THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN (2023)

4 stars

Kaleidoscope Entertainment. DVD, Blu-ray and Digital. 1st September

Of course a man in a white van has rather different connotations in the U.K. — somebody doing some work on your house perhaps or possibly an Amazon delivery driver. That wouldn’t make for a very exciting movie now would it …

Here, in the movie THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN, it is something way more sinister. Based on true events in Florida – with some assuming it was spun from the exploits of serial killer Billy Mansfield Jr.

A waitress finishing her shift and getting in her car and driving home — when a white van starts to follow her. It is 1970. She is upset and pulls over, when she is dragged from her car by the unseen driver of said van.

Jump to 1975. Annie Williams (Madison Wolfe) is taking her horse for a ride when she is thrown to the ground. Back at home, her mum Helen (Ali Larter) tells her to go take a bath. Sunday best. Annie doesn’t care about being prim and proper – she is a bit of a tomboy (are we allowed to say that these days?) – unlike her older sister Margaret (Brec Bassinger). Dad Richard (Sean Astin) is some kind of local businessman and she has a younger brother Danny (Gavin Warren). They are a well off, very religious family

The film flips back and forth between 1975 and to the killers various victims over the preceding years, all young ladies inevitably – to establish a pattern.

Director Warren Skeels, working from a script by him and Sharon Y. Cobb, effectively makes the white van itself into a sinister presence by the use of close ups, prowling through the streets — a predatory presence. It’s driver unseen much of the time, with only snatched glimpse, with his victims screaming in the back. The motor growling like some kind of beast.

Of course, Annie becomes the next target, as his vehicle starts to stalk her. However when she tries to tell her mum she doesn’t believe her. But she keeps seeing it.

This is realistically played without being exploitative, creating a menacing atmosphere with a faceless killer lurking in the shadows. Madison Wolfe is great as the frightened teen, establishing a main character you care about, as the film builds to an intense finale. Set around Halloween there is a slight Michael Myers feel and the vehicular villain is reminiscent of Spielberg’s DUEL.

And who doesn’t love a movie that features “I Think I Love You” by the Partridge Family!

Steve Kirkham