There is nothing subtle about an Eli Roth setup built around a killer ice cream vendor, and “Ice Cream Man” is not pretending otherwise. The Horror Section will premiere the film’s official teaser trailer on Monday, April 13, ahead of a nationwide theatrical release on August 7 via The Horror Section and Iconic Releasing.
Roth directed, produced, and co-wrote the unrated horror film with longtime collaborator Noah Belson. The story follows “an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results,” which feels very much in Roth’s preferred lane of cheerful surfaces curdling into something ugly.
Ari Millen stars in the title role, with Benjamin Byron Davis, Karen Cliche, Dylan Hawco, Sarah Abbott, Shiloh O’Reilly, Kiori Mirza Waldman, Charlie Zeltzer, Charlie Storey, and Roth rounding out the cast. Millen’s presence at the center at least suggests Roth is leaning into a more character-forward monster figure than just a splashy premise.
The film also brings a slightly unexpected music lineup. Snoop Dogg contributes original music alongside composer Brandon Roberts, while Nas executive produces through The Horror Section’s strategic partnership with Mass Appeal.
For Roth, the movie is also the first theatrical release under his new horror banner, which will send “Ice Cream Man” into more than 2,000 North American venues this summer. The teaser arrives Monday, April 13, and the film opens in theaters nationwide on August 7.
