
MEETING CHRIS STUCKMANN!! Quitting “Bad Reviews” Controversy, Shelby Oaks Journey, & SECRET Reveal!
10/3/2025
0:00
59:22
THE STUCKMANIZED INTERVIEW!! From YouTube Critic to Horror Director! Why He Quit Reviewing "Bad" Movies & the Personal Trauma That Inspired SHELBY OAKS. — Greg Alba sits down with Chris Stuckmann for one of our most personal, craft-focused conversations yet. We cover the full journey from YouTube film critic to feature filmmaker, the decision to stop reviewing movies he dislikes (and the rise of “performative mocking” online), and how fatherhood and a former religious background (ex–Jehovah’s Witness) shaped his storytelling. We dig into SHELBY OAKS (theatrical release Oct 24, with early Thurs night shows Oct 23): inspirations like Lake Mungo and Noroi: The Curse, why Japanese horror gets under the skin, M. Night Shyamalan’s influence (faith vs. fear), and how Chris writes with the edit/shot list in mind. Production talk galore: 20-day indie shoot in Ohio, a year of prep, DP Andrew Baird, why the First AC (focus puller) is the unsung set hero, PAs saving the day, and how star Camille Sullivan (Hunter Hunter) elevated scenes so intensely the chest mic captured her heartbeat; plus working with Sarah Durn and Keith David (The Thing, They Live). Industry context: Mike Flanagan producing, NEON distributing, The Newton Brothers scoring, festival reactions (Fantastic Fest, LA premiere), and how being on set changed the way Chris now reads reviews and watches indie films. We also hit fun stuff: Metal Gear Solid directional-mic jokes, Tarantino vs. Scorsese-style self-watching, first horror clips he’ll show his kids (Jaws, Jurassic Park moments), comic-book horror he’d love to tackle (Clayface, Scarface, Scarecrow), and why he still feels like “a guy from Ohio who got it done.” If you’re into horror filmmaking, YouTube career arcs, screenwriting, directing, faith and art, or modern indie distribution, this one’s for you.
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