Noticias

The twentieth edition of the genre festival Fantastic Fest is set to be held at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas from September 18th-25th (badges are available now at FantasticFest.com), and this year the festival is going to feature 45 World Premieres, 15 International and North American Premieres, and 13 U.S. Premieres that are “guaranteed to delight and surprise you.” Among the films in the lineup, which you can look over below, are Sisu 2, Black Phone 2, The Strangers: Chapter 2, Shelby Oaks, V/H/S/Halloween, and much more!

Festival Director Lisa Dreyer had this to say: “Fantastic Fest is turning 20, and we’re turning the fest into an 8 day celebration of cinematic excellence and excess. We’re bringing our audience an unprecedented number of world premieres this year, from highly anticipated titles to brand new discoveries, and supporting independent filmmakers even further with an exciting new pitch competition.

This year marks 20 years of Fantastic Fest and, for its 2025 edition, it has an impressive lineup of world premieres, retro screenings, unique events, and special guests you won't want to miss, including the world premieres of: Sisu: Road To Revenge, Vicious, Black Phone 2, The Strangers – Chapter 2, V/H/S/Halloween, The Creep Tapes Season 2, and much more! All the details are below and you can learn more about dates and tickets by visiting:

https://www.fantasticfest.com/

From the Press Release: Austin, TX — August 14, 2025 — Hear ye, hear ye! Step forth and feast thine eyes upon Fantastic Fest’s 20th anniversary lineup! Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Fantastic Fest is celebrating its 20th edition by bringing you a treasure trove of highly anticipated cinematic wonders from around the world. Featuring 45 World Premieres, 15 International and North American Premieres, and 13 U.S. Premieres that are guaranteed to delight and surprise you, complemented by...

Fantastic Fest is back this year for its milestone 20th anniversary from September 18th-25th, 2025, in Austin with a massive slate of horror programming.

Fantastic Fest 2025 opens in spectacular fashion, featuring the world premiere of Paramount’s Primate, from director Johannes Roberts, in which a group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival. Featuring an incredible ensemble cast led by Johnny Sequoyah and Oscar®-winning Troy Kotsur, look for the horror movie filled with gory mayhem to arrive in theaters January 9, 2026.

The closing night film will be the world premiere of Independent Film Company and Shudder’s horror film Whistle, from director Corin Hardy and writer Owen Edgerton. A group of high-school students discover an ancient Aztec death whistle that unleashes a deadly curse upon their town. As the teens are hunted down one by one to meet their deaths in spectacularly gruesome ways,...

Fantastic Fest, the United States’ largest genre film festival celebrating horror, sci-fi, fantasy and action cinema, has announced the 2025 lineup of features for its 20th anniversary edition, taking place Sep. 18-25 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas.

This year’s festival will feature 78 feature films, from highly anticipated studio tentpoles to independent and emergent gems. The program will also include special events championing genre films and short film packages to be announced at a later date.

The festival is bookended by two world premieres. Opening night will show Paramount’s “Primate,” the original vacation-gone-wrong horror film directed by Johannes Roberts and starring Johnny Sequoyah and Troy Kotsur. The film will hit theaters Jan. 9, 2026. Closing night will show Independent Film Company and Shudder’s “Whistle,” a similarly gory feature directed by Corin Hardy of “The Nun.”

In between, the festival will host world premieres of Universal and Blumhouse’s “Black Phone 2,...

Fantastic Fest has announced the film lineup for its 20th edition, promising an eclectic mix of horror, action, sci-fi, comedy, animation, and otherwise unclassifiable cinema that befits its status as the weirdest stop on the very busy fall festival circuit.

The Alamo Drafthouse-backed festival, which takes place at the theater chain’s original South Lamar location in Austin, will open with the world premiere of “Primate,” Johannes Roberts’ rabid chimp pool party survival saga starring Troy Kotsur. The closing night selection is “Whistle,” the new IFC horror film from “The Nun” director Corin Hardy about a group of teens who accidentally unleash an ancient Aztec curse on their town.

In the week between opening and closing night, the festival will feature dozens of genre films, including 45 world premieres and films that have played other major festivals. Highlights include the Blumhouse sequel “Black Phone 2,” Paramount’s Dakota Fanning-led “Vicious,” the U.

Four years have gone by since Chris Stuckmann, a movie critic and author with a channel on YouTube that has over 2 million subscribers, signed a deal with Paper Street Pictures to write and direct the mystery horror film Shelby Oaks. Three years ago, the project became the most-funded horror film project in Kickstarter history, with its crowdfunding campaign pulling in over $1 million. Filming took place in the Cleveland, Ohio area back in 2022, genre regular Mike Flanagan came on board as an executive producer last year, and Neon not only picked up the distribution rights, they also dropped more money into the budget for reshoots that included adding more “gore and violence.” Now, Shelby Oaks is finally set to reach theatres on October 3rd, and with that date swiftly approaching, the finished film has finally received its rating from the Motion Picture Association. It’s rated R for violent content/gore,...

