Why ‘The Man in the White Van’ Doesn’t Reveal the Killer’s Face

When it comes to crafting a true-crime story for television or film, utmost respect and care for the victims and their families are paramount. Too often, media tends to pivot the spotlight onto the killer, perhaps driven by a morbid curiosity. However, striking a delicate balance between demonizing and glorifying these individuals can be challenging, with the balance often tipping in the wrong direction.

For those seeking a true-crime narrative that emphasizes the victim’s perspective, Warren Skeels’ upcoming film, The Man in the White Van, offers a refreshing take. Set in Florida in 1974, the film follows a young woman targeted by a stranger in a white van who stalks her for weeks before executing his sinister plan. Rather than diving into the killer’s background or attempting to understand his psyche, Skeels chose to portray the perpetrator as a mere silhouette, focusing the narrative on the victims instead.

During a discussion at the Collider Studio at San Diego Comic-Con, Skeels elaborated on his decision to keep the audience distanced from the perpetrator.

There are two parts to it. We’ve never set out to make a slasher or a gore fest of a film. I think from a creative standpoint, theater of the mind, to me, is really what’s on point here, and something I really wanted to explore. I find it a little more scary when you don’t really know exactly what’s going on. From a victim standpoint, we made the decision that we really didn’t want to glorify the serial killer in this. We didn’t really want to get into naming him. We didn’t want to show his face. We really just wanted to kind of tell the victim’s story, especially Annie’s story in particular. I like the unique perspective that it’s really a story about her and a protagonist and the victim point of view. Most serial killer stories or true crime stories are about the M-O of the serial killer, or it’s a journalist tracking a story or a detective trying to get their guy wrapped in a mystery. This is really just a raw experience of this girl living in a carefree world having no idea that her world is about to be turned upside down by this ominous white van, and just how far the length this guy is going to go to capture her.

Last October, an exclusive sneak peek gave audiences a preview of the horrifying story set to hit theaters on October 11. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Madison Wolfe (The Conjuring 2), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Brec Bassinger (Stargirl), Ali Larter (Final Destination), and Skai Jackson (Bunk’d).

Stay tuned for more updates from SDCC and future announcements about The Man in the White Van.