THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

I’ve been a big Chris Stuckmann fan for the last few years, so when he announced he was working on a movie—and when that movie eventually got picked up by Neon—I was stoked. Fortunately, I’ve broken my personal horror movie seal since then, so I headed to the theater excitedly today instead of begrudgingly. For a debut, Shelby Oaks was a valiant effort, with its predictable share of bumps, but a lot to be excited about, too.

Firstly, and most importantly, Chris Stuckmann’s direction and visual style was strong, and easily the best part of the film. For a crowdfunded film, it looked very good and very cinematic. I really liked the opening act, and the switch from the documentary style to the more dramatic look was so cool. Stuckmann injected the horror genre with some visual pizzazz and a few shots and angles I felt like I hadn’t seen before in a horror movie, so props to him.

The cinematography also upped the scariness of the story; there were some jumps and creepy images that definitely got me. A couple of the performances were also creepy, especially Sarah Durn’s. She was super creepy after she was rescued, and she was the highlight of the cast.

Where I thought Stuckmann had some trouble, though, was in the story. While the setup was incredibly strong, I felt like the mystery-solving with Mia was a little more scattered and a little less interesting. I also wasn’t fully bought into the supernatural elements of the narrative, and I don’t think Stuckmann explained those parts well enough, either.

I was also on board with the ending until the very last moment (which I’ll redact in the hopes that you still go see this movie), which I wasn’t in love with. The film also felt very long, likely due to its pace, even though it clocked it right at an hour and a half.

Again, for a debut, Chris Stuckmann did a fantastic job. As far as all horror movies go, Shelby Oaks was just okay, but very promising. I think if Stuckmann partners with a great horror writer on his next film, he could have a real winner on his hands. Regardless of when that second film comes out or what it’s about, I’ll totally be seated. Chris Stuckmann has a ton of potential as a director, and I think he only offered a glimpse of his talents with Shelby Oaks.