Shelby Oaks: Paranormal Investigators Go Missing In This Truly Unique Horror Film

2025 has been the year for horror movies with many box office hits, including Sinners, The Conjuring: Last Rites and Final Destination Bloodlines, all of which left audiences terrified and gasping for more. Shelby Oaks is the latest offering in this genre which surpasses the above-mentioned horror flicks in suspense and terror.

Reportedly produced on a budget of under US$3 million, this highlights that huge budgets are not necessary to produce good quality films.

The synopsis is simplistic. Four paranormal investigators who host a supernatural program mysteriously vanish in an abandoned town named Shelby Oaks while researching a story. The sister of one of the missing researchers embarks on a mission to find what happened to the missing foursome.

Are they missing or is it just a publicity stunt to boost ratings for the program? Ultimately are the people she is searching for, especially her sister, coming home?

What makes this film a standout is its execution. No time is wasted in slowly building the story. Through black and white televised news reports and interviews with law enforcers screening before the opening credits roll, momentum and intrigue build quickly.

Audiences can be forgiven for initially believing that the movie they are about to watch is actually an unsettling documentary concerning a true crime.

The use of the found footage cinematic technique also compounds to the spine-chilling effect. This is the process where the film is presented as if it’s recorded by characters in the story which evokes a raw yet chilling and realistic feel. This technique is utilised in extended sequences where the woman is viewing a video of her missing sister which was delivered by a mysterious man.

Compounding to the effectiveness of the narrative is that all the actors are unknown. Their performances are so intense that the more sensitive viewers may feel anxiety or fear of the unknown as the story progresses.

Shelby Oaks ticks all the right boxes for a terrifying and memorable supernatural chiller. The audience is engaged throughout owing to the compelling storytelling, the techniques utilised in tension building and the fast pacing of the narrative.

Naturally the traditional jump scare moments and sound effects such as creaky doors are also elements utilised in the film that should keep audiences at the edge of their seats.

Moviegoers who enjoy a unique horror story with just a touch of gore, minus the cheesiness that accompanies many movies of this genre, should be immersed and overwhelmed by this small independently produced film.

****

In Cinemas October 23