Who took Riley Brennan? YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann makes his feature debut with Shelby Oaks, and the film has received an “R” rating from the MPA this week.

Shelby Oaks has been rated “R” for “violent content/gore, suicide and language.”

A traditional narrative that incorporates found footage elements, the supernatural horror film hits theaters on October 3. Watch the previously released trailer for Shelby Oaks below.

Shelby Oaks is about missing paranormal investigators, the dark legacy they uncovered, and the far-reaching effects their investigation has as Mia searches for her sister Riley, the lead paranormal investigator, 12 years later. The film’s official synopsis continues…

“As Mia uncovers new and disturbing leads related to Riley’s disappearance, she uncovers evidence of a hidden supernatural evil dating all the way back to her and Riley’s childhood.”

Horror master Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, “The Fall of the House of Usher”) recently...

It's been a long, long time since horror fans have been treated to new media featuring Jason Voorhees killing young people near a lake. Even "Friday the 13th: The Game" was shut down last year. But at long last, the folks at Horror Inc. and the recently launched Jason Universe are amending the situation. While we're not getting a new feature film just yet, an official short titled "Sweet Revenge" is dropping online next week. On top of that, we now know who is playing Jason in the so-called vignette.

According to Bloody Disgusting, Guinness World Record holder and stunt man Schuyler White will portray the machete-wielding murderer behind the mask in "Sweet Revenge." Directed by Mike P. Nelson ("Wrong Turn"), the forthcoming short is 13 minutes long and, as the trailer below indicates, it will deliver some classic "Friday the 13th" thrills. That said, specific plot details are being kept...

With it now being August, horror fans are preparing for the fun spooky season. It's going to be a haunting one with new films like The Conjuring: Last Rites, Shelby Oaks, and Black Phone 2 terrifying theaters. However, there's also going to be major genre screams on the small screen with the arrival of It: Welcome to Derry. The prequel HBO series to the 2010s duology of film adaptations based on the iconic Stephen King novel will see the return of Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise the Dancing Clown. This will be six years after he last haunted our nightmares. Now, ahead of the series premiere this fall, McFarlane Toys has given horror fans something to scream about with their new It figures.

Based on Welcome to Derry, McFarlane has debuted two Pennywise figures. These Gold Label seven-inch scale pieces are a normal Pennywise and a Flashback Pennywise. The former is...

After 16 years, we're now less than a week away from the return of Jason Voorhees thanks to the new horror vignette titled Sweet Revenge that's set to drop on August 13. It may not be a movie, but it will sure be nice to see the Friday the 13th icon back in action thanks to Jason Universe, even if the project seems like a quick cash grab. While it's no secret that Sweet Revenge has been on the horizon, what has remained under wraps is the actor who will portray Jason – until now.

Bloody Disgusting reports that legendary stunt performer Schulyer White will don the hockey mask in Sweet Revenge next week, which is a 13-minute experience directed by Mike P. Nelson that was produced in cooperation with Angry Orchard. Part commercial, part short film, this will be the first time anyone has officially portrayed Voorhees outside of fan projects since...

Can you believe it’s been 16 Years since the last official installment in the Friday the 13th franchise? That would of course be Marcus Nispel’s Friday the 13th back in 2009, which forever immortalized Derek Mears as of the rare few to portray horror icon Jason Voorhees on screen. Nearly twenty years later, Jason is returning to the screen in Sweet Revenge.

Described as a “vignette,” the short-form project is a 13-minute experience that’s headed our way next week from the newly-formed Jason Universe, a relaunch of the Jason Voorhees character from the rights holders. It’s no secret that the franchise has been mired in legal troubles for years now, but the Jason Universe finally allows for the big guy’s official return.

That makes Sweet Revenge the first official Jason Voorhees film project in sixteen years, and Bloody Disgusting has exclusively uncovered the man behind the mask this week.

Chris Stuckmann’s directorial debut, Shelby Oaks, which originally started as a Kickstarter campaign, is finally heading to theatres this spooky season, and Neon has unveiled the official trailer for the movie, backed by Mike Flanagan.

Having premiered at Fantasia International Film Festival 2024 to critical acclaim, the movie, as of writing, boasts an Rt score of 81%, a remarkable feat for a first-time director. But beyond the horror’s promising reception, it’s Stuckmann’s journey to writing and directing his first movie that stands out as truly inspiring for aspiring filmmakers.

Chris Stuckmann’s Journey Is a Testament to the Power of Cinema

Starting out in the late 2010s, when film criticism was still in its infancy on YouTube, Stuckmann, alongside some other notable creators, pioneered the format on the platform. What separates Stuckmann from the rest of the pack is his sincerity, as from the get-go, it’s evident...

Neon has released the first red band trailer for Shelby Oaks, and based on what we see here, the movie is shaping up to be a highly unsettling watch.

