The Rise of YouTube Horror: Can Amateurs Cut It on the Big Screen?
The latest horror movies from YouTubers Chris Stuckmann and Danny/ Michael Philippou are raking in the praise, with their most recent releases "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back", respectively, holding strong on HBO Max charts. Despite their diverse backgrounds - Stuckmann's semi-found-footage style of filmmaking is a far cry from the elaborate VHS-demos showcased by Philippou brothers' RackaRacka channel - both films share an uncanny ability to tap into the darker corners of human psychology.
Stuckmann's "Shelby Oaks" follows adult woman searching for her missing sister, with a narrative that meanders through a decade of fragmented footage, fake news clips, and found interviews. The film's disjointed structure may be intended to evoke the feel of early YouTube videos, but it ends up feeling like a jumbled mess of horror movie tropes, rather than a thoughtful exploration of grief.
In contrast, "Bring Her Back" tackles themes of grief and abuse with more nuance. The film centers around Laura, played by Sally Hawkins, who adopts a pair of siblings - orphaned teenager Andy and his visually impaired sister Piper - only to discover that they're part of a sinister resurrection ritual. While the movie's use of VHS tapes as a narrative device is reminiscent of Philippou brothers' YouTube antics, it's here that "Bring Her Back" starts to feel more grounded in reality.
Despite its commendable performances and unsettling atmosphere, "Bring Her Back" ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to explore deeper emotional connections between the characters. The movie's reliance on elaborate supernatural mythology and gruesome resurrection rituals comes across as shallow and overcomplicated, lacking any real thematic resonance.
Both films are notable for their willingness to push boundaries and challenge traditional horror conventions. However, instead of forging new paths, they seem content with emulating what came before, rather than innovating. As a result, their impact on the horror genre feels more like a regression towards familiarity, rather than a bold step into uncharted territory.
If YouTube horror is to truly make its mark on the industry, it needs to break free from the shackles of nostalgia and explore fresh ways to tap into our deepest fears. With "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back", we're left with a sense that these filmmakers are more interested in projecting their online personas onto an oversized screen than truly crafting meaningful stories.
The latest horror movies from YouTubers Chris Stuckmann and Danny/ Michael Philippou are raking in the praise, with their most recent releases "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back", respectively, holding strong on HBO Max charts. Despite their diverse backgrounds - Stuckmann's semi-found-footage style of filmmaking is a far cry from the elaborate VHS-demos showcased by Philippou brothers' RackaRacka channel - both films share an uncanny ability to tap into the darker corners of human psychology.
Stuckmann's "Shelby Oaks" follows adult woman searching for her missing sister, with a narrative that meanders through a decade of fragmented footage, fake news clips, and found interviews. The film's disjointed structure may be intended to evoke the feel of early YouTube videos, but it ends up feeling like a jumbled mess of horror movie tropes, rather than a thoughtful exploration of grief.
In contrast, "Bring Her Back" tackles themes of grief and abuse with more nuance. The film centers around Laura, played by Sally Hawkins, who adopts a pair of siblings - orphaned teenager Andy and his visually impaired sister Piper - only to discover that they're part of a sinister resurrection ritual. While the movie's use of VHS tapes as a narrative device is reminiscent of Philippou brothers' YouTube antics, it's here that "Bring Her Back" starts to feel more grounded in reality.
Despite its commendable performances and unsettling atmosphere, "Bring Her Back" ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to explore deeper emotional connections between the characters. The movie's reliance on elaborate supernatural mythology and gruesome resurrection rituals comes across as shallow and overcomplicated, lacking any real thematic resonance.
Both films are notable for their willingness to push boundaries and challenge traditional horror conventions. However, instead of forging new paths, they seem content with emulating what came before, rather than innovating. As a result, their impact on the horror genre feels more like a regression towards familiarity, rather than a bold step into uncharted territory.
If YouTube horror is to truly make its mark on the industry, it needs to break free from the shackles of nostalgia and explore fresh ways to tap into our deepest fears. With "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back", we're left with a sense that these filmmakers are more interested in projecting their online personas onto an oversized screen than truly crafting meaningful stories.
I gotta say, the whole YouTube horror scene is kinda intriguing, but it feels like a lot of these creators are trying to be something they're not. Like, Chris Stuckmann's film just feels like a messy collection of clips and tropes, whereas Danny/ Michael Philippou's is actually kinda interesting. But then again, "Bring Her Back" has some really standout moments, especially with Sally Hawkins as the lead... it's just that overall, I think these films are more about spectacle than substance.
What do you guys think?
. they think they can just copy what's worked before and make it "edgy" or whatever 
. newsflash: it takes more than just nostalgia and some fancy editing tricks to make a good horror movie. i mean, come on, these filmmakers are making a living off of rehashing old tropes and relying on cheap jump scares 
. if they want to be taken seriously, they need to take risks and push the boundaries of what's acceptable in their storytelling. otherwise, we're just stuck with more of the same old tired horror cliches 
. Chris Stuckmann's film is all over the place and just feels like a jumbled mess, while Danny/ Michael Philippou's film tries too hard to be deep but ends up being kinda shallow 
. I mean, if they want to make it in Hollywood, they need to stop relying on old tricks and try something new 
. But on the other hand, I'm really underwhelmed by how formulaic both "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back" feel 
.
. And "Shelby Oaks" is just a jumbled mess of disjointed footage and cheap jump scares 
.
. We need something that breaks free from the nostalgia and pushes us into new territories of fear and unease 
. Until then, I'll be over here waiting for something that actually scares me 
.
? 
, but they also feel super shallow at times... like, what's the real message here? 
. youtubers are all about experimentation and pushing boundaries online, so why not bring that energy to the movies too? 
. The disjointed structure felt more like a gimmick than a deliberate choice to create a sense of unease. On the other hand, "Bring Her Back" was way more compelling, especially with Sally Hawkins on board 
. I think what really disappointed me about both movies was that they relied too heavily on familiar horror tropes rather than taking risks and trying something new 
. But, for real though, if they wanna take it to the next level and change the game, they gotta break free from the nostalgia trap and try somethin' new 
. I love how they're pushin' boundaries and challengin' traditional horror conventions, but at the same time, I get why some of it might feel a little shallow... still, its all part of the experiment, right?
. I mean, I love a good jump scare as much as the next person 
, but when it comes down to it, do we really need another horror movie that's all about exploiting our deepest fears without actually exploring what makes them tick? 
. But, on the other hand, I think we need to take a closer look at what's really going on here.
. I mean, with "Shelby Oaks" being this jumbled mess and "Bring Her Back" relying too heavily on supernatural mythology, it's like they're trying to prove a point rather than genuinely explore the human psyche.
And another thing, if these YouTubers want to make it big in Hollywood, they need to be prepared to adapt their style for the big screen and ditch the "found footage" nonsense that only works on YouTube.