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Warren Skeels is jumping into the director's chair for his first movie with The Man in the White Van. Skeels previously got his start in the entertainment industry in front of the camera, co-starring in everything from the ABC family comedy Summertime Switch to the drama Surfacing: AKA A Letter from My Father, which he also wrote and produced, while future two-time Emmy nominee Craig Zobel (Mare of Easttown) directed. Skeels went on to make a name for himself as the co-creator of the MTV reality show, Siesta Key, which ran for five seasons on the network.
Skeels has partnered with Sharon Y. Cobb to co-write and direct The Man in the White Van, which marks his feature directorial debut. The movie is based on the true story of Billy Mansfield Jr., a serial killer, child molester and sex offender who, throughout the '70s and early '80s, committed multiple murders of young girls and women. The movie primarily focuses its story on Annie, a teenage girl based on one of the real survivors of Mansfield Jr.'s attacks, as she struggles to fit in with her family while also finding herself stalked by him.
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Malignant and Conjuring vet Madison Wolfe leads the Man in the White Van cast as Annie alongside Stargirl's Brec Bassinger, Night Swim's Gavin Warren, Sheroes' Skai Jackson, 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. Currently sitting at a 64% approval rating from critics and 77% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, Skeels' directorial debut has struck the right chord with its mix of tense true crime storytelling and well-rounded coming-of-age drama.
In anticipation of the movie's release, ScreenRant interviewed co-writer/director Warren Skeels to discuss The Man in the White Van, how he went about balancing the tenser nature of its horror-thriller aesthetics with the more sensitive nature of its true story, why Wolfe was the perfect choice to lead the cast of the film, and the various genre influences in creating the movie's look.
Skeels Was Motivated By The Movie's Lack Of Focus On The Killer Himself
"I think that was sort of a cornerstone for building the tension in the film."
ScreenRant: I'm really thrilled to talk about The Man in the White Van. I watched it this morning, and I was just gripped. It was so tense, and I just loved all of it. So what about this story really spoke to you to want to help explore it on screen?
Warren Skeels: When I met with the woman who the story and the main character, Annie, is mostly based on, I really just enjoyed the fact that it was a serial killer story, but it was from the unique perspective of the survivor, of the victim. I just sort of found that as the cornerstone to tell the narrative, and I felt that it wasn't a story about a detective chasing their guy, or a journalist trying to find the killer. But really, the core of it is that simple story about a girl coming of age, on the precipice of her life, and all the things that come along with becoming a young woman and having that almost completely stripped from her and bastardized by being stalked by this serial killer.
So with that said, then, what was it like finding that balance of touching on that story appropriately, but then also still highlighting some of the other victims that he had throughout the years, since you do have those non-chronological cutaways?
Warren Skeels: I think finding a way to not glorify the violence that was happening there, and to try to stake the film on the theater of the mind, the mystery, what you don't know, and that being sometimes more scary than what you do know or what you can see. I think that was sort of a cornerstone for building the tension in the film. And then, I think just in terms of being authentic to the depictions of Annie's surroundings, her environment, and situationally, what she was going through. I think that was sort of the key construct to how to build her world in a way where we're paying homage to that time period, and also to her story, even if we take some creative liberties on moving some time pieces around, or maybe the complete, exact given circumstances of something. The core element of what happened to her, and what happened to those victims is all in there.
Skee's & His Team Agreed Casting Annie Was The Most Important Piece Of The Movie's Puzzle
"We wanted to find our Annie, and then build the cast around her."
I've loved Madison Wolfe since The Conjuring 2, but what was it like looking for the perfect person to play Annie?
Warren Skeels: I mean, critically for Arlie Day and Mike Page, who cast the film, and Terri Lubaroff and Legion M, were all really instrumental in casting and bringing together the film. We really decided we wanted to start and end with Annie. We wanted to find our Annie, and then build the cast around her. She was somebody early on, Madison Wolfe, who was kind of brought to the table, and after meeting with her one on one, we just started talking and being able to kind of go through and look at what she had done up until now, in terms of her work.
I mean, gosh, she's such an accomplished actress already with who she's worked with, and the projects and the characters she's played. She just brings a certain level of commitment to the given circumstances of a script. What I really enjoyed about her in this film is that not only can she play into the youth of Annie, but she also has a sense that she would stand up for herself verbally, but also physically. I think that was really sort of crucial toward incorporating that element into Annie, with where she ultimately faced one on one with her predator.
Skeels Had A Few Particular Genre Influences For Creating The Movie's Look
"...we could actually bring [viewers] into the world in a native way..."
I'd also love to hear about the look of this film, because this is a period piece, but yet it feels inspired by so many different things, as far as its visual aesthetic goes. What was it like finding the look for this film?
Warren Skeels: That was fun. Gareth Paul Cox, our cinematographer, and Lauren Spalding, the production designer, we talked a little bit about some of the films from the '70s, some contemporary films, likePeter Jackson's Lovely Bones. I really liked the fabric of that, that feeling. So, that was one. Dual was sort of a comp for the van itself, that and Christine, Stephen King's film. Really just trying to build that environment visually, to bring us back into the '70s, and feel like we're living in this world completely.
We felt like if we could bring people into the world, and give them some universal elements to grab on to, like the extension phone, which is, essentially, a metaphor for social media of today for Margaret's character. By doing that, we could actually bring them into the world in a native way that they could go on Annie's journey and be rooted with her throughout.
Skeels Is "Forever Grateful" That Astin & Larter For Both Starring & Executive Producing The Movie
"...they felt like they wanted to make sure the story got told..."
I see I've got time for about one more question, so I also would love to ask really quickly. Ali Larter and Sean Astin are also on board as executive producers, as much as stars on this. What was it like working with them both behind the camera as well as in front of the camera?
Warren Skeels: Sean is a cinematic legend, and Ali is arguably one of the most wickedly talented actresses we have. So, to have them both come aboard the project and lend their talents onto the screen was one thing, but to have them come on board and want to serve as executive producers, because they felt like they wanted to make sure the story got told was humbling. I'm forever grateful for both of them for coming on board in that capacity.
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.
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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
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) ·