Eli Roth Is Back With a Malicious Mobile Vendor
If you thought neighborhood ice cream trucks were harmless, think again. Eli Roth — yes, the mastermind behind borderline sadistic crowd-pleasers — is serving up a new horror-comedy that turns sunny sidewalks into unsettling territory.
The Trailer: Naughty by Nature (and Rated Red)
The fresh red-band trailer and poster just dropped, and they lean hard into the unruly, uncensored side of things. It’s loud, gory-adjacent, and played like a mordant joke that keeps getting darker—perfect for anyone who likes their chills with a side of schadenfreude.
Small Town, Big Freakout
The setup is deliciously simple: an apparently friendly ice cream vendor rolls into an otherwise sleepy summer town, and the sweets he hands out come with terrifying consequences for the kids who eat them. Expect chaos, neighborhood meltdown, and a steady ramp-up from sunny backyard vibes to full-on mayhem.
Cast & Cameos Worth Noting
The film rounds up a solid ensemble: Ari Millen and Benjamin Byron Davis lead the charge alongside Karen Cliche, Dylan Hawco, Sarah Abbott, Shiloh O’Reilly, Kiori Mirza Waldman, Charlie Zeltzer, Charlie Storey — and Roth even pops up himself. It’s a mix of familiar faces and fresh players who look game for the movie’s over-the-top tone.
Who’s Behind the Scenes
A handful of indie production outfits teamed up to get this one into theaters. The film’s got that gritty, hands-on horror vibe that comes from smaller producers pooling their talents — which usually means more creative risk and fewer studio filters.
When You Can Catch It
Mark your calendar: the movie hits U.S. theaters on August 7. Internationally, it rolls into Spain on September 4 with distribution handled locally. If you’re into festival chatter or trailer drops, the red-band clip is already making the rounds online.
Why You Might Want to See It
This looks like the kind of guilty-pleasure horror that loves being outrageous. If you enjoy films that mix black comedy with jolts and a little nostalgic summertime creepiness, this could be your jam. Think of it as a carnival treat that bites back.
Bottom Line
Ice Cream Man isn’t trying to be subtle. It’s a salty, slightly twisted summer entry from a director who knows his audience. Bring snacks — preferably not from an unmarked truck.