Inside the making of Shelby Oaks with Sarah Durn.
Sarah Durn is about to become a name horror fans won’t forget. The actress stars in NEON’s highly anticipated thriller Shelby Oaks, hitting theaters on October 24, 2025. The film, directed by Chris Stuckmann, blends found footage, psychological horror, and grounded storytelling to create one of the year’s most chilling experiences.
Durn plays Riley Brennan, the head of a once-popular paranormal investigative team known as The Paranormal Paranoids, who mysteriously vanish after a disturbing investigation. Told through recovered footage and modern-day interviews, the story follows Riley’s sister, Mia, as she pieces together the truth behind Riley’s disappearance.
The film made its world premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival before screening at FrightFest and Fantastic Fest, where it drew early acclaim for its unnerving atmosphere and Durn’s layered, emotional performance.
Finding the Fear in Found Footage
When Durn first joined Shelby Oaks in 2020, the film was still a small indie project. “The very first thing we shot was found footage,” she recalled. “It was just me, Chris, and a few of the other Paranormal Paranoids following him into the woods to this real abandoned shed. Looking back, I probably should’ve thought, ‘This might not end well,’ but it was so fun.”
Stuckmann, a popular YouTube film critic turned filmmaker, gave Durn a level of creative freedom rarely seen on set. “He sent me home with a 2008-era camcorder and told me to record anything I wanted as Riley,” she said. “I figured there’s no way they’d use it, but a lot of that footage made it into the final film — even clips from an old high school play I did.”
That DIY spirit shaped the film’s authenticity. “There was a lot of improvisation,” Durn said. “Chris was so open to me trying things, and it made the experience feel alive and real. The found footage elements gave me freedom to explore who Riley was without overthinking it.”
The Director’s Vision
Although many fans know Stuckmann from his massive YouTube following, Durn said she didn’t realize his online presence at first. “I had no idea he was such a big deal until someone on set told me,” she laughed. “He’s so knowledgeable about movies — it’s almost intimidating. But he’s also one of the calmest, most generous directors I’ve ever worked with.”
Durn credits Stuckmann’s calm demeanor and deep understanding of genre with grounding the film’s chaotic mix of documentary realism and supernatural terror. “The person you see on YouTube is who he is on set,” she said. “Even when things weren’t going perfectly, he made everyone feel confident and safe. That’s what you want in a director.”
From Kickstarter to Theaters
Before NEON’s involvement, Shelby Oaks was funded through Kickstarter, becoming one of the platform’s most successful film campaigns. Durn joined before the viral success but quickly saw how passionate the backers were. “The Kickstarter blew up overnight,” she said. “It was incredible seeing people rally around Chris’s dream and support indie filmmaking. It made the whole project feel personal.”
She also praised the production team for keeping the fans involved through behind-the-scenes updates and Discord chats. “They really peeled back the curtain on how a movie gets made,” Durn said. “People weren’t just watching it happen — they were part of it.”
A Surreal Full-Circle Moment
Now, as the face of the Shelby Oaks marketing campaign, Durn admits the experience has been surreal. “Seeing my face on a billboard was wild,” she said. “I didn’t even know about it until a few days before the premiere. I’m just so grateful — it’s beyond my wildest dreams.”
Durn’s performance anchors the film’s emotional heart, and her journey from indie shoot to nationwide release mirrors the film’s own evolution. “This little movie that started in the woods is now hitting theaters with NEON,” she said. “It’s insane — and I hope people show up to support it.”
Beyond Shelby Oaks
Outside of her breakout role, Durn’s growing résumé includes performances in Universal’s Renfield opposite Nicolas Cage and Awkwafina, Netflix’s We Have a Ghost with David Harbour, Where the Crawdads Sing, Queen Sugar, and I’m A Virgo from Boots Riley. She also stars alongside Taron Egerton in Jaume Collet-Serra’s upcoming action thriller Carry On.
With Shelby Oaks hitting theaters on October 24th, Durn cements herself as a rising talent to watch.
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Drew Munhausen
Media and Movie Mastermind who co-hosts the Moviegoers Society Podcast and Fresh out the Pod.
