Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis:
After many years in production, YouTuber Chris Stuckmann’s film finally gets a theatrical release. The story follows a young paranormal investigator named Riley, who went missing twelve years ago. Her sister Mia has been investigating this disappearance over the years, straining her marriage and desire to start a family. But as Mia begins to piece together the mystery, she finds that there may be a demonic entity behind her disappearance. Can Mia reach Riley before it’s too late?
Positives:
I have followed Chris Stuckmann’s movie reviews for many years. He is one of the original voices behind video formatted film criticism and has been a large influence on many other film critics. To say I was looking forward to his directorial debut would be an understatement. He genuinely loves movies and has worked on “Shelby Oaks” for many years. It is clear that Stuckmann paid attention to other horror directors, as he has a keen eye for establishing moody sequences and dread inducing situations. His ability to let a scene breathe is impressive, festering in the terror that awaits. He chooses his settings nicely, whether it be an abandoned prison (the same used in Shawshank Redemption) or a withering house in the woods. Each properly sets the mood and gives the viewer cues to the intent of each scene. It is evident he understands the fundamentals in crafting a good horror movie, so credit where it’s due.
He also gets a good performance out of his leading actress. Stuckmann places a lot of the burden on Camille Sullivan to convey the unrest Mia feels for her missing sister. Robin Bartlett also provides a creepy supporting performance. These characters are thrown into a situation that is intriguing from the start. We are shown glimpses of Riley’s past through her YouTube channel. But we also see how a strange entity has affected her since youth, peeling back the layers of her story as Mia dives further into the investigation. The film grabs the viewer quickly with its intriguing premise, keeping us wondering what will be happening around every corner. Stuckmann also crafts some nice camera work. Again, it’s clear that he’s been following certain techniques throughout his Youtube career. He also uses a strong score, elevating the tension and dread of each scene. For a first time outing, this is a respectable film that shows lots of promise in his filmmaking career.
Negatives:
Although I wanted to shower Chris with praise, his first outing as a director has some bumps in the road. The main area his film falters would be the script. It’s clear he has an eye for strong cinematography and mood setting, but the story feels directionless at times. I found myself losing interest as Mia would spend long periods of time meandering like a lost dog. Some of the sequences felt unusually slow and flat, making said scene feel unimportant to the story. This is where Stuckmann could have tidied up the script and pieced together the mystery better. It instead feels like an incomplete story that could have been refined by another writer. Perhaps Chris will improve in this area or direct someone else’s script next time.
In the same vein, the story feels like a collection of good ideas getting lost in translation. There are some clunky transitions between scenes that feel abrupt, failing to feel like connective tissue in the same film. The story spends a lot of time in certain areas and then rushes to its conclusion in the final act. The payoff feels unsatisfying when looking at the events that take place before the finale. Mia is frantically looking for her sister for twelve years and then suddenly pieces together the mystery all in the span of what seems to be a few days? I don’t buy it. I know Stuckmann probably had to make tweaks throughout the shooting process but the conclusion didn’t hit the way it should have. But all things considered, Stuckmann shows promise. He just needs to focus on improving his script writing. He has a lot here to be proud of but should try directing someone else’s script in his next film.
Conclusion:
“Shelby Oaks” is a mixed bag. It showcases Youtuber Chris Stuckmann’s potential with a keen eye for framing a shot and ability to craft dread during a scary sequence. He also knows how to set up a story nicely, giving audiences the ingredients of a good story to get invested in. But his script writing hampers the story immensely, feeling like a hodge podge of creative ideas that amount to very little. The conclusion of the film will likely leave viewers underwhelmed with the “what could have been” feeling. Despite its issues, the film works well in certain segments. I give Chris immense credit for having the courage to put himself out there and go through the hard work of making his own film. He has talent but I hope this experience gives him an opportunity to reflect on sharpening up his skillset before his next project.
