Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
07-06-21 | 10:33 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Moderator
Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
EXCLUSIVE: Paper Street Pictures (The Pale Door) has set YouTuber Chris Stuckmann to write and direct mystery horror movie Shelby Oaks about a group of missing paranormal investigators.
The proiect will chart the story of a fictional mid-2000’s U.S. paranormal investigative team called The Paranormal Paranoids. Multiple found footage videos have surfaced online in recent months which have prompted horror and ARG (Alternate Reality Game) fans to speculate about the veracity of the case and the whereabouts of the investigators. One video uploaded last week appeared to show the abduction of one of the group, known as Riley.
Genre outfit Paper Street have leapt on the fan following for the online fiction and set Stuckmann — who has close to two million YouTube subscribers — to steer the project creatively in his feature debut. The shorts filmmaker and critic recently signed with Gotham Group and has multiple horror scripts in the works.
AMP International will handle world sales and are launching the film to buyers this month. Production is slated to begin in late 2021 in Ohio.
The film will be produced by Koontz, Cameron Burns and Ashleigh Snead for Paper Street which released The Pale Door and Scare Package last year and currently are in post on multiple genre features including the Alicia Silverstone thriller The Requin and Lucky McKee’s Old Man with Stephen Lang. Chris Stuckmann will also produce. Sean E. DeMott and Paul Holbrook will serve as executive producers.
“I had been looking for the right project to partner with Chris on for a while,” explained Paper Street CEO Aaron B Koontz, “and when I fell down the rabbit hole of this scary little story, quickly emerging right in Chris’ backyard of Ohio, with an intriguing and quickly growing YouTube element baked in, I knew we had to act fast on the perfect vehicle to launch Chris as a feature filmmaker. The videos and mystery are scary enough, but the ideas we have for where this can go, are truly frightening.”
Stuckmann added: “It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to finally get a film off the ground and when Aaron and I began discussing the potential of this story we immediately jumped at it. There is a reason so many of my fellow YouTubers are talking about this. Shelby Oaks is going to be something fresh yet deeply unnerving.”
The proiect will chart the story of a fictional mid-2000’s U.S. paranormal investigative team called The Paranormal Paranoids. Multiple found footage videos have surfaced online in recent months which have prompted horror and ARG (Alternate Reality Game) fans to speculate about the veracity of the case and the whereabouts of the investigators. One video uploaded last week appeared to show the abduction of one of the group, known as Riley.
Genre outfit Paper Street have leapt on the fan following for the online fiction and set Stuckmann — who has close to two million YouTube subscribers — to steer the project creatively in his feature debut. The shorts filmmaker and critic recently signed with Gotham Group and has multiple horror scripts in the works.
AMP International will handle world sales and are launching the film to buyers this month. Production is slated to begin in late 2021 in Ohio.
The film will be produced by Koontz, Cameron Burns and Ashleigh Snead for Paper Street which released The Pale Door and Scare Package last year and currently are in post on multiple genre features including the Alicia Silverstone thriller The Requin and Lucky McKee’s Old Man with Stephen Lang. Chris Stuckmann will also produce. Sean E. DeMott and Paul Holbrook will serve as executive producers.
“I had been looking for the right project to partner with Chris on for a while,” explained Paper Street CEO Aaron B Koontz, “and when I fell down the rabbit hole of this scary little story, quickly emerging right in Chris’ backyard of Ohio, with an intriguing and quickly growing YouTube element baked in, I knew we had to act fast on the perfect vehicle to launch Chris as a feature filmmaker. The videos and mystery are scary enough, but the ideas we have for where this can go, are truly frightening.”
Stuckmann added: “It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to finally get a film off the ground and when Aaron and I began discussing the potential of this story we immediately jumped at it. There is a reason so many of my fellow YouTubers are talking about this. Shelby Oaks is going to be something fresh yet deeply unnerving.”
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Dr. DVD (07-06-21)
07-06-21 | 10:36 AM
#2
DVD Talk God
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I know some people here don't like Stuckmann for whatever reason, but I think this is great for him. He's always said in his videos that he wants to be a filmmaker and the fact that this YouTuber from Ohio actually got a deal to get a movie made is fantastic for him.
Whether the movie is good or not is another story.
Whether the movie is good or not is another story.
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07-06-21 | 11:35 AM
#3
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I don’t know about Stuckmann to have strong feelings either way. I assume he at least has some filmmaking experience somewhere?
I like the idea of following paranormal investigators. My worry is that this will be just another “Found footage” movie that we’ve seen a thousand times. Setting the movie in the mid-2000s doesn’t make the tired sub-genre any fresher.
