A woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real.

Shelby Oaks is the directorial debut of renowned YouTube movie critic and passionate horror film fan Chris Stuckmann, who realised his filmmaking dream following an extremely successful crowdfunding campaign and the guidance of Mike Flanagan who joined the Shelby Oaks production as an Executive Producer.

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Seeing Stuckmann’s work on the big screen will no doubt be an exciting draw for long time fans of his YouTube channel, but Shelby Oaks has the intrigue and the scares to bring onboard even the most shrewd horror fan.

Shelby Oaks follows the journey of Mia Brennan as she returns to the trail of her missing younger sister Riley, years after her unexplained disappearance. Camille Sullivan gives a strong performance as Mia, the older sister of Riley whose life was upended by her disappearance and the years of searching that followed. 

The story is told through a few different ways that reveal some of Stuckmann’s influences like The Blair Witch Project and Rosemary’s Baby. While these are worn on the film’s sleeve, this doesn’t detract from the effectiveness of the atmosphere and horror of Shelby Oaks. Rather it shows an earnest and keen appreciation for the horror genre. 

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Shelby Oaks shifts in its style throughout its runtime, where its first half found footage sequences interspersed through an unfolding investigation, sees the film is at its strongest narratively that is followed by a second half more direct in its scares, foregoing some of the tension and atmosphere developed earlier. 

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Shelby Oaks is the result of a passionate film fan taking the chance to realise their filmmaking dream. Chris Stuckmann’s deep appreciation for the horror genre is clear to see here, and it shows he is a talent to watch in the years to come.

★★★.5