How Chris Stuckmann Went From YouTube Film Critic to Making His Own Horror Movie — Courting Neon and Mike Flanagan in the Process
variety.comWilliam Earl administrator Perhaps it’s due to his love of horror, but Chris Stuckmann has been fearless in the production of his film, “Shelby Oaks.” Days away from its Fantasia Festival world premiere, he admits, with a laugh, that thinking about the crowd reactions has “been on my mind for, probably, five years.” Luckily, he has crafted a bold feature that can stand alongside many of his favorites.
A lifelong filmmaker — he directed his first feature at 15, and it was “about a magical baseball diamond, inspired by ‘Field of Dreams'” — Stuckmann gained fame as an early YouTube celebrity, a devout and sincere film critic who has amassed over two million followers since launching his channel 13 years ago.
Starting his criticism career by sitting on his bed in front of two “Dark Knight” posters, Stuckmann kept his crisp criticism accessible to average moviegoers — even as his backdrop and camera grew more professional.
Soon enough, his life as a professional YouTuber allowed him to quit his day job as a school bus driver. But he was always writing personal projects and developing short films on the side.
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