NEON's Shelby Oaks, written and directed by YouTube horror critic Chris Stuckmann, is one of the buzziest horror films releasing this fall. Following its rounds on the festival circuit, the film will open in theaters on October 24. Fueled by a massively successful Kickstarter campaign, the film has garnered hype over the last several months.
The feature follows Mia's (Camille Sullivan) desperate attempts to find her sister Riley (Sarah Durn), a paranormal YouTube host who went missing when she and her fellow co-hosts investigated the creepy and barren Shelby Oaks area in Ohio. The film combines found footage with mockumentary-style filmmaking and even a dash of occult horror.
Prior to the film's theatrical release, we spoke with Sullivan about the film's premise, inventive narrative techniques, and researching missing persons cases in preparation to play Mia. This interview was edited slightly for clarity.
Camille, what, in particular, drew you to the role of Mia?
Camille Sullivan: When I first read the script, I was really drawn to the relationship between the two sisters and the way that Riley’s disappearance has affected Mia and the weight she carries with her through her whole life and how that’s affected her relationship to her husband and how that’s affected all of her choices. She can’t move on from it. I thought that was an interesting place to start a character.
Can you comment more on Mia's relationship with her missing sister, Riley, and how that drives the film's initial narrative?
Camille Sullivan: The bond between the two sisters is so strong. The movie is set up so they lost their mother and there is no father in the picture. They were each other’s family. I have two sisters, and I'm very close to them. The love was easy.
There's a really chilling scene where Mia comes across a tape showing the minute Riley disappears and the man responsible. As viewers, we see the tape and Mia's reaction to it. How did you prepare for that sequence and did you also watch the tape in real time?
Camille Sullivan: From an actor’s perspective, the way we filmed it was perfect. Chris set it up so that I had the real tape from start to finish. It was a 15-minute take, and I could just watch it. I had not seen it before. I think we only did one take, and we switched angles so I could do a couple of pick-ups. I was able to just really take it in in real time, and then they were able to pull out the moments. This was really a dream.
Can you comment on the film's narrative structure? The film is told through old tapes and YouTube videos featuring Riley, online discussion posts, and Mia's commentary in front of the camera, almost like a mockumentary at times.
Camille Sullivan: It was really fun, actually. The way I look at Mia is that she starts us in this one place, and then her life cracks open. Something changes for her. Then, she gets to take off in an entirely new direction. It’s almost a renewal of hope. For me, as an actor, that helped me with the changes in different styles. For me, the changes in style seemed natural because I could follow the flow of story.
The film takes another turn in the last act where it veers into a totally different direction. Without spoiling anything, what was your reaction to those additional narrative turns and some of those creepy set designs?
Camille Sullivan: The set designs were amazing. We shot, during that last section, in a warehouse at night. It was completely dark in there. I was feeling pretty beaten down at that point in time. [Laughs]. It was sort of perfect for the script. It just takes off again in a whole new direction, something unexpected. The secret that Mia uncovers is something that the audience uncovers at the same time. It’s not at all what you expect.
What was it like working with Chris Stuckmann, and did you give him any tips or advice, since it’s his first film?
Camille Sullivan: I really like working with first-time directors. It’s their baby, so all of their heart is in it. I love it, and that’s how I like to approach a film, too. We were able to collaborate. He knew exactly what he wanted, and he was super prepared. However, on the day, if I had ideas, he was really open to them. We had good conversations. Sometimes, things would change a little, or maybe they wouldn’t. The dialogue was there back and forth. He’s a really generous director.
Did your experience working on this film encourage you to partake in more horror movies?
Camille Sullivan: I like horror. I’m a horror fan. I already enjoy watching it and doing it, but even more so because what I like to do is big emotions. If I get the chance to do the major big swings, it’s pretty fun as an actor. Horror really lets you do that because the stakes are so high all the time. That’s why I love it.
This film and its subject matter make for quite a heavy movie. How did you maintain some levity on and off set?
Camille Sullivan: I’m a fairly light-hearted person. I like to joke around. I don’t like to carry the scene if I don’t have to. When the cameras are rolling, then I can give it 100 percent. The crew was fantastic. There was a lot of joking around between takes. Sometimes the conditions were tough. It was night. It was cold. We had to joke around.
How did you prepare for the role of Mia?
Camille Sullivan: I did a little research on people who had loved ones go missing. There’s quite a bit out there, and it’s heartbreaking when you really delve into it. There’s a very good documentary called Who Took Johnny about this child who goes missing. I started with that place of realism because I figured, if you’re on the path to find your loved ones, anything that comes at you, you keep moving forward. Nothing can stop you, no matter how crazy or dangerous. I knew that if Mia had that focus the whole time, it would be believable.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Camille Sullivan: I just want to give a shoutout to the locations. We shot at some really cool places in Ohio, including the Shawshank Redemption prison. It was fun. We were in there at night. I was wandering around, looking for ghosts. I thought I found one.
Can you talk about that more, specifically your search for ghosts?
Camille Sullivan. I did a scene where I was running into the darkness. I heard a little voice go, “No, no, no.” I asked if someone was there. I heard someone say, “It’s just me.” That wasn’t reassuring. It was terrifying. It turns out, it was one of the PAs. For like 30 minutes, I told people I saw a ghost. [Laughs].
Shelby Oaks releases in theaters on October 24.