[Trailer] ‘Shelby Oaks’ Brings YouTube Horror to the Big Screen
The upcoming supernatural horror mystery Shelby Oaks is already building buzz ahead of its release later this year. Written and directed by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann, the movie marks his first time behind the camera for a feature film.
The film is inspired by a viral online found footage campaign about a fictional ghost-hunting group called The Paranormal Paranoids, and now it’s headed to theaters, with Neon set to release it in the United States on October 3, 2025.
The movie stars Camille Sullivan as Mia Brennan, a woman who has spent over a decade looking for her missing sister Riley, played by Sarah Durn. Back in the 2000s, Riley ran a YouTube channel with her friends, visiting haunted spots and filming their adventures.
But during a trip to the abandoned town of Shelby Oaks, Ohio, Riley’s three friends were murdered, and a chilling tape hinted that she may have been taken, or killed, by an unknown man. Years later, Mia finds another tape that convinces her something far more sinister is behind her sister’s disappearance.
The cast also includes Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, and more. Filming took place at real locations in Ohio, including the eerie Ohio State Reformatory and the abandoned Chippewa Lake Park. Stuckmann revealed that reshoots in March 2025 amped up the film’s violence and gore, pushing the scares even further.
Getting Shelby Oaks made was its own horror story. The project was first announced in 2021, but it faced delays due to budget issues and a possible strike by the IATSE trade union.
Stuckmann turned to Kickstarter for help, and fans delivered. The campaign broke records, becoming the most-funded horror movie project in Kickstarter history. It raised $650,000 in its first weeks and eventually topped $1 million from more than 11,000 backers.
The movie had its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival in July 2024, followed by a screening at the FrightFest film festival a month later. Critics have mostly been positive.
Rotten Tomatoes reports 81% of critics liked it, with many praising the unsettling atmosphere and Sullivan’s performance. Metacritic’s score is lower at 58 out of 100, suggesting a mix of opinions, but early reactions agree the movie’s first half delivers a chilling and tense setup.
Fans now have even more reason to be excited, the official trailer has been released, giving a first look at the haunting visuals, creepy found footage style, and the unsettling mystery at the center of the story.
Who took Riley Brennan?
— NEON (@neonrated) August 4, 2025
Official trailer for SHELBY OAKS. A new horror from writer/director Chris Stuckmann and executive producer Mike Flanagan. In theaters 10.3. pic.twitter.com/plALnZ2mfE
With its mix of viral internet lore, real-world creepy locations, and a slow-burn mystery that turns terrifying, Shelby Oaks is shaping up to be one of the year’s most intriguing horror releases.
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