Stranger Things star’s “engrossing” true-crime thriller is trending on UK streamer

The true-crime thriller The Man in the White Van, featuring Sean Astin from Stranger Things, is currently popular with viewers on a UK streaming service. The 2023 film is set in 1970s Florida and centers on a young girl, Annie Williams (Madison Wolfe), who is being followed by a suspicious white van. Inspired by the real-life crimes of Billy Mansfield Jr., who was responsible for the deaths of six women and girls between 1975 and 1980, the movie builds to a frightening climax on Halloween.

Sean Astin plays the father of the main character, Richard Williams, and acts alongside Brec Bassinger, Skai Jackson, Gavin Warren, and Ali Larter.

The thrilling new movie, directed by Warren Skeels, is now popular on Prime Video in the UK. If you don’t have a subscription, you can try Prime Video for free for 30 days.

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Although The Man in the White Van is popular on the streaming platform, critics have given it mixed reviews, resulting in a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 reviews.

HorrorBuzz praised the film as a captivating thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Movies and Munchies noted that while the beginning was slow, the story eventually came together brilliantly, delivering a surprising and satisfying climax.

According to CBR, The Man In the White Van is a well-made and visually appealing film with a satisfying conclusion in its last fifteen minutes.

In a review, The New York Times criticized the film’s climax, calling it unnecessarily long and lacking in intelligence. They also noted that the movie keeps much of the violence and the villain hidden from view.

The director recently told ScreenRant that the film, The Man in the White Van, is inspired by the true story of a woman’s life.

I got to meet the woman who inspired the story and the main character, Annie, and honestly, what really grabbed me was that it was a serial killer story told from the survivor’s point of view. It’s a really unique take, focusing on the victim’s experience instead of the killer’s, and that’s what made it so interesting to me.

The Man in the White Van is streaming on Prime Video.

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2025-12-10 20:49