‘Shelby Oaks’ Finally Lands on DVD and Digital

Shelby Oaks, the feature debut from filmmaker and YouTube critic Chris Stuckmann, is now available to own in the UK and Ireland on DVD, Blu-ray and digital platforms, released by Altitude. The film, which has been closely followed within genre circles since its record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, marks the culmination of a project that has been nearly a decade in the making.

The horror feature centres on Mia, played by Camille Sullivan, a woman whose search for her sister Riley, missing for more than a decade, becomes increasingly consuming. As Mia digs deeper, she begins to suspect that a demon the sisters once believed to be imaginary during their childhood may not have been a fiction after all. The investigation draws her into a disturbing web of memory, belief and unresolved trauma, with the film blending elements of paranormal mystery and personal loss.

Alongside Sullivan, the cast includes Brendan Sexton III and Michael Beach, with the story unfolding through a structure that draws from documentary aesthetics and traditional dramatic scenes. The film’s approach reflects Stuckmann’s long-stated interest in found footage techniques and true crime storytelling, while also engaging with themes of absence, faith and the lingering impact of childhood fear.

Shelby Oaks is notable for its origins. The project began life as a short-form concept created for a Halloween-themed YouTube special in 2016, before evolving into a feature-length idea. After struggling to secure traditional financing, Stuckmann turned to Kickstarter, where the film became the highest-funded horror project in the platform’s history, raising close to $1.4 million from more than 4,500 backers. The campaign drew attention across the industry and gained the backing of filmmaker Mike Flanagan, who came on board as an executive producer.

In statements accompanying the release, Stuckmann has described the film as a deeply personal work, shaped in part by his own experiences of family separation and faith. Those influences informed the character of Mia and her refusal to accept official explanations about her sister’s disappearance, even as the world around her moves on.

The film was produced with the support of its backers and completed following a lengthy post-production period that coincided with major personal and global changes for its director, including the pandemic. While screeners are not currently available, the release allows audiences to engage directly with a project that has moved from online concept to physical media release.

Shelby Oaks is available now on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download, including via Apple TV, Amazon and HMV.

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