Eli Roth's 'Ice Cream Man' Merges Horror and Dark Comedy

WHO:

Moviefone - The film stars young actors Charlie Zeltzer, Shiloh O'Reilly, Kiori Mirza Waldman, and Sarah Abbott, as well as Roth as Marty, and Ari Millen as the title character.

Deadline - Eli Roth is the director of the film "Ice Cream Man."

Variety - The film features elements reminiscent of horror icons like Jason, Freddy, and Michael Myers.

WHAT:

Variety - Roth described "Ice Cream Man" as a film that represents his most independent work to date, stating, "This is as indie as it gets."

IndieWire - Roth mentioned that the film's massacre sequence includes "every school supply in sight as a lethal weapon."

IndieWire - Roth's film "Ice Cream Man" features a unique premise where the title character infects children with murderous impulses through his ice cream treats.

IndieWire - The film's massacre sequence includes children using school supplies as weapons to kill adults, described as a "sustained orgy of awe-inspiring carnage."

IndieWire - Roth stated that the film was shot in a tight schedule of 19 days, which he believes contributes to the movie's energetic feel.

IndieWire - The film is being released independently, with Roth starting his own distribution label to put it in theaters unrated.

IndieWire - Roth described the film as a "splatter movie equivalent of the opening sequence in 'Saving Private Ryan' (though much funnier)," highlighting the extensive choreography involved in the massacre sequence.

IndieWire - Roth stated that the biggest challenge of creating the massacre sequence was the time constraint of having only one day to shoot it.

IndieWire - Roth mentioned that he had to shoot one of the most indelible images of the film in one take due to scheduling issues, with only two minutes available to film it with a hundred kids.

IndieWire - Roth used FrameForge software to create three-dimensional storyboards for the film, allowing for precise planning of camera placements.

IndieWire - The film features a massive massacre sequence where an entire school of kids turns on adults, using school supplies as weapons.

IndieWire - Roth shot the entire feature in 19 days, which he described as a tight schedule for such an ambitious film.

IndieWire - Roth noted that one of the most memorable scenes was shot in one take due to time constraints, with only two minutes available to film it with a hundred kids.

IndieWire - Roth stated that the film is being released independently, starting their own distribution label, and will be shown in theaters unrated.

Deadline - "Ice Cream Man" is described as an unrated bloodfest that merges horror and dark comedy.

Variety - The film is characterized as a "kiddie zombie splatter film" and is compared to "Village of the Damned" and "Halloween."

WHERE:

Deadline - The film is set to be released in theaters.

WHEN:

IndieWire - "Ice Cream Man" opens in theaters on August 7.

Variety - The film is anticipated to be released on a future date, although the specific date is not provided in the articles.

WHY:

IndieWire - Roth aims to create a film that resonates with children, stating, "If I was 10 and I saw this, I’d think it was the greatest movie ever made."

IndieWire - Roth emphasized that he wanted to create a fun atmosphere on set, stating, "It was Christmas and Halloween for them every day," referring to the excitement of the child actors.

IndieWire - Roth aims to create a film that resonates with children, stating, "If I was 10 and I saw this, I’d think it was the greatest movie ever made."

Deadline - Eli Roth aims to give the Ice Cream Man character the same fame as other horror icons, indicating a motivation to innovate within the horror genre.

HOW:

IndieWire - Roth and his second unit director, Justin Harding, created three-dimensional storyboards for the film using FrameForge software.

IndieWire - Roth used extensive three-dimensional storyboards created with FrameForge software to plan camera placements mathematically for the film.

IndieWire - Roth directed the child actors by asking them if they wanted to be treated as children or adults, and they chose the latter, leading him to direct them similarly to how he would direct adult actors.

Deadline - The film blends elements from various horror films, suggesting a mix of styles and influences in its production.

(UPDATED August 5, 2026 01:15 UTC)

The highly anticipated film "Ice Cream Man," starring young actors Charlie Zeltzer, Shiloh O'Reilly, Kiori Mirza Waldman, and Sarah Abbott, features Roth as Marty and Ari Millen in the title role. Roth describes this project as his most independent work yet, emphasizing its unique approach with a massacre sequence that creatively uses school supplies as weapons, and he hopes it resonates with children, saying, "If I was 10 and I saw this, I’d think it was the greatest movie ever made." "Ice Cream Man" is set to open in theaters on August 7.

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 19:26 UTC)

Eli Roth's new film "Ice Cream Man" presents a chilling story where the title character infects children with murderous impulses through his ice cream treats, featuring a massacre sequence where kids use school supplies as weapons against adults in what has been described as a "sustained orgy of awe-inspiring carnage." Shot in just 19 days, Roth believes this tight schedule contributes to the film's energetic feel, and he is independently releasing it through his own distribution label to ensure it hits theaters unrated. Roth aims to create a film that resonates with children, expressing that if he were ten years old, he would think it was the greatest movie ever made.

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 15:27 UTC)

Director Roth has described his upcoming film as the "splatter movie equivalent of the opening sequence in 'Saving Private Ryan,' though much funnier," highlighting the intricate choreography involved in the massacre scene, which he had to shoot in just one day. He faced a significant challenge when he needed to capture one of the film's most memorable images in a single take, with only two minutes to film it alongside a hundred kids. To ensure everything went smoothly, Roth utilized FrameForge software for detailed three-dimensional storyboards, allowing for precise planning, while creating a fun atmosphere on set that he likened to "Christmas and Halloween for them every day."

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 10:35 UTC)

In an ambitious new film, director Roth showcases a massive massacre sequence where a school of kids turns on adults, using school supplies as weapons. Shot in just 19 days, one of the most memorable scenes was filmed in a single take with only two minutes to spare and a hundred kids involved. The film, which Roth hopes will resonate with children, is set to be released independently and will open in theaters unrated on August 7.

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 07:39 UTC)

Eli Roth is set to direct a new film titled "Ice Cream Man," which promises to be an unrated bloodfest merging horror and dark comedy. This film is described as a "kiddie zombie splatter film," drawing comparisons to horror classics like "Village of the Damned" and "Halloween," and it aims to elevate the Ice Cream Man character to the level of iconic figures such as Jason, Freddy, and Michael Myers. While the specific release date for the film has not been announced, it will be hitting theaters in the future.