Produced by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, the paranormal mystery thriller marks the feature directorial debut of popular YouTube film critic-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann. Shelby Oaks was met with a (mostly) positive reception when it screened at Fantasia and FrightFest last year (it's currently sitting at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes), and is set to release in theaters on October 3rd, 2025.

There's still quite a bit about the story that's being kept under wraps, but the movie follows a woman named Mia (Camille Sullivan), who becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her sister Riley, a paranormal investigator who vanished without a trace with her crew back in 2008. Mia's search leads her to the foreboding town of Shelby Oaks, where some seriously messed-up stuff appear to be going on.

El crítico de cine Chris Stuckmann debuta como director y guionista. © Neon

Neon ha desvelado el primer tráiler y póster de la película de terror Shelby Oaks, que marca el debut en la dirección del crítico de cine youtuber Chris Stuckmann.

En Shelby Oaks, a medida que Mia, una famosa YouTuber que investiga sucesos paranormales, descubre nuevas e inquietantes pistas relacionadas con la desaparición de su hermana Riley, comienza a sospechar que el demonio imaginario de su infancia pudo haber sido real, un misterio que está decidida a resolver, aunque todo parece indicar que debería mantenerse lo más lejos posible de Shelby Oaks.

El filme, que combina elementos de found footage con una narrativa de corte sobrenatural, está protagonizado por Camille Sullivan (Hunter Hunter), Brendan Sexton III (Ballard), Michael Beach (La pareja perfecta), Robin Bartlett (Shutter Island), Keith David (The Thing), Charlie Talbert (Rebel Ridge), Emily Bennett (Alone With You...

The new horror mystery Shelby Oaks is getting ready to scare audiences this October, and the official trailer has just dropped. The movie is the feature directing debut of YouTuber and film critic Chris Stuckmann, who also wrote the script. It’s produced by Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead, with Neon set to release it in the United States on October 3, 2025.

Who took Riley Brennan?

Official trailer for Shelby Oaks. A new horror from writer/director Chris Stuckmann and executive producer Mike Flanagan. In theaters 10.3. pic.twitter.com/plALnZ2mfE

— Neon (@neonrated) August 4, 2025

The story follows Mia Brennan, played by Camille Sullivan, who has been searching for her sister Riley for over a decade. Back in the 2000s, Riley ran a YouTube channel called The Paranormal Paranoids with her friends, visiting haunted locations and filming their ghost-hunting adventures.

During one trip to the abandoned town of Shelby Oaks,...

The upcoming supernatural horror mystery Shelby Oaks is already building buzz ahead of its release later this year. Written and directed by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann, the movie marks his first time behind the camera for a feature film.

The film is inspired by a viral online found footage campaign about a fictional ghost-hunting group called The Paranormal Paranoids, and now it’s headed to theaters, with Neon set to release it in the United States on October 3, 2025.

The movie stars Camille Sullivan as Mia Brennan, a woman who has spent over a decade looking for her missing sister Riley, played by Sarah Durn. Back in the 2000s, Riley ran a YouTube channel with her friends, visiting haunted spots and filming their adventures.

But during a trip to the abandoned town of Shelby Oaks, Ohio, Riley’s three friends were murdered, and a chilling tape hinted that she may have been taken,...

Dude Perfect has already attached its name to an NFL broadcast, a 3,600-square-foot facility, and even a cruise. So what’s next for the Texas-based, trick-shooting quintet? Thanks to a deal with Regal, the dudes are coming to a movie theater near you.

The second-largest theater chain in the United States will distribute a recorded version of Dude Perfect’s recently concluded cross-country swing. Dude Perfect: The Hero Tour, as both the arena show and the theatrical release are known, will arrive at Regal locations on September 26.

The Hero Tour brought classic Dude Perfect hijinks to large-scale venues across the United States. After a show in Nashville on August 3, the creator group took to Instagram to announce the big-screen version of their show. In a nod to their all-ages audience, the Dude Perfect crew dubbed their upcoming flick “the ultimate family movie night.”

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Finally, we have an official trailer for Shelby Oaks, the feature film debut of writer/director Chris Stuckmann. Plus, it’s executive produced by none other than Mike Flanagan. After a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign (where they raised over $1 million) and a well-received world premiere, the film now has an official trailer and release date.

In the found footage film, “When a documentarian uncovers a disturbing new lead, a woman’s desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real.“

Shelby Oaks premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in 2024 to generally positive reviews and the news that Neon had acquired the film. Then, after months of radio silence, IndieWire reported that Neon sent Stuckmann and his team back to Ohio for reshoots “with an undisclosed amount of supplemental funding that allowed Stuckmann to ramp up the ‘gore and violence.

Chris Stuckmann just made the jump from film critic to full-blown horror filmmaker, and if the first trailer for Shelby Oaks is any clue, we’re in for a wild, spine-tingling ride this spooky season. Is this the found footage fright-fest to bury the others? Or will Stuckmann’s debut be another casualty in the haunted woods? Let’s break down why this first look at Shelby Oaks has everyone talking—and clutching their nightlights.

