THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN
Filmmaker Warren Skeels brings a terrifying film based on events in 1970s Florida with THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN. Annie is the middle child in a family very much concerned with her becoming a proper young lady. She is more concerned with being validated in her indivisibility and perhaps the new boy in town. When she notices a white van following her around town, her family accuses her of making up stories.
The script has an underlying “Boy Who Cried Wolf” (but with a young girl at the center) while simultaneously reminding audiences to believe women. It is a clever mix. The film cuts back and forth in time, showing us glimpses of abductions of women and girls by the mostly faceless serial perpetrator. Years crank by forwards and backward in a creative transition of rusted numbers.
The score is jarring in the best way possible. Ominous closeups from inside the van make your skin crawl. Classic tropes work like gangbusters. Skeels slowly reveals more details of each abduction, building the intensity for an inevitable run-in with Annie.
Sean Astin and Ali Larter, playing Annie’s traditional parents, deliver pitch-perfect portrayals of the times. Brec Bassinger is fantastic as the eldest daughter, Margaret. Deemed the pretty people pleaser, her chemistry with Madison Wolfe solidifies the emotional stronghold of the family dynamic. Wolfe gives Annie all the vulnerability, pure innocence, and bravery we want from this character. She is endlessly fierce and a joy to watch. Wolfe owns the film.
There is no escaping the terror. It is a meticulously crafted script of anxiety-drenched moments. THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN is a film every parent needs to see, every husband who thinks his wife is being paranoid. It is a warning and a perfect example of gaslighting women experience daily. Stick around for the credits.
THE MAN IN THE WHITE VAN Trailer:
IN U.S. THEATERS FRIDAY DECEMBER 13th
Directed and Co-written by: Warren Skeels
Starring: Madison Wolfe, Brec Bassinger, Skai Jackson, Ali Larter, and Sean Astin
BASED ON A TRUE STORY.
In 1975 Florida, a series of violent disappearances go unnoticed, and young Annie (Madison Wolfe) is targeted by an ominous white van that stalks her every move. As the menace escalates, her parents dismiss her fears, and Annie is soon plunged into a terrifying nightmare that shatters her world.
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Clever and subtle handheld camera movements pack a subconscious punch. The script keeps you on your toes from the opening shot. Writer-director Brock Heasley forces the audience to sit up and pay attention as theories swirl in their minds. Your eyes dart across the screen in fear of missing either a performance or the intricate production design. 
Neal McDonough plays The Benefactor with a slick, mesmerizing control. I wish we’d seen more of him. Sean Astin plays Kevin’s dystopian colleague and aids in his mission, Gabrielle. Astin brings his inherent charm, comic timing, and uncanny ability to connect with his fellow castmates. He is a joy to watch. Kristoffer Polala gives Kevin a grounded aura. His soothing narration feels like a warm hug. Something about his tone projects strength and calm simultaneously. He navigates the script’s nuance effortlessly. 
THE SHIFT has elements of The Matrix, Total Recall, Sliders, The Hunger Games, The Stand, and Faust. Fans of LOKI will eat this up. The narrative juxtaposition of multiple dimensions with resurrection is immensely clever. Heasley combines trauma, grief, guilt, technology, and faith with dystopian science fiction in an impressive fashion. While it leans heavily into the religious realm, the genre aspect is enough to captivate.
Azia Dinea Hale plays Nina, a young phone tech who gives private lessons to Mordecai. Dealing with an unexpected family secret, Nina pushes onward to assure Mordecai that he can take his future into his hands and heal through experience and art. Hale is as sweet and patient as we need her to be. 
Sean Astin is Marvin, Mordecai’s son. Marvin’s confident facade begins to crack under the pressure of his cigar business, Fela’s diagnosis, and unresolved feelings with his father. Astin leaves his heart on the screen. Marvin is a complex person doing his best to keep his head above water. Astin takes each beat with thoughtfulness. It is a carefully crafted character study.
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