Chris Stuckmann, a movie critic and author with a channel on YouTube that has almost 2 million subscribers, is making his feature writing and directing debut with the horror film Shelby Oaks, and people are hyped. A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign broke records, as Shelby Oaks became the most funded horror film in the history of Kickstarter, pulling in nearly 1.4 million dollars from 14,720 backers. Now filming has begun in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and Deadline has broken the news that the cast of Shelby Oaks includes Camille Sullivan (Hunter Hunter), Keith David (The Thing), Brendan Sexton III (Session 9), Michael Beach (If Beale Street Could Talk), Robin Bartlett (Shutter Island), Charlie Talbert (The Big Short), Emily Bennett (Alone With You) and Sarah Durn (Where the Crawdads Sing).
Shelby Oaks centers on
Mia’s (Sullivan) frantic search for her sister Riley, (Durn) after Riley ominously disappeared in the last tape of a group of paranormal investigators called the Paranormal Paranoids. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood may have been real. The project has been inspired by, and accompanied by, a long-lead online marketing campaign around the subject.
Shelby Oaks will be shot as a traditional feature, but with some elements of found footage. Stuckmann is producing the film alongside Paper Street CEO Aaron B. Koontz. Cameron Burns and Ashleigh Snead are also producing for Paper Street, with Shawn Talley, Alex Euting, and Farrell Rose co-producing for the company. Adam F. Goldberg, Paul Holbrook, Sean E. DeMott, and Tony Killough serve as executive producers.
Due to the “long-lead online marketing campaign” about the disappearance of the Paranormal Paranoids, I was concerned that Shelby Oaks was going to be found footage when it was first announced. I was glad to hear that it’s primarily being shot as a traditional feature, and now I’m impressed by the cast Stuckmann has assembled. Things are looking good for Shelby Oaks.
Are you a fan of Chris Stuckmann, and are you looking forward to his movie? Let us know by leaving a comment below.