Chris Stuckmann Brings VHS Horrors Back with “Shelby Oaks” Trailer

The Shelby Oaks trailer wastes no time pulling you into its web of missing persons, haunted videotapes, and raw, escalating dread. The setup? Mia is obsessed with finding her sister Riley, who disappeared after claiming to see something lurking outside her window. Cue the arrival of a creepy, blood-stained VHS tape and the start of Mia’s harrowing descent into Shelby Oaks, an abandoned town...

Neon’s trailer for the indie horror film Shelby Oaks introduces the titular town and a search for a paranormal investigator who went missing while visiting it. The crowdfunded movie, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Fantasia Festival marks the directorial debut of YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann.

The film stars Michael Beach, Keith David, Sarah Durn, Brendan Sexton III, Camille Sullivan, Emily Bennett, and Rob Grant. Executive producers include Mike Flanagan, Trevor Macy, and Melinda Nishioka, with Cameron Burns, Aaron Koontz, and Ashleigh Snead serving as producers.

During a panel at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con, first-time feature filmmaker Chris Stuckmann spoke about his lifelong love of films. “Movies have always been my passion. Ever since I was a kid, they legitimately saved my life. I do not think I would be alive this day if I didn’t have the movies experience, something to look forward to every single weekend of being here.

Heading into theaters on October 3rd is director Chris Stuckmann’s horror film Shelby Oaks. Fans, including this one, can’t wait to see what the filmmaker has in store and on Monday, Neon dropped the first trailer and new posters. Check it out.

With over 2 million YouTube subscribers, Stuckmann has provided his fans various updates for the much-anticipated movie: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisStuckmann/search?query=shelby The movie had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20, 2024.

A woman’s desperate search for her long-lost sister, a famous YouTuber who investigated paranormal happenings, falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real. After a successful Kickstarter campaign that broke records across the platform, the highly anticipated feature debut feature from YouTube creator Chris Stuckmann is finally here and ready to scare the pants off the world. Shelby Oaks delivers in all departments.

These days, it's rare to find a horror movie that's truly terrifying. A lot of them promise to be "the scariest movie ever made," but end up falling flat in their delivery. However, there is one coming along later this year from Neon that could end up being the sleeper hit of 2025, and while it doesn't tout itself as a terrifying classic, the new trailer released today definitely shows hints of greatness.

Titled Shelby Oaks, the supernatural horror mystery features the directorial debut of Chris Stuckmann, a popular YouTuber and film critic with more than 2 million subscribers. Starring Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, and Keith David, the film follows a woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister, which turns into obsession when she comes to believe the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real all along.

Procured by Mike Flanagan, the trailer (seen below...

Neon has officially turned on the television and hit play on the official trailer for Shelby Oaks. Directed by prominent YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann in his feature debut, the supernatural horror is slated to release just in time for the spooky season on October 3, and it unravels a chilling mystery that connects a missing paranormal investigator, her sister, and a small town with a haunting past. The first footage takes viewers on a trail through the woods and back to the abandoned town in the search for Riley Brennan (Sarah Durn), as her sister Mia (Camille Sullivan) sinks into obsession in hopes that she's still alive. What she finds, however, are horrors that go beyond the bounds of reality and extend into her worst nightmares.

The opening moments of the trailer begin ominously with a man walking to Mia's house, claiming someone finally let him go before taking his...

"I know my sister's not dead!" So where is she...? Neon has finally unveiled the official trailer for the indie horror film titled Shelby Oaks, marking the feature directorial debut of YouTube movie reviewer Chris Stuckmann. He has made some short films before, but this is his first feature and it is a big deal for those who have been watching him talk about movies for years already. The film premiered at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival last year, and also played at FrightFest – it's now set for release in theaters starting in October. "Who took Riley Brennan?" Shelby Oaks follows a woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real. Fantasia adds that: "Stuckmann proves that he's been paying close attention to all those movies he's reviewed over the years, as the results are impressively moody and deftly scripted throughout.

As long as there have been VHS tapes, there have been creepy VHS tapes in movies – most notably, the cursed video in Ring. And it’s a pesky reel that seems to kick off the events of Shelby Oaks, an incoming horror from YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann, that comes with some impressive backing – it’s been picked up by Neon, and boasts a producer in the great Mike Flanagan. Check out the spooky teaser.

Eerie stuff! This one looks a little Blair Witch, a little Silent Hill, a little Ringu – with Camille Sullivan’s Mia encountering a bloody tragedy, a creepy tape, and venturing to the mysterious ‘Shelby Oaks’ in search of her sister Riley. By the looks of things, her search doesn’t end in sunshine and rainbows. Stuckmann writes and directs this one in his feature debut, and the film has had positive reactions out of its early festival screenings.

