Chris Stuckmann Horror Film 'Shelby Oaks' Picked Up By Neon
Neon is dropping by Hilario City to get Stuckmannized and distribute the film
Film production and distribution company Neon is riding a bit of a high at the moment, with a banger of an opening weekend for their latest horror film Longlegs starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe, earning $22 million, a record debut for them. Now, they’re ready to get Stuckmannized. The indie studio has picked up YouTube reviewer and author Chris Stuckmann’s feature directorial debut Shelby Oaks for worldwide distribution.
Described as “a documentary-found footage crossover”, Shelby Oaks will have its world premiere at Fantasia Festival this Saturday. Neon will be giving the film a theatrical release in the United States and handle international sales. The film follows a woman named Mia, played by Camille Sullivan as she frantically searches for her sister Riley, played by Sarah Durn, who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her investigative series, Paranormal Paranoids. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood might have been real. The cast also includes silver-throated legend Keith David and Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown’s Michael Beach.
Stuckmann’s film was crowdfunded by a monthlong Kickstarter campaign in 2022, which raised $1.4 million for the film, making it the most-funded horror film in the website’s history, doubling the previous holder. That was achieved in part by Stuckmann’s YouTube channel in his own name having attained 2 million subscribers which it still remains above to this day. He produced the film with Aaron B. Koontz, who set up the Kickstarter, Ashleigh Snead and Cameron Burns for Paper Street Pictures.
The film counts Mike Flanagan, yes that Mike Flanagan, of Oculus, Doctor Sleep, and Netflix’s Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club, The Haunting anthology TV series, and The Fall of the House of Usher, among its executive producers. He provided guidance and input during the post-production process and said when the news of that hookup broke “It’s been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago. It’s been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path and to offer support for Chris’ vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.” Executive producers are Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka for Intrepid Pictures with Adam F. Goldberg, rather unclear if it’s the same one known for The Goldbergs and The Muppets Mayhem, Paul Holbrook, Sean E. DeMott and Tony Killough. The Newton Brothers, frequent scorers of Flanagan’s work but also X-Men ‘97 and the recent Goosebumps series, have also scored Shelby Oaks.
Koontz negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers with Neon’s vice president of acquisitions and production Jason Wald. Neon’s other recent pickups include the North American rights to The Seed of the Sacred Fig, U.S. rights to Longlegs director Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey starring Theo James, the worldwide rights to another Perkins film Keeper, starring Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland, and the North American rights to Julia Ducournau’s Alpha and The Unknown from Arthur Harari.
Shelby Oaks’s release is set for some time next year. Stuckmann has posted a video to his YouTube channel breaking the news, thanking everyone from Neon to his crew to the backers.
Source: Variety