Israel banned teenagers from watching this horror movie. They should say thank you
"Ice Cream Man" starts as a bloody horror comedy about an ice cream vendor who turns children into killing machines - and then reveals itself mainly as a display of synthetic aesthetics, effects that feel artificial, and violence that repeats itself to the point of numbness. Director Eli Roth even admitted that AI was used in part of the film, and when watching it, the suspicion arises that it might be quite a bit.
Ice cream and horror, at least a certain kind of horror, have something in common. You used to be able to buy industrial ice cream based on pure milk fat with a thick texture and deep flavor. You didn't have to go to a fancy gelateria and pay 30 shekels for two scoops. And today? Hydrogenated vegetable fat, artificial stabilizers, and a synthetic aftertaste. Horror movies have gone through a similar process of degradation. From shooting on film, gallons of fake blood, latex body parts, and animatronic puppets, to films that use CGI to create monsters and blood splatters. Horror movies may degrade even further when directors start using AI. It is likely that the main source of horror will then stem from the "Uncanny valley" experience on screen.
Eli Roth's "Ice Cream Man" manages to combine both forms of degradation. Roth earned his reputation in the horror genre with "Cabin Fever" (2002) and the "torture porn" films of the "Hostel" series (2005-7). This time it is a horror comedy of the subgenre known as "splatter" - horror with an extreme to ridiculous degree of physical mutilation. The plot takes place in a suburban setting that recreates an image of innocent childhood from days gone by, only to contradict it with a demonic ice cream vendor who turns children into murderous zombies.
The first suspicions regarding Roth's use of AI arose after watching the trailer images. In addition, the credits list the company Dark Half, which specializes in special effects using AI. Roth denied it and claimed he relied on "the background I have in animation" to create short segments of retro-animation. A few days ago, Roth admitted that he "was not accurate" and that AI was used "in very small parts of some scenes." After watching, the suspicion arises that the use of AI is more significant, or that the film adapted itself to the "AI slop" aesthetic. It is unclear what is worse.
The plot takes place in "Bailin Bay," a toy-like and peaceful town that exists in a limbo between the 80s and the present. The idyllic image is completed by the bright light and cheerful colors. The protagonist is 12-year-old Jared (Charlie Seltzer), a classic suburban kid from 80s Spielbergian cinema. He lives in a routine of humiliations until the arrival of an ice cream truck with a mute vendor who has a creepy smile constantly plastered on his face (Ari Millen).
The trailer for "Ice Cream Man" makes it very clear what will happen: a series of grotesque acts of mutilation that the children perform on adults. Roth uses smearing colorful ice cream with sprinkles as a substitute for blood. The horror trope of murderous children is not new, but with Roth, it is nothing more than the realization of extreme fantasies. Instead of it being a justified climax, it becomes the banality of mutilation.
The critical consensus panned the film, although there are other opinions. On the other hand, those who really suffered were the members of the "Film Review Board" in Israel. They took a break from their political duties to save the children of Israel from "Ice Cream Man." In a decision from 22.7.26, the esteemed group of experts banned the admission of viewers under 18 to the film, determining that "imposing acts of horror on everyday elements from childhood life creates persistent anxiety."
It is clear that the film is not recommended for children to watch, but it is hard to believe that it will cause harm to teenagers who chose to watch it of their own free will. The monotonous plot, mediocre direction, and synthetic visual design leave "Ice Cream Man" as nothing more than a bloody and bland prank. If one is to justify a ban, then it should be on the grounds of "harming the purity of cinematic art through AI."