Four have gone by since Chris Stuckmann, a movie critic and author with a channel on YouTube that has over 2 million subscribers, signed a deal with Paper Street Pictures to write and direct the mystery horror film Shelby Oaks. Three years ago, the project became the most-funded horror film project in Kickstarter history, with its crowdfunding campaign pulling in over $1 million. Filming took place in the Cleveland, Ohio area back in 2022, genre regular Mike Flanagan came on board as an executive producer last year, and Neon not only picked up the distribution rights, they also dropped more money into the budget for reshoots that included adding more “gore and violence.” Now, Shelby Oaks is finally set to reach theatres on October 3rd, and a trailer has made its way online. You can watch it in the embed above.

Combining documentary, found footage, and traditional film styles, Shelby Oaks centers on...

YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann makes his feature debut with the Neon horror movie Shelby Oaks, and the hotly-anticipated official trailer has been released this afternoon.

A traditional narrative that incorporates found footage elements, the supernatural horror film hits theaters on October 3. Watch the official trailer for Stuckmann’s Shelby Oaks below.

Shelby Oaks is about missing paranormal investigators, the dark legacy they uncovered, and the far-reaching effects their investigation has as Mia searches for her sister Riley, the lead paranormal investigator, 12 years later. The film’s official synopsis continues…

“As Mia uncovers new and disturbing leads related to Riley’s disappearance, she uncovers evidence of a hidden supernatural evil dating all the way back to her and Riley’s childhood.”

Horror master Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, “The Fall of the House of Usher”) recently came on board the upcoming Shelby Oaks as an executive producer. Flanagan, Trevor Macy and...

Chris Stuckmann’s crowd-funded “Shelby Oaks” is gearing up for its big theatrical release on October 3 — and Neon’s got a lot riding on the supernatural mystery delivering its first major Halloween play at the box office.

Earlier this summer, IndieWire reported that the YouTuber’s supernatural mystery — about a team of ghost hunters who lose one of their own — had undergone significant reshoots. In March, “Shelby Oaks” spent roughly $1 million to head back to Ohio, where they added scenes with “more blood and gore.”

When I reviewed the first cut of “Shelby Oaks” last summer at Fantasia Fest, I knocked it for Stuckmann’s poorly written final girl (Camille Sullivan) and suspense with nonsensical execution. Still, I gave it a “B-” because I admired how Stuckmann paid for it, and his love for the genre was obvious.

Additional scenes aren’t likely to fix a bad script, but there...

A new horror from writer/director Chris Stuckmann and executive producer Mike Flanagan.

Youtube film critic Chris Stuckmann steps into the director role with his long-awaited found footage horror film, Shelby Oaks. After garnering an overwhelming amount of online support through a kickstarter campaign, Shelby Oaks has gained an unprecedented following with critics calling it “one of the best horror debuts” and “creepy as all hell”. Stuckmann co-wrote the script about a woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister. She falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real. Stuckmann’s directorial debut will be in theaters October 3rd.

In Theaters October 3rd



The post Watch the New Trailer for Shelby Oaks appeared first on Daily Dead.

Theater owners waited a long while for a robust and reliable release schedule, for a variety of films at the box office to attract more moviegoers and hopefully keep them coming back. Mission accomplished again this weekend where there’s something for everyone from kids fare to comedy to superheroes to Neon’s Together, an original horror, the first feature by Michael Shanks, and the sole independent film in an otherwise big studio-dominated top ten.

Together premiered at Sundance and Neon has been riding a wave of strong reviews ever since with a first teaser in February and stream of well received early access screenings. The distributor orchestrated a rare non-holiday Wednesday opening in the hope of generating buzz heading into the weekend, and it worked. The film opened to about $10.9 million and a no. 6 spot at the domestic box office on 2,302 screens.

“It’s very exciting that the studios...

Neon has released a series of cryptic teaser posters of Shelby Oaks, the feature debut of YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann.

The trailer is set to make its way online on Monday, but it’s reportedly attached to screenings of Together in theaters now.

A traditional narrative that incorporates found footage elements, the supernatural horror film hits theaters on October 3.

Shelby Oaks is about missing paranormal investigators, the dark legacy they uncovered, and the far-reaching effects their investigation has as Mia searches for her sister Riley, the lead paranormal investigator, 12 years later.

As Mia finds new and disturbing leads related to Riley’s disappearance, she uncovers evidence of a hidden supernatural evil dating all the way back to their childhood.

Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, and Derek Mears star.

Shelby Oaks is the highest-funded horror film in Kickstarter history with over $1.3 million raised. Following the campaign,...

Hollywood is desperately trying to woo Gen Z into theaters, aware that this scrolling-obsessed demographic has massive untapped buying power (see "Five Nights at Freddy's" for the proof) but a deep preference for phones over film projectors. Studios continue to blame the increased popularity of streaming for the decline in younger audiences showing up to the megaplex, but newer research shows Gen Z and Gen Alpha aren't just skipping theaters, but they're also skipping movies altogether in favor of bite-sized content on social media. A TikTok-shaped tectonic shift has shaken the industry, affecting everything from influencer-dominated press junkets to relaxed phone-use rules during screenings.

