Eli Roth Serves Up Brain Freezes and Bloodshed at SDCC for ‘Ice Cream Man’

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July 25, 2026

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Events | Horror Conventions | Movies | News

Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: [email protected]

Just when you thought it was safe to listen for the cheerful chime of the neighborhood ice cream truck, Eli Roth is here to ruin your childhood memories all over again.

Ahead of its theatrical debut, the splatter master took a deliciously deadly detour through San Diego Comic-Con. He’s promoting his latest horror offering, Ice Cream Man, which scoops its way into theaters nationwide on August 7, 2026.

To mark the occasion, Roth invited brave SDCC attendees over to Kansas City BBQ for a photo opp to die for. The event featured the San Diego debut of The Ice Cream Social Massacre Installation. It was conceived by visionary experiential artist Maximillian (the brain behind the famed I Like Scary Movies 3D experience). Fans who survived the installation were treated to brain-freezing desserts and limited-edition swag served straight out of an overhauled, custom truck, a collaboration with Street Freeze.

A Recipe for Pure Homicidal Madness

Set in a picture-perfect, sun-drenched summer resort town, Ice Cream Man tackles the ultimate childhood betrayal: what happens when the local ice cream man starts topping his soft-serve with pure, unadulterated madness?

The newly released SDCC footage offers a deeply disturbing peek into the dairy-induced chaos. Forget tooth decay or lactose intolerance—after one bite of these icy treats, the local kids immediately descend into a state of feral, hyper-violent insanity.

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The Creative Ingredient List

Playing the titular, twisted dessert vendor is Ari Millen (Orphan Black). And honestly, he looks entirely too comfortable sporting a vintage paper soda-jerk hat while doling out carnage.

Millen is backed by an impressive ensemble, including Roth himself, Benjamin Byron Davis (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Dylan Hawco (Heartland), Sarah Abbott (The Body), Kiori Mirza WaldmanO’Reilly, and Charlie Zeltz (Handmaid’s Tale). Roth brought along a trio of familiar faces from Thanksgiving: Karen Cliche, Shiloh O’Reilly, and Charlie Story.

Behind the camera, Roth is pulling multi-hyphenate duty as director, producer, and co-writer alongside his longtime collaborator Noah Belson. To guarantee the practical gore looks appropriately stomach-churning, the film tapped makeup and VFX legends Steve Newburn and Academy Award winner Adrien Morot (The Whale).

And because a movie this unhinged demands an equally wild soundtrack, the original score by Brandon Roberts will feature additional music from none other than Snoop Dogg. Because honestly… why on earth not?

Grab your sprinkles and prepare for impact: Ice Cream Man screams into theaters August 7, 2026.

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