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The Man In The White Van

The Man in the White Van is a suspense-thriller based on the true, coming-of-age nightmare of 15-year-old ANNIE WILLIAMS (Madison Wolfe) in her rural, family town in 1974 Florida.

In a time of blissful innocence, the term "serial killer" doesn't exist in the social consciousness of big cities, much less in small towns.

Annie feels safe riding her horse, strolling home from school, and roaming the woods. But when an ominous white van begins stalking her, her carefree world slowly unravels into a terrifying confrontation.

Clinging to their safe view of Florida, Annie's MOM (Ali Larter) and DAD (Sean Astin) fail to protect her. Annie is psychologically isolated as the White Van inches closer and closer, waiting for the moment to strike.

On Halloween night, Annie's anxiety about the Man in the White Van manifests as a real-life nightmare when the Man abducts her. Can Annie escape or will she become the tragic first victim of a serial killer, now known as Billy Mansfield Jr.?

  • Warren Skeels
    Director
    Siesta Key
  • Warren Skeels
    Writer
    Siesta Key
  • Sharon Y. Cobb
    Writer
  • Terri Lubaroff
    Producer
    Archenemy, Nandor Fodor & The Talking Mongoose, You Can Call Me Bill
  • Anne Marie Gillen
    Producer
    Fried Green Tomatoes, Parallel Man: Infinite Pursuit, Oceanus: Act One
  • Madison Wolfe
    Key Cast
    "Annie Williams"
    The Conjuring 2
  • Brec Bassinger
    Key Cast
    "Margaret Williams"
    Stargirl, Bella and the Bulldogs, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged
  • Ali Larter
    Key Cast
    "Helen Williams"
    Final Destination, Heroes, Resident Evil
  • Sean Astin
    Key Cast
    "Richard Williams"
    The Lord Of The Rings, The Goonies, Stranger Things
  • Skai Jackson
    Key Cast
    "Patty Toliver"
    Bunk'd, The Smurfs, Bubble Guppies
  • Noah Lomax
    Key Cast
    "Mark Newsome"
  • Addison Riecke
    Key Cast
    "Joanna"
  • Deborah Ann Woll
    Key Cast
    "Waitress"
    Daredevil
  • Julianne Arrieta
    Key Cast
    "Miss Engram"
  • Darrius Thomas
    Key Cast
    "Charlie"
  • Dylan Summerall
    Key Cast
    "Kyle"
  • Tom Gillen
    Key Cast
    "Minister Corman"
  • Patrick Kirton
    Key Cast
    "Jim"
  • Brooke Butler
    Key Cast
    "Bar Girl"
  • John Daniel
    Key Cast
    "Telephone Installer"
  • Brooke Hyland
    Key Cast
    "Teen Girl"
  • Ryan Whitney
    Key Cast
    "Young Mother"
  • Brighton Sharbino
    Key Cast
    "Swimmer Girl"
  • Helena Kompothecras
    Key Cast
    "Skirt Girl"
  • Amanda Miller
    Key Cast
    "Babysitter"
  • Gavin Warren
    Key Cast
    "Daniel Williams"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Coming of Age, 1970s
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 50 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 11, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.40:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • XYZ Films
    Sales Agent
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
    Country: Canada
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Warren Skeels

A Florida native, Warren Skeels attended USC, where he was awarded the Stanley Musgrove Award as "Most Outstanding Talent." He produced the documentary feature Chops, which premiered at Tribeca and followed that with the critically acclaimed Thespians, which premiered on Showtime. In 2017 Warren created the smash hit Siesta Key for MTV, serving as both Director and EP. As a true-crime and thriller fanatic, Warren is elated to share his scripted feature directorial debut The Man In The White Van.

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Director Statement

When I first learned of the story of “Annie” and her confrontation with the dark entity she referred to as “The Man in the White Van,” I was flooded with memories from my own youth and dumbfounded by the cultural landscape partially culpable for her not being heard. I connected with her in so many ways. Her childhood recalled the nostalgia of my own as a carefree latch key kid in Florida. We both shared an interaction with a mysterious vehicle that followed us home from school.

But, now as a parent of a 13-year-old girl, the fact that this escalated to tragic proportions for so many daughters absolutely terrifies me.

As modern parents, we are surrounded by media that constantly reminds us of the terrors that await us outside our front door. But in the 1970s there was far less salacious fear-mongering in the news. Before the phrase “serial killer” was coined by an FBI investigator, big cities and television were perceived as the only places where bad things happened.

It was simply a different time when evil-minded men could move about in the shadows, undetected by modern technology, and unbeknownst to their victims. Supporting their efforts, and standing tall in blissful ignorance of the middle-class south was the seemingly ingrained, pilar belief that communities were “safe.” It’s a belief that Annie’s mother, Helen, is so profoundly rooted in. Coupled with Annie’s exaggerations and white lies, Helen cannot truly hear her daughter’s plea for help. She instead grasps on to tangible physical concerns like Annie falling off of her horse.

Tragically, Annie and her family are ill-prepared for the evil that drives into town. They are blinded by their false sense of security, pride in the safety of their hometown, and in denial of any imminent danger. It became a recipe for a tragic conclusion.

As a huge fan of true crime and thrillers, I found the dynamics of Annie’s family as a truly unique and fascinating lens through which this story would unfold. I hope you do, too.