Then I didn't hear anything about the film for a while...Until I was asked to screen and leave a review on The Man In The White Van recently, just in time for the Blu-ray, DVD, and digital release this week (Septemeber 29th)!
The Man In The White Van is one for the true crime fans, as it's based on a series of real life events. The film takes us back to the early 1970s in a small town in Florida where a series of disappearances of young women hit the region over a couple years.
The movie dives right into the abductions, with a well shot scene of a waitress, played by the wonderful Deborah Ann Woll, being followed and eventually abducted by a man in an ominous white van. They really set the tone by really delivering us a creepy kidnapper van...though we never see the killers face.
We're delivered a series of these abductions throughout the film, which kind of wrap around the story of a young lady named Annie, who is portrayed by a really talented performer I'm not familiar with named Madison Wolfe. This young actress was fantastic in the film as Annie, who is somewhat an outcast. A nerdy tomboy, and not one of the "pretty and cool girls".
Annie continuously encounters the White Van, which I view as the villain, rather than the kidnapper/killer, as he is always in the shadows. Of course no one believes here when she tries telling her family about the creepy van, which is how it usually goes in these situations. That build up is dragged out, but stays pretty suspenseful, but sadly feels anticlimactic when the story wraps.
Now, don't get me wrong, it's definitely worth a watch. There are some great performances. I didn't think there was a bad performance in the cast. On top of that, it looked great. Wonderfully shot. This director, Warren Skeels, has chops. He really has an eye for hitting the perfect shots, angles and lighting to tell this thrilling and very creepy story. Like I said, though it falls a little flat, its a solid film based on the performances and visuals. I'm keeping an eye out for more work from the director and the cast.
Overall I highly recommend streaming or grabbing a copy of The Man In The White Van. there is a lot to like about the movie. Go watch it!
On a side note, they did a great job sticking with the era with the wardrobe and sound track in this one. I only had a minor gripe if you care to hear it....Spoiler Alert!!!...The music was great, but, there was a comment about the band 38 Special being a favorite of Annie and her friend. We were told its the year 1971, though according to my research, 38 Special didn't form until 1974. I know, not important. I'm a nerd about that stuff though, being a period piece of sorts.
Ok...two gripes...should have been more Deborah Woll!!!! Seriously though, I'm glad they didn't have the great big name performers like Woll and Astin steal the show, and they let the great young cast carry the film. Good job, Warren Skeels.
Don't let that minor detail deter you. Watch The Man In The While Van! It's available September 29th on physical media and digitally as well!
Check out the trailer:
Thanks to Strike Media for getting the word out about some solid movies, and allowing me to tell you about them. And thank YOU for popping by here at thestevestrout.com
I'm Steve Strout aka TheSteveStrout. Besides this site, I dabble in voice acting/voiceover work, regularly contribute to genre magazines, and am best known for co-hosting a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award Nominated podcast called the Steve & Crypto Show. We cover pop culture and horror, with an emphasis on promoting and supporting creators, whether you're making movies, comic books, art, or anything else that pertains to horror, pop culture, and nerdy stuff!
Listen and subscribe to The Steve & Crypto Show at steveandcrypto.com or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
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