Overview
- Reviewers largely praise the opening documentary-style act for atmosphere and credibility, then fault the later pivot to standard horror for derivativeness and uneven execution.
- The feature debut of YouTube critic Chris Stuckmann blends found footage, faux documentary, and traditional narrative into a single hybrid structure.
- Neon acquired the film after its festival run and financed reshoots and a 2025 recut led by editors Patrick Lawrence and Brett W. Bachman, who emphasized the strong first act.
- The project was crowdfunded with roughly $1.4 million on Kickstarter and lists Mike Flanagan as an executive producer.
- Neon is releasing Shelby Oaks in theaters on Oct. 24, with coverage noting the film’s influences and recurring comparisons to Blair Witch, Lake Mungo, Session 9 and Hereditary.