The Man in the White Van

A 15yo blonde comes-of-age as she’s stalked by a serial killer

Loosely based on the real-life 1970s’ crimes of Billy Mansfield Jr., the events take place in the Brooksville area of Hernando County, which is 40-55m drive north of Tampa. Madison Wolfe stars as the protagonist, who was 18yo during shooting, turning 19 in the final week. Brec Bassinger plays her older sister while Sean Astin and Ali Larter are on hand as the parents.

It’s a slow-burn drama/suspense/thriller with bits of realistic horror, but don’t expect a bloody slasher. The focus is on the prey and not the slayer with the family members not taking her mounting fear seriously since she cries wolf too often.

The film works as a period piece and to memorialize the victims of the monstrous murderer. There are a few notable songs from the era on the soundtrack, like “Black Water” by the Doobie Brothers. It also serves as a warning to young females, and women in general, to be on guard against such evil predators.

With the family’s house located outside the town, there’s a pastoral element with horse riding and such, not to mention a few high school sequences. It’s too tame for hardcore horror enthusiasts, but it works well enough for others although it could’ve been tweaked to add more human interest and entertaining staples.

It runs 1h 45m and was shot Sep-Oct 2021 in the corner of northwest Louisiana, including Lynn Plantation, Belcher. I’m assuming the aerial shots are of Hernando County, Florida.

GRADE: B-