The idea that influencers can bring in audiences isn't new. In 2014, YouTuber Shane Dawson won the filmmaking competition show "The Chair" by fan vote thanks to his 10 million-strong following, leaving the unquestionably better filmmaker, relative unknown A.M. Lukas, in the dust. Still, the internet has also...

Filmmaker Osgood Perkins has been incredibly busy, releasing Longlegs with Nicolas Cage in July 2024 and The Monkey starring Theo James in February 2025. And in November 2025, Neon’s releasing Perkins’ Keeper which just unveiled a teaser with a dark vibe but limited details on what’s in store.

So, read the logline for Keeper and then watch the teaser trailer again: “During an anniversary getaway at a remote cabin, a wife is left alone after her husband departs, only to confront a sinister presence that exposes the cabin’s chilling past.”

Nick Lepard wrote the screenplay, and Chris Ferguson and Jesse Savath of Oddfellows serve as producers. Executive producers include Tatiana Maslany, Marlaina Mah, Noah Segal, Laurie May, Brian Kavanaugh Jones, Fred Berger, Peter Micelli, John Hegeman, Vince Totino, and Bonner Bellew.

Keeper will open in theaters on November 14, 2025.

The teaser was released just days before Neon hosts a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con.

David W. Thompson, Brendan Sexton III, Liana Wright-Mark, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Jorge Garcia and Lauren Glazier will star in “American Muscle.” It’s a gritty, character-driven thriller from writer-director Joel Veach that was shot entirely in Santa Clarita, Calif. Production recently wrapped on the indie feature.

The film follows a debt-ridden mechanic (Thompson) desperate to escape his violent past. When his estranged sister returns and two ruthless debt collectors come looking for payment, long-buried family secrets resurface, setting the stage for an explosive reckoning.

Thompson’s credits include “Mountainhead” and “It’s What’s Inside”; Sexton has starred in “Shelby Oaks” and “Don’t Breathe 2″; Wright-Mark appeared in “Poker Face” and “Love Bomb”; Akinnagbe is known for “The Wire” and “The Old Man”; Garcia shot to fame on “Lost”; and Glazier’s work includes “Mindhunter” and “Ransom Canyon.”

“American Muscle” marks Veach’s feature directorial debut. He previously wrote the psychological thriller “Old Man,...

Neon, the award-winning studio and leader in the independent horror space, will host the “Next Wave of Horror” panel on Friday, July 25th at this year’s Comic-Con International. It will feature exclusive sneak footage and a discussion with cinematic horror powerhouse Osgood Perkins and Tatiana Maslany for Keeper, Together’s writer/director Michael Shanks, stars/producers Dave Franco and Alison Brie, and Shelby Oaks’ debut feature filmmaker, Chris Stuckmann.

After revolutionizing the independent horror landscape with Longlegs which grossed over $100 million globally, Neon has proven to be an incredibly versatile independent distributor. With Together, Shelby Oaks, and Keeper, the studio will usher in a thrilling, fresh wave of horror that delivers something for every kind of scare lover.

Michael Shank’s body horror love story Together had audiences raving and squirming in their seats at Sundance and SXSW. Featuring knockout performances from Dave Franco and Alison Brie like you’ve never seen them before.

Neon, the award-winning studio and a leader in the independent horror space, will host the “Next Wave of Horror” panel on Friday, July 25, at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

The panel will feature exclusive sneak footage and a discussion with cinematic horror powerhouse Osgood Perkins and Tatiana Maslany for Keeper, Together‘s writer/director Michael Shanks, stars/producers Dave Franco and Alison Brie, and Shelby Oaks‘ debut feature filmmaker, Chris Stuckmann.

Together

After revolutionizing the independent horror landscape with Longlegs, which grossed over $100 million globally, Neon has proven to be a versatile independent distributor. With Together, Shelby Oaks, and Keeper, the studio will usher in a thrilling, fresh wave of horror that delivers something for every kind of scare lover.

Michael Shank’s body horror love story Together had audiences raving and squirming in their seats at Sundance and SXSW. Featuring knockout performances from Dave Franco and Alison Brie...

Neon will host its inaugural “Next Wave of Horror” panel on Friday, July 25, at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. The panel will feature an exclusive first look at Neon’s horror slate for the remainder of 2025, showcasing films such as Osgood Perkins’ “Keeper” starring Tatiana Maslany, Michael Shanks’ “Together” starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, and Chris Stuckmann’s “Shelby Oaks.”

The panel will include a discussion with the stars and directors about their horror films, as well as showcase exclusive footage and tease what’s next for Neon in the horror genre.

“Together” follows Tim and Millie (Franco and Brie) years into their relationship, finding themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.

Neon has unveiled the first trailer for Sentimental Value, its family drama reteaming The Worst Person in the World‘s Joachim Trier and Renate Reinsve, which wowed at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is slated to open in limited release on November 7.

