Who Took Riley Brennan? Crowdfunded Horror ‘Shelby Oaks’ Arrives In Cinemas This Halloween 👻

Welcome to Knockout Horror and to our very first news article. We don’t normally cover upcoming releases but I really want the chance to shine a spotlight on indie horror cinema. While reviews are all well and good. I figured this was another way I could give a little back to the genre I love so much. I am seriously excited about this movie, as well.

Don’t you just love it when you actually get to watch something completely fresh for spooky month? Well, get ready for a Halloween night filled with frights, as Altitude prepares to unleash the highly anticipated horror movie, Shelby Oaks, in UK and Irish cinemas on 31st October. Edit: The cinema release just got a bump up to the 29th of October so even less time to wait.

From debut writer-director Chris Stuckmann, who you may know for his 2 million plus subscriber YouTube channel. This movie has already received some incredibly promising critical acclaim with an 85% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film follows one woman’s desperate search for her long-lost sister. An investigation that spirals into a terrifying obsession when she realises the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been horrifyingly real. The movie has been described as a uniquely immersive journey that boldly announces the arrival of a compelling new voice in genre cinema.

A Critically Acclaimed Nightmare

Early buzz for Shelby Oaks has been pretty damn insane, with critics praising its bone-chilling atmosphere and razor-sharp tension. The film has been described as a “horrific nightmare” by Collider and “unnerving as hell” by Mashable.

The praise doesn’t stop there, though:

• “Creepy as hell” – HeyUGuys
• “Nightmarish, traumatising and terrifying” – SciFiNow
• “It redefines the horror genre” – SlashFilm

That’s some significant praise for a movie that was born from a YouTube skit. It kind of boggles my mind to think of the ambition and drive needed to take this project on. It’s one thing to have an idea or a concept for a horror movie. It’s something completely different to actually attempt to bring that idea to life. I think that’s what I love so much about indie horror. The passion and dedication it takes to see things through.

Stuckmann relates how difficult it was to actually get funding for this movie. He simply couldn’t find a comparison point to demonstrate what it was he was making. “All those failed financing attempts could be traced back to the fact that a movie like Shelby Oaks didn’t have a proven roadmap. I couldn’t say, “It’s this meets this.” This is where crowdfunding came in and that is what really makes this movie stand out, to me.

By the Fans, For the Fans

What makes the journey of Shelby Oaks so remarkable is its grassroots origin. The project shattered records to become one of the most-funded horror films in Kickstarter history, attracting over 4,500 backers who helped bring Stuckmann’s vision to life. The film also caught the eye of acclaimed horror maestro Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Midnight Mass), who serves as an executive producer.

Nine years ago, my wife and I shot a YouTube sketch that has now evolved into a feature film. Over the course of making it, I became a father to twins, and a pandemic shut down the globe. Most filmmakers say that every film  they make changes them, and indeed, while making Shelby Oaks, the axis of my entire world shifted. And I couldn’t be happier.“

– Chris Stuckmann Writer, Director

For Stuckmann, the story evolved into something deeply personal, reflecting his own experience of being separated from his sister. “I’d identify with a story about someone’s desperate yearning to find a lost loved one, as seemingly insurmountable forces keep them apart,” the director stated. Citing influences like Lake Mungo and the work of M. Night Shyamalan, Stuckmann has crafted a film that defies easy categorisation.

Starring Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, and Michael Beach, Shelby Oaks is an ultra promising indie horror that I can’t wait to check out. Director Chris Stuckmann has actually documented a lot of the steps involved with bringing this movie to life on his YouTube channel (link to the behind the scenes playlist). It’s interesting stuff and well worth checking out.

Shelby Oaks will be in UK and Irish cinemas from Friday, 31st October.