Brec Bassinger is expanding her genre range to the world of horror-thrillers with The Man in the White Van. Bassinger got her acting start in the world of Nickelodeon, having a recurring role in the supernatural sitcom The Haunted Hathaways and leading the comedy Bella and the Bulldogs. She would go on to find her breakthrough role in the DC TV show Stargirl, playing the titular superhero and carrying on the role in both a Titans crossover and the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event in the Arrowverse.
Bassinger stars in The Man in the White Van as Margaret, the older sister to Madison Wolfe's Annie who, as she gets closer to becoming 18, wants to follow in her mom's footsteps to become a prim and formal woman. This, in turn, has alienated the two sisters as they frequently find themselves at odds, particularly as Margaret begins dating a new person. However, when Annie's cries of a stalker in a white van become more frequent and panicked, Margaret has to grapple with whether her imaginative sister is telling the truth.
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Alongside Wolfe and Bassinger, the ensemble Man in the White Van cast includes Sheroes' Skai Jackson, Night Swim's Gavin Warren, Noah Lomax, Addison Riecke, Landman's Ali Larter and Lord of the Rings' Sean Astin, the latter two of whom are also executive producers on the film. Hailing from co-writer/director Warren Skeels in his feature directorial debut, the movie proves to be a chilling mix of a Halloween-like horror-thriller and coming-of-age drama.
Ahead of the movie's release, ScreenRant interviewed Brec Bassinger to discuss The Man in the White Van, how she balanced the character's more outrageous behavior with a genuine care underneath, bonding with Madison Wolfe during filming and pulling from her own relationship with her siblings to inform her performance, and working with the costume department for Margaret's unique and period-specific wardrobe.
Bassinger Turned To A Specific Acting Strategy To Find Margaret
"I know I'm biased, I also really love Margaret."
ScreenRant: Very excited to chat with you, Brec, for The Man in the White Van, it's such a gripping film from start to finish. Margaret, as harsh on Annie as she is, is also a real sweetheart. What was it like for you finding the heart of that character?
Brec Bassinger: I know I'm biased, I also really love Margaret. I think, as an actor with a character, it's always your responsibility to reason with them like no one ever thinks they're being rude or a bad person. There's always a reason why they're communicating the way they are. So, I think just finding her insecurities and the oppositional dynamic with Annie, and why it's that way was really fun. And Madison's so talented, and such a sweetheart. So, getting to banter back and forth with her on set was so fun.
So, talking about their difference in characters, why do you think it is that Margaret's maybe more willing to be the really conservatively dressed and proper acting daughter, versus Annie's more rebellious nature?
Brec Bassinger: I think that's the beautiful thing about families. You always kind of go, from my experience, more towards one of the parents. And I think Margaret very much followed the suit of her mother, and Annie was kind of more similar to her dad. Speaking for myself, I'm an exact mix of both of my parents, but leaning into Margaret's side, and even with this role, I had so many conversations with my mom, because she grew up in the '70s, and so I feel like it's just kind of the dynamic of their family.
She Gives "So Many Props" To Wolfe For Her Work Leading The Film
That was something I wanted to ask about, because that is one of the big relationships in this film. Was there one scene, maybe, where you felt it really clicked between you and Madison, that you had found this sibling dynamic together?
Brec Bassinger: Yes, it was just a big thing. So, I have two older brothers, and we bicker like crazy, but I would die for them, I love them. My brother is my roommate, I love him so much. There's a scene in the bedroom where Ali comes in — the mom, I call her by her real name [chuckles] — and I'm trying to get her to put the phone in. And [Madison] comes in, and she's talking about the white van, and I say something really horrible to Annie. But I think it was just the back and forth dynamic where we kind of just got to one up each other, that was really fun. But then, behind all of that, still having an element of sisterly love, which was really important to me.
As things progress, though, things become much more dramatic and very physical, as well, for both you and Madison. What was it like shooting the tenser moments of this film, let's say, in comparison to the sisterly banter?
Brec Bassinger: Yeah, once again, I just have to give so many props to Madison. She worked her butt off on this film, from the horses to the climax of the film, where she's just getting tossed around, showing up to set and seeing her give 100% was so inspiring. I really wanted to show up for her, and if she's going to give her all these days, I need to as well. Just having an actor, a partner on set like that, it's such a good opportunity for growth, and I feel really lucky to have gotten to be next to her.
Bassinger Worked "Hand-In-Hand" With The Movie's Costume Designer To Find Margaret's Look
"Most of the clothes are properly 1970s vintage..."
You're also, obviously, no stranger to a lot of wardrobe when it comes to filming. I see Stargirl right there over your shoulder, but at the same time, this is a period piece, and Margaret's wardrobe is so particular compared to Annie's. What was it like working with the costume department for that side of things?
Brec Bassinger: We had a beautiful, wonderfully talented costume designer named Tiger, and we worked so hand in hand. Most of the clothes are properly 1970s vintage, but I feel like, as an actor, the wardrobe is such an opportunity to add to the character, and Tiger did such a good job with that. And once again, going back to the sisterly opposition, Margaret's clothes compared to Annie's clothes just immediately helped me get into character. And it was so fun.
About The Man in the White Van
Based on a true story, "The Man in the White Van" delves into the eerie underbelly of a seemingly idyllic 1975 Florida town, and follows the harrowing experience of young Annie Williams, a spirited girl whose carefree existence is turned upside down as she becomes stalked by an ominous man in a white van.
The tranquility of Annie's world, from her love of horseback riding to her leisurely strolls home from school in the nearby woods, begins to crumble as the menacing white van inches closer and closer. As her parents' skepticism increasingly grows, Annie finds herself psychologically isolated, and on Halloween night her worst fears materialize into a full-blown nightmare.
The feature debut of director Warren Skeels, "The Man in the White Van" is a gripping exploration of terror, paranoia, and the fragility of security in a place where darkness lurks beneath the surface. Based on actual events of the serial killer Billy Mansfield Jr., the film captures a bone-chilling story of a young girl's unimaginable horrors, and every parent's worst nightmare.
Stay tuned for our other Man in the White Van interviews with:
The Man in the White Van is now in theaters.
Source: ScreenRant Plus
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The Man in the White Van explores the unsettling true story of a family targeted by a mysterious driver in a white van. This psychological thriller delves into the chilling events that unfold, impacting the lives of all involved in a small suburban town.
Release Date
October 14, 2023
Cast
Madison Wolfe
, Brec Bassinger
, Skai Jackson
, Gavin Warren
, Noah Lomax
, Addison Riecke
, Julianne Arrieta
, Darrius Thomas
, Dylan Summerall
, Stacy Ann Rose
, Patrick Kirton
, John F. Daniel
, Brooke Hyland
, Ryan Whitney
, Brighton Sharbino
, Helena Kompothecras
, Andy Sibley
, Blake Drivas
, Amanda Marie Miller
, Dennis Mallen
, Ali Larter
, Sean Astin
Character(s)
Annie
, Margaret
, Patty
, Daniel
, Mark
, Joanna
, Charlie
, Kyle
, Patty's Mom
, Jim
, Telephone Installer
, Teen Girl
, Young Mother
, Swimmer
, Skirt Girl
, The Man
, Babysitter
, Teen girl's dad
Director
Warren Skeels
Writers
Warren Skeels
, Sharon Y. Cobb
Studio(s)
Legion M
, Brooksville Project
, Garrison Film Company
Distributor(s)
Relativity
English (US) ·