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Shelby Oaks’ Nears Release as Early Reviews Praise the Opening, Fault a Jarring Pivot

Crowdfunded origins, followed by distributor reshoots, shaped the final cut now facing critics.

Overview

  • Neon will open Chris Stuckmann’s horror feature in U.S. theaters on Oct. 24, with the latest reviews published Oct. 21–22 skewing negative overall.
  • Critics widely single out the mockumentary/found-footage prologue as the film’s strongest stretch, noting a notable stylistic shift roughly 20 minutes in.
  • Later sections are frequently described as derivative of recent and classic horror touchstones, with several reviews calling the conclusion muddled.
  • Stuckmann, a longtime YouTube reviewer, developed the project with Kickstarter backing reported at about $1.4 million, with Mike Flanagan joining as executive producer.
  • Neon acquired the film ahead of its 2024 Fantasia premiere and funded reshoots to add gore and tighten the cut; the cast includes Camille Sullivan, Sarah Durn, Brendan Sexton III, Keith David, Robin Bartlett and Michael Beach.