I like the idea of following paranormal investigators. My worry is that this will be just another “Found footage” movie that we’ve seen a thousand times. Setting the movie in the mid-2000s doesn’t make the tired sub-genre any fresher.
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John Pannozzi (07-18-21)
07-06-21 | 11:55 AM
#4
Thread Starter
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GoldenJCJ (07-06-21)
07-06-21 | 12:10 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I'm glad Stuckman is getting a chance, I just hope it's a positive experience for him and like others, I hope it's not just another found footage movie. But then again, if you're looking for a simple way to start, this is a good project.
07-06-21 | 12:16 PM
#7
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I like Stuckmann as a YouTube personality. I used to watch him more regularly even for movies I wasn’t as interested in. Now I mostly only watch him for films I want to see or hear his perspective on.
Kind of curious how he’s going to be as a filmmaker. I don’t quite get why people around here don’t like him either. He’s one of the better YouTube reviewers and generally isn’t too obnoxious.
Kind of curious how he’s going to be as a filmmaker. I don’t quite get why people around here don’t like him either. He’s one of the better YouTube reviewers and generally isn’t too obnoxious.
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07-06-21 | 12:36 PM
#8
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
If it weren't for this forum, I wouldn't even know who Stuckmann is, and that's about all I know about him. 
I might give his movie a try, though.
I might give his movie a try, though.
07-06-21 | 12:49 PM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
Eh.
07-06-21 | 12:56 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I don’t know about Stuckmann to have strong feelings either way. I assume he at least has some filmmaking experience somewhere?
I like the idea of following paranormal investigators. My worry is that this will be just another “Found footage” movie that we’ve seen a thousand times. Setting the movie in the mid-2000s doesn’t make the tired sub-genre any fresher.
I like the idea of following paranormal investigators. My worry is that this will be just another “Found footage” movie that we’ve seen a thousand times. Setting the movie in the mid-2000s doesn’t make the tired sub-genre any fresher.
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John Pannozzi (07-18-21)
07-06-21 | 04:45 PM
#11
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I'm not going to criticize the guy for pursuing his passion of making movies; good for him. His YouTube popularity alone will be enough to get more eyes on his projects than most other folks starting out. I saw one of his short films, and it was bad, but whatever. If I made a short film, I'm sure it'd be worse.
Though, I just simply don't understand the appeal of his reviews. I guess that makes me a hater, but I think his content boils down to "plot synopsis" + "SFX/shots/acting is good/bad/ok" which is to say it's all very... basic. No depth. Just surface-level observation. That's fine I guess. I just find it completely uninteresting. I also think the other guy, who makes skits out of compiling every reddit criticism about a movie and then just reads them back over a greenscreen'ed background, is just as boring and uninspiring. Like Cinema Sins, but somehow worse. Like unboxing videos.
Anyway, good luck to C.S.
Though, I just simply don't understand the appeal of his reviews. I guess that makes me a hater, but I think his content boils down to "plot synopsis" + "SFX/shots/acting is good/bad/ok" which is to say it's all very... basic. No depth. Just surface-level observation. That's fine I guess. I just find it completely uninteresting. I also think the other guy, who makes skits out of compiling every reddit criticism about a movie and then just reads them back over a greenscreen'ed background, is just as boring and uninspiring. Like Cinema Sins, but somehow worse. Like unboxing videos.
Anyway, good luck to C.S.
07-06-21 | 05:17 PM
#12
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
It’s funny, despite the fact that his video reviews are posted in pretty much every movie thread on this forum, I don’t think I’ve ever actually watched one of his videos.
Honestly, I haven’t really paid attention to movie critics since Roger Ebert died. There are SO many out there now that it’s hard to tell which ones are legit film critics and which ones are just movie geeks with a YouTube channel. Anymore, if there’s a movie that looks interesting, I’ll watch it. I don’t need to know what some chucklehead filming from his studio apartment thinks.
Honestly, I haven’t really paid attention to movie critics since Roger Ebert died. There are SO many out there now that it’s hard to tell which ones are legit film critics and which ones are just movie geeks with a YouTube channel. Anymore, if there’s a movie that looks interesting, I’ll watch it. I don’t need to know what some chucklehead filming from his studio apartment thinks.
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Brian T (07-20-21)
07-06-21 | 09:38 PM
#13
Banned by request
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
^^^ You said pretty much exactly my thoughts. That’s why I make fun of it everytime people post his reviews. Another voice in a very large vacuum.
And the maestro himself Ebert even wrote a screenplay or two, and look how those turned out. Time will tell.
And the maestro himself Ebert even wrote a screenplay or two, and look how those turned out. Time will tell.
