), who obsessively searches for her long-missing sister, a journey that unfolds not only as a family drama but also as a gateway to a dark, supernatural evil. The cast includes notable names like Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, and the legendary Keith David.
The production blends true crime aesthetics with found footage techniques. Initially presented with the cold precision of a documentary, the footage quickly spirals into a paranormal nightmare. Stuckmann does more than tell a disappearance story; he collides the realism craved by a generation raised on Unsolved Mysteries and Serial with supernatural horror. This makes Shelby Oaks a unique experience, appealing to both horror genre enthusiasts and true crime devotees.
Originating from an independent Kickstarter campaign, the film’s adoption by NEON and their robust support for its vision is no coincidence. Shelby Oaks has the potential to create a significant ripple in genre cinema when it reaches the right audience. Straddling the intersection of true crime and the paranormal, the film highlights both a contemporary cultural obsession and cinema’s enduring power to surprise.
Shelby Oaks is set for release on October 24, 2025, and is poised to become one of the most talked-about works in horror cinema.
Apartment No: 26 Note: This film reminds us that behind missing persons cases, there may lie not only crime but also the call of the unknown.
