Shelby Oaks, the “unsettling” horror starring Camille Sullivan, has released its chilling first trailer.
Written and directed by YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann, the story follows Mia Brennan (Sullivan) in her search for her long-lost sister Riley, with her obsession growing as she theorises that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real all along.
Featuring Brendan Sexton III and Michael Beach in supporting roles, as well as acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan as an executive producer, Shelby Oaks unveiled its chilling trailer earlier this week.
Replete with genre staples such as dimly-lit corridors and grainy home video footage, the clip sees Mia venture to the titular town in search of her sister, only to discover something far more sinister and deadly lurking under the surface.
Though the film isn’t due to hit cinemas until October in the US, the horror premiered at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival in July 2024, and has garnered positive word-of-mouth as evidenced by its approval rating of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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“Stuckmann and co-writer Sam Liz keep it all under tight control, even when the imagery suggests chaos or excess,” wrote Eye for Film, who added that the creeping sense of unease” would “get under your skin”.
“Shelby Oaks was obviously written by a critic, one with a near-legendary knowledge of the pop culture archives, and it’s directed with a palpable confidence that could lead to better things,” noted IndieWire, while Slashfilm dubbed it “deeply unsettling”.
“The edge-of-your-seat thrills, impeccable sound design, thoughtfully crafted cinematography and powerhouse performances bring to life the tragic tale of Riley Brennan in a feature that is sure to become a must-watch for all horror fans,” wrote FilmHounds.
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HeyUGuys was also full of praise, writing: “Pacy, clever, and most importantly, creepy as all hell; Shelby Oaks both is and isn’t what you’re expecting, announcing Chris Stuckmann as a very promising new voice in horror.”
While Shelby Oaks is still a few months away from being released in cinemas, one horror currently on the big screen is Zach Cregger’s Weapons, and you can read our handy ending explainer here if you’ve already watched the film.
Shelby Oaks is scheduled to be released in US cinemas on 3 October; there is currently no UK release date.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.