Review: Shaye Saint John
Hello everyone! As promised earlier, today I’m reviewing the videos of Shaye Saint John. Unfortunately, due to the creator’s removal of the official YouTube channel and subsequent closure of the original website, many videos and related content have become difficult to access. I’ve tried my best to watch as many of the 56 videos as possible, but language barriers and the scattered availability of the content have presented significant challenges. Please bear with any shortcomings in this review.
About the Website
On Reddit, I found an archived version of Shaye Saint John’s original website. The design is notably retro, reminiscent of pre-2010 internet aesthetics—quirky, unsettling, and oddly nostalgic.
The website features bizarre content highlighting Shaye’s “crazy” antics and creepy doll friends. It includes Shaye’s diary entries and excerpts from readers, although full interactions are no longer possible due to the shutdown. The website’s layout is intentionally confusing, like navigating through a maze. Humorous oddities also pop up, such as quirky catchphrases like “I’M JUST A LITTLE KID, A SONG FOR PUSSY,” which genuinely made me laugh.
The content is intentionally absurd and satirical but often quite disturbing visually and audibly. The low-resolution videos contribute to the eerie, vintage atmosphere, primarily because most surviving content comes from older CDs uploaded later to YouTube.
Interestingly, the website previously offered a CD titled Shaye Saint John Movie, containing 36 videos produced by Eric Fournier. Following Fournier’s passing, a documentary titled Eric and Shaye by Larry Wessel was funded via Kickstarter and released in 2016, marking the end of new Shaye Saint John content.
Reviewing the Videos
After quickly watching the available videos, I concluded they’re not conventionally horrifying, rather bizarrely unsettling. Director Fournier used common items like exaggerated dolls to create disturbing yet comedic scenarios. If you have strong nerves, you’ll see these as absurd comedy; otherwise, they might leave a lingering, unsettling impression.
Notable Horrifying Videos:
- TISSUE – Especially terrifying for those with a fear of dolls. The visuals are creepy and deliberately unsettling.
- HAND THING – Less visually graphic but features Shaye’s prolonged, distorted voice, making it intensely creepy.
There’s also a video showing Shaye in a wheelchair roaming Hollywood streets, garnering shocked reactions. Although not explicitly horror, it highlights how Shaye was created to provoke attention and reflection, rather than just repulsion.
If you overlook the disturbing visuals, the humor resembles nonsensical comedy clips popular among young people today, although Shaye’s content is sharper, with satirical undertones.
The series has a considerable international fanbase, primarily in the United States, though the unsettling content limits wider accessibility. The “Hand Thing” video even inspired internet discussions and analyses, though mostly rehashing known information.
Sound and Music
Notably, the series features distinct audio, carefully crafted to match its bizarre style. Initially creepy, the music also incorporates satirical elements, providing comic relief amid unsettling visuals.
Conclusion
In summary, Shaye Saint John is a video series about a disabled woman satirizing societal issues, featuring disturbing visuals, doll companions, and distorted child-like voices. It’s not typical entertainment and can provoke genuine discomfort. Despite its unsettling nature, it’s highly regarded, especially through the documentary Eric and Shaye, receiving unexpectedly positive ratings on IMDb.
Unlike typical horror focused on blood and jump scares, Shaye Saint John amplifies everyday noises and scenarios, magnifying their disturbing potential. While intriguing, it’s not recommended purely for casual viewing due to its capacity to induce lasting discomfort.
Interestingly, there seems to be a connection between Shaye Saint John and “See Tara’s Android,” mentioned on the original site, though the exact relationship remains unclear.
This review was done quickly, so please feel free to suggest corrections or additions. Happy viewing!
