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Cast: Madison Wolfe (The Conjuring 2, I Kill Giants), Ali Larter (Final Destination Franchise, Legally Blonde), and Sean Astin (The Goonies, Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings franchise)
Delving into the eerie underbelly of a seemingly idyllic 1974 Florida town, this creepy suspense thriller follows the harrowing experience of young Annie Williams (Wolfe), a spirited girl whose carefree existence is turned upside down as she becomes stalked by an ominous man in a white van. Known for her wild imagination, her parents dismiss her fears, plunging Annie into a terrifying Halloween nightmare that shatters her world.
' The Man in the White Van' is loosely based on serial killer, Billy Mansfield Jr. from the 70s. The film the story of Annie and her family, which consists of her mom, dad, older sister and a younger brother. She doesn't really get along with her older sister, and she tends to make up stories at times, which leads her family to not believe much of what she says, including when someone in a white van begins stalking her.
Writer/Director, Warren Skeels, has done other projects before, such as a TV series, two shorts and a documentary, but this is his first time director a feature film, and he co-wrote the film with Sharon Y. Cobb. The film is a little tame as far as horror films go. The few kills are done off camera and the film plays more like a family drama and crime film for over half its runtime. It is the second half of the film, things pick up and so does the tension and suspense, which remain high until the very end.
The cast were all fantastic, including Madison Wolfe, Ali Larter, Brec Bassinger and Sean Astin. I would classify the film as more of a crime/thriller than a horror, but it still adds those elements that really come into play later in the movie. 'The Man in the White Van' could have played on TV but done the less it is a solid film with just the right amount of drama and thrills to keep you engaged and at the edge of your seat during its final act. The film will be available in the UK on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital from 29th September, so if you enjoy a good thriller/horror, then check it out.
Released by Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment. *** 1/2 Out Of *****