In the film, co-starring Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, which garnered a 19-minute standing ovation, as well as the Grand Prix this year at Cannes, sisters Nora (Reinsve) and Agnes (Lilleaas) reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav (Skarsgård), a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star (Fanning). Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their father — and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics.

YouTuber Chris Stuckmann's crowd-funded horror movieShelby Oaks has been in the works for a while. Most recently, the film finished three days of reshoots after receiving double its original budget.

Stuckmann is a popular film critic who decided he wanted to make his own horror film. The found footage-style movie received $1.39 million via a Kickstarter campaign and was acquired by Neon in July 2024. According to IndieWire, Neon provided Stuckmann with more money to add more violence and gore to Shelby Oaks. The extra cash will also allow the crew to film inside the same prison that was used in Shawshank Redemption.

"We were able to go back into the movie at a couple key points and really punch up some particularly bloody elements," Stuckmann said about the reshoots in a video shared by Paper Street Pictures' YouTube Channel. "I can't even express how unprecedented that is for an independent filmmaker.

Neon picked up YouTube critic Chris Stuckmann’s debut horror movie Shelby Oaks, and Indiewire reports this weekend that the film will release in theaters on October 3, 2025.

Indiewire’s report also notes that Neon supplied Stuckmann with additional funds to shoot new material after they picked up the movie last year, upping the film’s “gore and violence.”

The outlet details, “The new footage recontextualizes some of the original story, but the name of the game for Stuckmann and Koontz was fleshing out the practical effects.”

Additionally, “Creature actor Derek Mears, famous for playing Jason Voorhees in the 2009 Friday the 13th reboot, joined the cast in an undisclosed role.”

Horror master Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, “The Fall of the House of Usher”) recently came on board the upcoming Shelby Oaks as an executive producer. Flanagan, Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka of Intrepid Pictures joined the team as producers.

The cast...

Whenever a movie goes back into production for reshoots, there’s usually immediate skepticism, especially when we get to see the price tag. While we don’t know the exact amount behind the reshoots of Shelby Oaks – the debut from web critic-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann – Neon wrote a check that allowed for more “gore and violence.”

Shelby Oaks was actually a crowd-funded endeavor, with one of the leading figures in horror, Mike Flanagan, offering extra support. Backed by a budget that initially came to $1.4 million, the film is now looking to improve on the reviews that came out of Fantasia Fest last summer.

Stuckmann himself was excited over the fact that Neon would show so much confidence in Shelby Oaks, saying, “We were able to go back into the movie at a couple key points and really punch up some particularly bloody elements. I can’t even express how unprecedented that is for an independent filmmaker.

The truth is out there and exclusive to IndieWire: Neon’s “Shelby Oaks” will open in U.S. theaters on October 3. The crowd-funded horror movie from YouTuber and film critic Chris Stuckmann finished three days of reshoots back in early March. The cast and crew were on location in Cleveland, Ohio, working on a newly designed sound stage and inside the real prison/museum from “The Shawshank Redemption.” The found footage effort was first made possible by a $1.39 million Kickstarter campaign and the support of executive producer Mike Flanagan, who’s mentored Stuckmann for years.

Neon acquired “Shelby Oaks” just days before it premiered at Fantasia Fest in Montreal last July. The studio was still riding high on “Longlegs,” its most successful movie to date, when Stuckmann’s paranormal mystery opened to mostly positive reviews; IndieWire gave it a “B-.” That version of “Shelby Oaks” screened again at Fright Fest U.

Kane Parsons is already one of the foremost tellers of spooky stories on the internet. Now, the creator also known as Kane Pixels is set to become one of the youngest directors in Hollywood history.

The 19-year-old Parsons is going full speed ahead on a feature film adaptation of The Backrooms, a found footage horror series Parsons initially premiered on his YouTube channel. A24, which picked up the project in 2023, has now attached some big names to it. The film’s cast includes Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor as well as Renate Reinsve, who played the lead role in the international hit The Worst Person in the World.

With a venerated indie distributor steering the ship and several notable actors on board, The Backrooms is set to be the next big horror project led by a digital content creator. As influencers make inroads in Hollywood, the horror genre is becoming one...

Horror has consistently proven itself as one of the most flexible genres with its blending of tones, aesthetics, and voices. It's often a training ground for blossoming filmmakers on the rise, as they're frequently challenged to get their movie made with limited resources. Low-budget horror tends to breed creativity and, in certain cases, box office revenue. Just look at the careers of Sam Raimi, John Carpenter, and George Romero, all of whom have gone on to become some of our greatest filmmakers. You never really know when the next batch of talent is going to come out of the woodwork, and it looks like we have some new blood to keep an eye on.

A24 has given the go-ahead for Kane Parsons to make his feature directorial debut under their banner with "The Backrooms," a science-fiction horror film produced by James Wan's Atomic Monster (via Variety). The project is...

