All articles tagged with #eli roth
Eli Roth explains launching The Horror Section to bypass the traditional studio system and release Ice Cream Man as an unrated theatrical event, spurred by Terrifier 3’s success; he details building the company, financing, and shooting a 100-child sequence, and argues for pairing YouTube creators with veteran filmmakers to cultivate sustainable, boundary-pushing horror theater.“
Empire's John Nugent pans Ice Cream Man (2026) as a blood-soaked throwback that prioritizes graphic violence over story or character, condemning its sloppy plotting, problematic jokes, casual bigotry and even anti-art use of AI—leaving the film ugly, unpleasant and insubstantial.
Horror director Eli Roth says AI was used in a very small portion of Ice Cream Man, triggering social-media backlash and a broader debate about AI in filmmaking; Roth defends the move as a creative fusion of technology and artistry, signaling ongoing tensions in the horror genre over AI usage.
Eli Roth has confirmed that generative AI was used in Ice Cream Man, including a handful of animated sequences that he initially described as part of a traditional hand-drawn process. Dark Half is credited for AI work, and Roth later told Polygon that AI was used in a very small portion of a few scenes, emphasizing that technology and creativity helped realize his vision without detailing which sequences were AI-generated or how they were combined with human animation.
Director Eli Roth says AI was used in a very small portion of Ice Cream Man, noting he drew the frames and worked with animators, with an AI visual effects company credited; he previously mispoke about the technology as the film nears release.
Eli Roth acknowledged that AI contributed to a small portion of a few scenes in Ice Cream Man, after previously claiming there was no AI involvement. He described the AI work as a limited, collaborative tool to help realize his vision, noting the cartoon sequence was initially drawn by him and later refined by animators. The statement, in response to social-media scrutiny, highlights ongoing debates about AI’s role in filmmaking.
Eli Roth confirms Ice Cream Man uses AI in a very small portion of a few scenes, with one AI-assisted sequence hand-drawn and inspired by 1920s Mickey Mouse cartoons. He says the project is independent with minimal studio interference, but he didn’t specify which scenes used AI, amid earlier misstatements and speculation about AI credits.
Filmmaker Eli Roth is skipping studios and self-funding his next horror project, Ice Cream Man, releasing it unrated through his own company The Horror Section. With a $5.5 million budget funded largely by foreign pre-sales and Canadian tax credits, Roth aims for creative freedom and a modest theatrical plan, expecting to profit through home entertainment and to release 2–4 horror films annually while retaining ownership of his IP.
Eli Roth explains that Ice Cream Man was designed as the “Saving Private Ryan” of splatter, building the brutal mass-kill sequence one gag at a time and planning it with on-site, location-specific thinking. The centerpiece school massacre was choreographed across a single, memorable take and shot in a tight window within 19 days in an elementary school, using FrameForge storyboards to map camera positions. He involved parents beforehand, kept the child cast engaged with horror-fan sensibilities, and pursued an independent, unrated release under its own distribution label, emphasizing an ultra-indie, director-driven approach rather than studio control.
Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man is set for a wide August release (Aug. 7) in about 2,000 theaters through Iconic Events, with Roth directing, producing and starring; Nas is an executive producer as part of The Horror Section’s slate.
Eli Roth's new horror company, The Horror Section, is launching with a focus on extreme horror films like 'Jimmy & Stiggs,' which is opening in theaters. Roth aims to revive interest in theatrical horror by working directly with theater chains, offering unique experiences and supporting emerging filmmakers, inspired by his childhood love for shocking, visceral movies.
The horror film franchise 'Hostel' is being developed into a TV series at Peacock, with Eli Roth writing, directing, and executive producing, and Paul Giamatti attached to star. The show is based on the story of tourists kidnapped and tortured by the Elite Hunting Club in Eastern Europe, and is in early development with plot details under wraps.
Paul Giamatti is set to star in a new "Hostel" TV series, a modern adaptation and elevated thriller of the horror franchise. Eli Roth, Chris Briggs, and Mike Fleiss will return to the project, with Roth directing and co-writing the script. The series is currently in development without a platform attached.
Director Eli Roth revealed at CinemaCon that the key to landing Cate Blanchett for the video game adaptation "Borderlands" was a spontaneous decision to call her and pitch the role, which she surprisingly accepted due to her love for apocalyptic films. The movie, set on the dangerous planet Pandora, also stars Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black, and has drawn attention for its reshoots under the direction of Tim Miller. "Borderlands" is set to open on August 9th.
At CinemaCon, director Eli Roth unveiled a trailer for the upcoming film "Borderlands," featuring Cate Blanchett as a post-apocalyptic warrior named Lilith. The movie, set to release on Aug. 9, showcases an ensemble cast including Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Black, and Ariana Greenblatt. Roth expressed his excitement about Blanchett's involvement and the anarchic, day-glo imagery in the trailer, while Greenblatt humorously addressed her experience working with the star-studded cast.