We headed out to Cineworld last night for the Secret Screaming 11 of the new horror Shelby Oaks, which is released by Altitude in UK and Irish cinemas.
A woman’s desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realising that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real.
Shelby Oaks is the debut feature from Chris Stuckmann. With assured visual storytelling and razor-sharp tension, it boldly announces the arrival of a compelling new voice in genre cinema.
The new movie stars Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, and Michael Beach. Shelby Oaks has been classed as a one-of-a-kind horror that defies genre conventions, delivering a uniquely immersive and terrifying journey. But is it as scary as the blurb mentions!
Shelby Oaks is one of the most-funded horror film projects on Kickstarter, attracting over 4,500 backers with the support of acclaimed horror filmmaker and executive producer Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Midnight Mass).
The movie starts slowly, presenting its story in a documentary style reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project. It follows the journey of an older sister who is determined to discover what happened to her missing sister, focusing on whether she is alive or dead. The plot centres around paranormal investigators who have vanished, adding an air of mystery and urgency to the older sister’s quest for answers.
With a shocking moment and the introduction of mysterious tape, we head to Shelby Oaks to uncover the mystery and discover what’s going on in the abandoned town. The movie plays very much on the creepiness of the jump scares, which is a nice touch. You get shivvers but not the shocks, with the movie made by horror fans for horror fans, Shelby Oaks certainly has the feel of a higher-invested indie project. It also has moments that you can pick out that feel familiar, almost as if they are an homage to the horror films that the makers have enjoyed.
I found Shelby Oaks to be a bit too slow for my taste. There were several moments when I anticipated something shocking, especially after watching the trailer, but those moments didn’t quite deliver. However, I must say that the film is well shot. The cinematography, particularly in the nighttime forest scenes and the unsettling prison cell scene, looks fantastic on the big screen.
If you fancy a spooky movie to check out, then give this one a go.
Shelby Oaks will be in UK and Irish cinemas from October 29th
A Spooky Visit to Shelby Oaks
Movie title: Shelby Oaks (2024)
Movie description: A woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real.
Date published: October 29, 2025
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 31m
Director(s): Chris Stuckmann
Actor(s): Sarah Durn, Mason Heidger, Joe Quinn
Genre: Supernatural Horror
Summary
A Kickstarter-backed debut horror shot with assured craft follows a woman hunting her missing sister as childhood demons seem real; slow, Blair-Witch-style build with creepy mood and mild jump-scare payoff.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
