Shelby Oaks : Movie Review – A Slow Start That Shows Promise, Only To Pull The Rug From Under You At The Last Minute

By: Dominic La-Viola

YouTube movie reviewer, turned indie filmmaker, Chris Stuckmann released his first feature film this week, with Shelby Oaks. The horror film gem that is executive produced by modern horror icon Mike Flanagan.  

 I went into this film completely blind, having no idea what the movie was about, other than the fact that it was indeed an indie horror film. I can honestly say I never really followed Stuckmann on YouTube, or had any interest or ill feelings towards him prior to this screening . 

Although, that doesn’t mean I’m not fully aware of who he is or the rather large fan base that he has built over the years as a YouTube movie reviewer. Not to mention the enemies that come with the territory. 

Before seeing the movie, I saw a few posts on Blusky, in which “film critics” spoke poorly of the film and even made comments about how he was a “YouTube Reviewer” and not a real film critic. 

More so the posts were bashing him, then the film itself or should I say belittling his status as a serious critic of film, due to the platform in which he expressed his opinions. Adding to the power struggle, pay gap and availability in that space, causing issues between film critics and YouTube reviewers.

Given the fan base and the work in which he did before making the transition, there is going to be a lot of basis. Going both ways. 

The film opens very much as a found footage film, mixed with a POV of someone being interviewed, giving it a documentary style tone. Which, I wasn’t the most excited about and thought, it was going to be just another found footage film. 

One that lacked three-dimensional characters, a real plot or storyline. Given the subject matter that was introduced thus far. Although to my surprise, the film did pick up and made a rather interesting pivot from found footage to narrative storytelling. 

Which is where the film really starts, and we get a better understanding of what it is we’re watching and where it’s going. 

Giving us a proper introduction to the characters with whom we will be spending the film, bringing me back into the loop of the story. 

Now, as much as I wasn’t a huge fan of the opening of the film, I have to admit, I asked myself what would have been a more compelling opening, and I really could only think to move some parts, break up the found footage pieces to make it feel more balanced instead of two separate parts. 

 For once, we are actually introduced to the main character, and the story actually begins. I find the film to feel a lot better paced and more engaging. Which is why I feel breaking up the opening would allow the film to feel more engaging and more flowing. 

However, once the film gets started, it not only holds your attention. It completely brings you in. At points, I could literally feel the Shriners dawn the back of my spine. 

Stuckmann does a great job of building up the story after the initial opening, yet finding the landing is the problem. The film ends, yet nothing is truly answered, and nothing feels resolved. Making me, as the viewer, feel cheated and robbed. 

There are moments throughout the film that answer some questions, but not nearly enough. I feel like there are some plot issues and gaps within the film. Topped with quite a few technical problems throughout the film that really stand out. Pulling me out more often than I would have liked. 

Yet, given the budget and the way in which the film was produced, I overlooked the issues with lighting, CGI, and various other technical issues that the film had. All that are completely related to the budget and resources had to make the film.

At no point do these moments truly take out of the movie, yet they are there and they are noticeable enough to throw you off and make you question some of the decisions that are made. 

Overall. The opening is slightly slow and uneventful, while the middle is, without question, the meat and backbone of the film. The ending, a lot like the beginning, comes up short. Leaving you unsatisfied and wondering if you were just cheated out of what you paid to see. Diminishing the overall film up to this.

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars