Between 'Bring Her Back' and 'Shelby Oaks,' are YouTubers the future of horror movies?

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.

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.

I also feel like we need to see more of these creators pushing the boundaries and taking risks in their storytelling. It's great that they're willing to challenge traditional horror conventions, but sometimes I feel like they're just rehashing old ideas instead of trying something new. What do you guys think?

the whole YouTube horror thing is just a bunch of wannabes trying to be the next big thing . 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

I think the YouTube horror scene is kinda weird, like they're trying to prove something by making movies that are super familiar but also, you know, not really that original . 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

The whole YouTube horror thing is kinda interesting, I guess . On one hand, it's awesome to see creators getting the chance to showcase their talents and reach a wider audience with these big-screen adaptations . But on the other hand, I'm really underwhelmed by how formulaic both "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back" feel . It's like they're trying too hard to recreate that YouTube magic, rather than taking risks and pushing the horror genre in a new direction .

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Sally Hawkins as an actress, but her character in "Bring Her Back" feels kinda one-dimensional to me . And "Shelby Oaks" is just a jumbled mess of disjointed footage and cheap jump scares . Where's the substance? Where's the emotional depth? It's like they're more concerned with impressing the fans online than crafting a genuine narrative .

I'm all for creators being bold and taking risks, but this whole YouTube horror thing feels like it's stuck in a time loop . 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 .

the whole YouTube horror scene feels like it's stuck in a time loop , you know? everyone's trying to recreate that "found footage" magic or use VHS tapes as a narrative device... but can we really make this stuff work on the big screen without just feeling like we're watching a glorified YouTube video ?

i mean, don't get me wrong, both "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back" are kinda unsettling in their own ways , but they also feel super shallow at times... like, what's the real message here? is it just about scaring us or can we dig deeper?

i wish these filmmakers would take some risks and try out new things instead of playing it safe with old tropes . youtubers are all about experimentation and pushing boundaries online, so why not bring that energy to the movies too?

I watched both movies on HBO Max and I gotta say, as much as I love Chris Stuckmann's unique style on YouTube, his movie just didn't do it for me . 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 . It's like they're catering to the existing fanbase instead of pushing the genre forward. Maybe I'm just being too harsh, but I feel like "Shelby Oaks" could've been a game-changer if it had taken more creative liberties .

I think its kinda cool how these YouTubers are makin' waves in the horror scene ️! I mean, who woulda thought that Chris Stuckmann's weirdo semi-found-footage style and Danny Philippou's VHS-tape vibes would be so darn effective? And Sally Hawkins is straight fire in "Bring Her Back" . 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 gotta say, I'm kinda disappointed by the YouTube horror scene right now ️. Both Chris Stuckmann's and Danny/ Michael Philippou's movies are getting so much hype on HBO Max charts but they're not really bringing anything new to the table, you know? They're just trying to recreate that early YouTube VHS-demo magic but it feels like more of a gimmick than actual storytelling . 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?

I gotta say, the rise of YouTube horror is a pretty interesting phenomenon. It's like, on one hand, it's awesome to see creators from the platform making waves on HBO Max and getting praise from fans and critics alike . But, on the other hand, I think we need to take a closer look at what's really going on here.

It seems to me that a lot of these YouTuber-turned-filmmaker types are more interested in repping their online brand than actually telling meaningful stories . 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.

I think we need to have a conversation about what makes good horror storytelling and how these creators can break free from their online personas to create something truly impactful . It's not enough to just push boundaries for the sake of it; we need substance, we need depth, and we need real emotional connections between characters.

It's like, if you're going to make a horror film, you should be trying to scare us, not just impress us with your online cred . We deserve better than shallow, overcomplicated storytelling that's more interested in projecting a persona than actually telling a story.

The whole YouTube horror trend is just a reflection of our society's obsession with sensationalism over substance. I mean, who needs deep character development when you can just rely on jump scares and weird VHS tape tricks? It's like the filmmakers are more interested in getting views and likes online than actually telling a compelling story that resonates with audiences. And let's be real, both "Shelby Oaks" and "Bring Her Back" feel like they're trying too hard to be edgy and cool, rather than taking risks and exploring new ideas. That's not how you create a lasting impact on the horror genre - you need to challenge your audience and push boundaries, not just rehash what's been done before. 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.