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Eli Roth Admits AI in “Ice Cream Man”

8/7/2026

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Summary

Eli Roth Admits AI

Director Eli Roth admitted AI was used in Ice Cream Man scenes after denying it.
He previously told Polygon he created the Fleischer-style animation himself.
Roth later said he misspoke, confirming AI was used in a small portion of scenes.
The credits list Dark Half, an AI visual-effects firm, as a production contributor.
Critics gave film a 30 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, while viewers called Roth untrustworthy.

Summary

Eli Roth Releases

Roth released Ice Cream Man through his indie label The Horror Section in partnership with Nas’s Mass Appeal.
The film was made on a $5.5 million budget that emphasized low-cost practical gore.
Snoop Dog contributed the “Ice Cream Song,” helped score the movie, and will co-produce Roth’s next horror.
Roth chose an unrated 86-minute theatrical release, a move enabled by the Terrifier 3 precedent, and urges viewers to see the full cut.

History

Historical Context

In 2019 Martin Scorsese’s *The Irishman* became the first major Hollywood film to rely on AI-driven de-aging, with Industrial Light & Magic creating a custom three-camera rig and delivering about 1,750 digitally altered shots. The technique, honed after a 2015 test reel, sparked industry debate over transparency, prompting indie filmmakers to disclose similar AI contributions.

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Eli Roth Admits AI

Director Eli Roth admitted AI was used in Ice Cream Man scenes after denying it.
He previously told Polygon he created the Fleischer-style animation himself.
Roth later said he misspoke, confirming AI was used in a small portion of scenes.
The credits list Dark Half, an AI visual-effects firm, as a production contributor.
Critics gave film a 30 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, while viewers called Roth untrustworthy.

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