07-06-21 | 10:31 PM
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
He should do a horror movie about a guy growing up in and escaping the Jehovah's Witnesses. It could be the next Midsommar.
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Dr. DVD (07-18-21)
07-06-21 | 11:12 PM
#15
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
If some of you haven't seen this...
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John Pannozzi (07-18-21)
07-07-21 | 12:47 AM
#16
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
Cinema is dead.
07-07-21 | 04:13 AM
#17
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
Support from one of his favorite directors.
Pretty awesome for him.
Pretty awesome for him.
Last edited by TomOpus; 07-07-21 at 05:21 AM.
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07-07-21 | 11:17 AM
#18
DVD Talk Legend
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I'm happy for Stuckmann. I've been watching his channel for years and he's one of the few YouTube film critics I enjoy. His reviews are generally well spoken and insightful. He cops up to his fanboy proclivities but never let's that get in the way of his analyses. Whether or not this translates to a successful feature film, time will tell, but I hope he succeeds.
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07-07-21 | 12:51 PM
#19
DVD Talk Special Edition
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I've been an unabashed Stuckmann fan for a few years now. Articulate Youtubers who take movie criticism seriously and actually talk about filmmaking in their reviews are pretty few and far between. He's not the second coming of Roger Ebert or Pauline Kael, but his passion for movies really shines through in his videos. I agree with his film assessments about 50-60% of the time, but he's reviewed some buried treasures (like Butterfly Kisses) which I quite enjoyed.
Having said all this, it's one thing to analyze someone else's finished film, but it's quite another to be in the director's chair. The good news is that this isn't a giant blockbuster that can be completely overwhelming (I've never understood the logic behind having a first-timer helm a tentpole), so I'm hoping this first feature is going to be at least a solid learning experience for him. If he winds up whiffing it, I hope the project will lead to better things for him.
Having said all this, it's one thing to analyze someone else's finished film, but it's quite another to be in the director's chair. The good news is that this isn't a giant blockbuster that can be completely overwhelming (I've never understood the logic behind having a first-timer helm a tentpole), so I'm hoping this first feature is going to be at least a solid learning experience for him. If he winds up whiffing it, I hope the project will lead to better things for him.
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07-07-21 | 12:54 PM
#20
DVD Talk God
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
He said in his video in post 15 that he doesn't want to be reviewing movies for the rest of his career. And the rest of 2021 will have him focused on getting this movie made and make some changes to his channel. So he's probably not going to release as many reviews.
07-07-21 | 01:15 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
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re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
I enjoy his reviews because we have similar tastes and he is generally well spoken, though I admit that he often uncomfortably laughs at his own jokes.
I have only ever posted one of his reviews in response to E_Unit jokingly posting something like "But what does Stuckmann think?"
I don't think he is the be and end all. I have often disagreed with him, but I find his reviews interesting and generally non-spoilery, which is really all I'm looking for when seeking out reviews.
I don't know how he will be as a filmmaker, but I'm happy for him that he gets to live his dream.
I have only ever posted one of his reviews in response to E_Unit jokingly posting something like "But what does Stuckmann think?"
I don't think he is the be and end all. I have often disagreed with him, but I find his reviews interesting and generally non-spoilery, which is really all I'm looking for when seeking out reviews.
I don't know how he will be as a filmmaker, but I'm happy for him that he gets to live his dream.
Last edited by Hailey G; 07-18-21 at 09:07 PM.
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John Pannozzi (07-18-21)
07-18-21 | 02:41 PM
#22
DVD Talk God
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
Stuckmann just announced on his channel that he’s done being a film reviewer. His channel will be more focused on film appreciation.
Now that this movie got greenlit, he said he’s tired of criticizing movies.
Now that this movie got greenlit, he said he’s tired of criticizing movies.
Last edited by DJariya; 07-18-21 at 02:47 PM.
07-18-21 | 02:55 PM
#23
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
Yeah I don't see how anyone could do both jobs.
07-18-21 | 03:01 PM
#24
Thread Starter
Moderator
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
It was a good video. I liked the part about it how his The Empty Man video was appreciated by the director and they’re friends now.
Last edited by dex14; 07-18-21 at 03:18 PM.
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Dr. DVD (07-18-21)
07-18-21 | 03:20 PM
#25
DVD Talk Hero
re: Shelby Oaks (2025, W/D: Chris Stuckmann)
In a way it’s kind of a shame that he’s done reviewing. I don’t watch him as consistently as I used to, but I still watched his channel, and often liked his takes on films. I get it though that he’s pursuing his dream of making films.
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John Pannozzi (07-18-21)