After its theatrical and digital release, Eli Roth’s latest splatterfest, Ice Cream Man, has hit screens near you. So, pop some popcorn, get comfy, and get ready for an ultra-violent gorefest!
Set against the backdrop of an idyllic, sun-drenched summer town, the film takes a wholesome childhood staple and twists it into pure, violent insanity. When the neighborhood ice cream vendor starts serving soft-serve laced with homicidal psychosis, the local children instantly descend into a feral, blood-soaked frenzy.
Cast, Crew, and Practical Splatter
Ari Millen (Orphan Black) stars as the titular dessert vendor, donning a vintage paper soda jerk hat to dish out dairy-induced carnage. He leads an ensemble cast that includes Benjamin Byron Davis, who joined us for an interview about the movie. He’s joined by Dylan Hawco, Sarah Abbott, Kiori Mirza Waldman, and Charlie Zeltzer. Also returning from Roth’s Thanksgiving is a trio of actors: Karen Cliche, Shiloh O’Reilly, and Charlie Story.
Roth directed and produced the feature while co-writing the screenplay with Noah Belson. To ensure the practical gore delivers maximum stomach-churning impact, the production enlisted makeup veterans Steve Newburn and Oscar winner Adrien Morot (The Whale). The carnage is set to an original score by Brandon Roberts with additional musical contributions from Snoop Dogg.
Launching The Horror Section Banner
Ice Cream Man serves as the inaugural feature release from Roth’s new production banner, The Horror Section. Founded in 2025, the studio was built to deliver high-intensity genre cinema tailored specifically for hardcore horror fans. The company is already leaning heavily into midnight-movie territory with its follow-up project, the strikingly titled Don’t Go In That House, Bitch!, which will feature Snoop Dogg as a producer, writer, and featured performer on the soundtrack.
Serving Up Controversy
Ice Cream Man has already raised some eyebrows. We take a deep dive into it in our review, from the huge child cast that was involved in the violence to a scene where a cop is dragged by a car, something similar to what happened in a true crime. Some fans were also upset because it relies on generative AI. The film got some not-so-sweet attention for multiple reasons. However, that’s par for the course when it’s a movie from Roth. Controversy and gore are kind of his thing.
Coming to a Neighborhood Near You
Ice Cream Man is serving up a bloody good time. Stream it NOW on Prime Video. And if you see an ice cream truck on your street, you might want to skip the sugary treat.
