Shelby Oaks, the crowdfunded horror film by YouTube critic-turned-director Chris Stuckmann, is set to hit US theaters on October 3, 2025. The movie gained attention after breaking Kickstarter records and later securing a deal with Neon, which doubled its budget for reshoots to add more gore and violence.
The film follows Mia Brennan (Camille Sullivan), who searches for her missing sister Riley, a member of a paranormal investigation team called the Paranormal Paranoids. The story mixes traditional filmmaking with found footage elements, uncovering a dark supernatural mystery tied to their childhood.
Neon stepped in after the film’s premiere at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival, where it received mostly positive reviews. The studio provided extra funds to reshoot key scenes, including practical effects and more intense horror moments.
“We were able to go back into the movie and really punch up some particularly bloody elements. I can’t even express how unprecedented that is for an independent filmmaker,” Stuckmann said in a Kickstarter update.
The reshoots took place at the Ohio State Reformatory, the same prison featured in The Shawshank Redemption. Creature actor Derek Mears (Friday the 13th) also joined the cast in an undisclosed role. Editor Brett W. Bachman (Companion) was brought in to refine the final cut.
Originally funded through a $1.39 million Kickstarter campaign, Shelby Oaks became the most-funded horror project on the platform. Executive producer Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep) mentored Stuckmann throughout production, comparing his journey to his own early filmmaking days.
“I was impressed with Chris’ work ethic, his intellect, his talent, and his determination. He’s on a really exciting path,” Flanagan told Variety.
The film’s release was delayed multiple times due to post-production challenges, including the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Early reviews praised its atmosphere and Sullivan’s performance, though some critics felt the second half relied too much on familiar horror tropes.
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With Neon’s backing, Shelby Oaks is now positioned as a major horror release for Halloween 2025. The studio previously found success with Longlegs and sees potential in Stuckmann’s debut.
Credits: IndieWire