You might have come across a mysterious found footage project titled The Willowbrook Tapes in your travels around your social media feeds in recent days, with the team promising the official trailer launch this week. It’s here. And it’s exclusive to Bloody Disgusting.

From director Michael Costa, The Willowbrook Tapes is an upcoming found footage horror movie that was filmed on both VHS and Digital, and you can preview the chilling footage below.

Most know Willowbrook, Staten Island, as a haunt for restless youth and the rotting shell of Seaview Hospital—fewer speak of what lies beneath.

The silence is shattered by fragments of vanished lives stitched together with panic, ritual, and the shadow of something older than fear…

Erica Crawford, Devin Bonomo, Elyse Robin and Dagmara Bragiel star.

“Honestly, I just wanted to create the kind of horror I was craving—something that really got under my skin in the best way,...

Steve Pink’s “Terrestrial” and Julie Pacino’s “I Live Here Now” are among the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival’s first wave line-up, the festival announced.

This year’s Fantasia runs July 17-Aug. 3, bringing a wide range of genre film screenings, workshops and launch events to Montreal. Of the first wave of films, “Terrestrial” marks Pink’s (“Hot Tub Time Machine”) first time directing a thriller, while Al Pacino’s daughter Julie Pacino makes her directorial debut with “I Live Here Now,” featuring “Twin Peaks” star Sheryl Lee along with Lucy Fry and Madeline Brewer. The line-up also includes Mexico’s first stop-motion feature “I Am Frankleda” and the latest Adams Family filmmaking collaboration, “Mother of Flies.”

Last year’s Fantasia included world premieres like Chris Stuckmann’s “Shelby Oaks,” “The Beast Within” starring Kit Harington and “Bookworm” starring Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher.

The full line-up will be unveiled in early July.

Jill Gevargizian's Ghost Game will enjoy a limited theatrical run on October 18th, with a VOD release on October 22nd. If you'd like a little tease of what to expect, we have an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead readers that gives a preview of the internet challenge that quickly turns fatal.

"Epic Pictures’ specialty horror label Dread presents Ghost Game, following a couple’s internet challenge that turns fatal as they trespass into a haunted house, facing sinister evils lurking within its walls. Ghost Game will have a limited theatrical run beginning October 18, and on October 22 the film will be available to rent or purchase on video-on-demand (VOD). The film will be available on Blu-ray beginning December 10.

Ghost Game is the second directorial feature from Jill Gevargizian, best known for her feature debut The Stylist, which developed from an award-winning short film of the same title and debuted in 2020 from Arrow Video.

Horror content creators have been on Hollywood’s radar for a couple years now, with studio deals flying for RackaRacka‘s hit Talk to Me, Chris Stuckmann‘s upcoming Shelby Oaks, Kane Parsons‘ upcoming backrooms film, and—most recently—Curry Barker, creator of iconic YouTube horror short The Chair, announcing a deal with Fall and 47 Meters Down producer James Harris and his company Tea Shop Productions.

But even if creators don’t sign a studio deal, there are still ways for them to get their spooky content on the big screen.

After selling out 168 Cinemark theaters with the first two episodes of their Conjuring house documentary series in October 2023, daring YouTube duo Sam and Colby are back to celebrate Halloween with a second Cinemark partnership. This time, they’re releasing an exclusive, 97-minute film, The Legend of Skinwalker Ranch.

Sam and Colby got their start on YouTube as a...

Fans might not know to look on YouTube for some great series. For almost two decades, YouTube has been a place where creativity and entertainment from the ground level can flourish into iconic staples of pop culture. Creators like Mr. Beast, Pewdiepie and Dude Perfect, to name a small few, have flourished on the platform and become household names. As it's so accessible, anyone can find anything that piques their interest. And some creators are so efficient and intricate with their creative process, that their videos feel of similar quality to movies and television. And while YouTube videos are a completely different medium with different standards, some YouTubers are able to exceed those expectations and create something that feels like a genuine television show.

Popular gaming personality and all-around YouTube sweetheart Markiplier is producing and directing a feature film called Iron Lung. Similarly, hes joined alongside YouTube movie reviewer and appreciator Chris Stuckmann,...

Stars: Camille Sullivan, Keith David, Michael Beach, Sarah Durn, Brendan Sexton III, Robin Bartlett, Charlie Talbert, Emily Bennett | Written by Chris Stuckmann, Sam Liz | Directed by Chris Stuckmann

Having built a name for himself as a YouTube film critic, Chris Stuckmann made the decision to change lanes and instead become a filmmaker. His feature debut, Shelby Oaks, generated a lot of hype as it became the most funded horror film on Kickstarter, attached horror master Mike Flanagan as an executive producer, and was acquired by Neon for worldwide distribution rights.

The story tells the unsolved case of The Paranormal Paranoids, a once-successful team of paranormal investigators on YouTube who went missing during an investigation. While many believed it was an elaborate hoax, there remains no sign of justice or answers twelve years later. Turning to a documentary crew for help, Mia (Camille Sullivan) remains adamant on discovering what happened to...