Sun Oct 26 16:20:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article version of the provided text:

Summary:

“Shelby Oaks,” a debut horror film by Chris Stuckmann, financed through Kickstarter, follows Mia’s renewed search for her sister Riley, who vanished 12 years prior while filming a paranormal investigation show. The film uses reclaimed footage from Riley’s show, showcasing investigations at a haunted amusement park and a spooky hotel. The narrative is riddled with horror clichés and struggles to create a clear or original story, despite competent cinematography. The film features brief appearances from recognizable actors but ultimately fails to deliver a compelling or coherent plot, relying heavily on found-footage tropes and familiar horror elements.

News Article:

“Shelby Oaks” Horror Debut Fails to Deliver Original Scares

Darke County, Ohio – Chris Stuckmann’s highly anticipated horror debut, “Shelby Oaks,” has arrived in theaters, but critics are finding the film derivative and baffling. The film centers on Mia (Camille Sullivan) as she intensifies her search for her sister Riley (Sarah Durn), who disappeared twelve years ago along with her paranormal investigation crew.

The mystery unfolds through recovered footage from Riley’s “Ghost Hunters”-style YouTube show, leading viewers to a seemingly haunted amusement park and a spooky hotel in the titular abandoned town. However, the found-footage style and reliance on horror clichés, including a “milky-eyed hag” and “dank dungeon,” fail to generate genuine suspense.

While cinematographer Andrew Scott Baird brings a “classy, coppery glow” to the nighttime scenes, the plot, burdened by its opacity, is criticized for lacking originality and coherence. Despite brief appearances from Keith David and Michael Beach, the film ultimately struggles to establish a clear narrative. Critics suggest that “Shelby Oaks,” while made with evident passion, ultimately falls short of delivering a fresh or compelling horror experience, leaving audiences more confused than scared. “Shelby Oaks” is rated R for bloody suicide and an attempted infanticide. It has a running time of 1 hour 39 minutes.

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