The Man in the White Van

Simply put this is a very bad film. Boring story, zero character development, cheap look. There is absolutely nothing about this that feels 70s - it was clearly shot on a lousy digital camera, and the actors couldn't be more gen z. There's really no plot- it's literally the title. There's a man in a white van apparently. He drives around abducting characters we don't know or care about. Not sure what the "real story is" behind the meandering script, but it's bound to be more interesting than this movie. I feel like two stars is more than generous, but i guess sean astin being in it is cool (?)

I really enjoyed this Throwback stylized Movie

Simpler times the 70s, So was Movie Making.

This " Family " Film captures it as I remember including the Teenage Horror Films. You intentionally know the typecast characters and tropes all purposely presented from these early genres. This one could serve as a set up before Halloween or early Friday the 13th before the exploitation of Gore with subtle Nods to Duel, Christine and more. A slow burn rubber band being pulled back while you can't wait for some satisfying snap. A Full Theater would be yelling at the screen, the parents and more throughout this Delightful Deja View.

Nothing really new but very familiar fun and missed TERROR-tory here. Only wish it had the Soundtrack Budget to match this Time Capsule.

It will leave you wanting more which I believe is inevitable.

Expectations were low going into this film, after all the below average reviews online.

They needn't have been

For me, one of the more realistic films in the horror genre. Yes, some lingering scenic shots were a bit much, not every character had its arc completed, and the time jumps showing previous victims felt like they could have been worked in a bit better.

But the film, as based on true events, doesn't go to a place with insane twists and turns and wild jump scares. Instead it builds to a climax that feels real and as if you were in the protagonists POV and the ending is satisfying, which a lot of horror films fail to accomplish.

You're really rooting for the lead girl and feel for her.

If you're expecting a dramatic twist where they unmask the baddie and you want a "it was X all along!" then maybe give this a miss.

Cracking soundtrack too, both with the 70s music and the original compositions.

Would recommend :)

There is a book about these homicides that is more detailed than the movie. The movie was good but I enjoyed the book about the Mansfield homicides more. There's a book called "When Angels Weep: The Weeki Wachee Homicides" by WR Langston on Amazon that got into more specifics. I highly recommend the book for a better backstory and detail. The movie runtime wasn't too long and I would still recommend it to watch, but probably more as something to stream at home, not see in theaters. People local to the area are more familiar with what actually happened to Billy Mansfield since he was arrested recently, but the movie left it very open ended.

A very well made 70's setting of a picture.

The characters were very believable. The dad being a 40+ hours a week working man coming home late hours of the day. The mom, being a stay at home mom taking care of the house and family. The kids, 2 daughters and 1 son. Typical American family. Oldest daughter into herself as being a proper Christian daughter, but with a hidden world of being the popular girl, the middle daughter being the rebellious one and the boy being the active one and wanting to take the lead and protect the family while the dad is on travel.

Very believable setting of the story. The story kept bouncing back and forth. I love how filmmakers are bring back 70's and 80's and 90's setting films. The set designer and costume designer were right on point. I loved the hidden fact of the killer being in the dark. You don't see the face all you see is the back of his head and his hand grabbing the weapon and you see his walk, a creepy walk. Hence, The Man in the White Van!! I love this movie. Excellent and well made. What I feel when I see this is: Halloween and Michael Myers which ironically is set on Halloween week. The reason for 7/10 is the screen writing did play out slow. But it needed it so the viewer can build up to the climatic ending.