Ice Cream Man(2026)

This movie feels like a middle finger to overbearing, meddling studios whose interference can suppress a director's creative vision. The extreme, over-the-top, creative kills demonstrate that. While I can appreciate that, I think the film lacks thoughtfulness that could have brought it to greater heights. You can only handle so much violence before you become desensitized, and once you reach that point the fatigue sets in and it's just like, why? Where is this going? What could have worked in conjunction with the extreme violence is tension, of which the film has none. More creepiness from the antagonist (you know, the dude the film is named after) could have lent another dimension. Without these missing pieces the violence becomes weightless. That being said, the comedic elements came together at times, especially the dinner table scene, which was wholesome and funny and definitely caught me off guard. I look forward to seeing what Eli Roth brings to the table next (Thanksgiving 2!) and want to support The Horror Section. This feels like a film that he might have made for himself.