Shelby Oaks 4K 2024

Released just in time for Halloween, “Shelby Oaks” is already the second example of YouTubers branching out into horror filmmaking. We first saw this trend in 2023, when the Filippu brothers presented the public with an excellent, entertaining example of the genre. Now we have a film created using a similar formula, but this time under the direction of Chris Stackman.

‘Shelby Oaks’ is a blend of narrative film and mockumentary with found-footage elements. In the story, Riley is the founder of the YouTube show ‘Paranormal Paranoids,’ where she and her friends explore abandoned locations in an attempt to capture something supernatural.

The film opens as a pseudo-documentary investigation into the disappearance of Riley and her team. Archival footage alternates with interviews with the missing woman’s sister and other segments styled as documentary inserts. Even in the opening scenes, an attentive viewer will easily spot references to ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘The Grave Diggers,’ as well as recognize characteristic techniques of Japanese horror, particularly the style of Koji Shiraishi, the director of the cult found-footage film ‘Noroi.’

Just like the mysterious entities in the film, the viewer will be haunted by parallels to other classic works of the genre: *Solstice*, *Lake Mungo*, *Rosemary’s Baby*, and many others come to mind in one scene or another. For most films, such a wealth of allusions would be a problem, but Stackman turns them into an advantage; where a script usually falters, he builds a unique atmosphere, winning viewers over with his sincerity and fanatical love for the genre.

Where fear is needed—fear truly arrives; where suspense is required—genuine anxiety takes hold. The musical and visual design complement each other organically, creating the feeling of a cohesive, well-thought-out work. This is an honest horror ride, capable of giving fans of the genre a quick dopamine rush without unnecessary pretension.

In ‘Shelby Oaks,’ you can feel the touch of someone who sincerely respects and deeply understands horror. When directors like this enter the industry, it’s especially gratifying to realize that the genre’s history is being used not to exploit familiar tropes, but to reinterpret and develop them in the hands of a truly talented creator.