Eli Roth’s latest horror comedy, "Ice Cream Man," delivers a blend of grotesque humor and supernatural thrills centered around a sinister ice cream truck and its deadly frozen treats. Though it is not a remake of the 1995 cult film of the same name, Roth’s version shares thematic elements with other entries in the niche subgenre, including "Mr. Ice Cream Man" (1996) and "The Ice Cream Truck" (2017).

Set in a suburban neighborhood, the film follows Jared, a lactose-intolerant boy played by Charlie Zeltzer, who becomes suspicious of an ice cream truck that plays a warped jingle as it circles the streets. The truck’s ice cream man, portrayed by Ari Millen, sports a crisp white uniform and red bow tie, dispensing eerie frozen treats with names such as the Creepy Crawly and the Serpent Swirl. Despite Jared’s misgivings, his family—his parents, portrayed by Eli Roth himself and Karen Cliche, along with his sister Lizzie, played by Sarah Abbott—remain unconcerned.

The story takes a horrific turn when children who consume these cursed ice cream treats transform overnight into violent killers, targeting adults including parents and teachers. As the body count rises amid increasingly graphic scenes, Jared and his unaffected friends confront these supernatural threats.

"Ice Cream Man" combines elements of campy comedy with intense gore, featuring makeup effects designed to evoke a "Dawn of the Dead"-style undead aesthetic. The special effects team, including Steve Newburn and Adrien Morot, delivers prosthetics that emphasize the film’s visceral and stomach-churning atmosphere. This visual approach underpins the film’s exploration of darker themes, such as the complexities of loving individuals who engage in harmful, manipulative behavior—a subject Roth has examined in previous works like "Hostel" (2006) and "Thanksgiving" (2023).

Roth has noted that he and co-writer Noah Belson approach their collaboration with a youthful, mischievous spirit, resulting in a film that humorously mixes childish whimsy with horror tropes. Millen’s portrayal of the ice cream man, featuring a menacing yet oddly charismatic demeanor reminiscent of cult filmmaker John Waters’ style, stands out as a highlight.

The movie concludes on a notably bleak note, underscoring a sense of despair uncommon in mainstream horror comedies. Overall, "Ice Cream Man" offers fans of the genre a fresh take on a familiar concept, balancing over-the-top gore with a surprisingly earnest thematic core.