Eli Roth Reveals Generative AI Was Used in His New Horror Film ‘Ice Cream Man’

Eli Roth has addressed the discussion surrounding the use of generative AI in his upcoming horror movie Ice Cream Man, explaining that the technology was only used in a small part of the film.

The clarification came after fans noticed that AI visual effects company Dark Half was listed in the credits of early review copies of the movie. The credit led to questions about how much of the film relied on generative AI and whether some of its most unusual visuals were created using the technology.

The conversation grew after Roth previously described one of the film’s most talked-about sequences during an interview with Polygon. The scene features a strange animated short that appears on children’s phones before influencing them to become killers. Roth said the sequence was inspired by classic early animation and explained that he personally drew the designs. “I have an animation background and I drew it,” Roth told Polygon.

He explained that he worked with an animation team to capture the look of old cartoons, especially the rough and unusual style of early animated works. Roth said he wanted the sequence to have the feeling of classic 1920s cartoons, with a handmade appearance and a slightly unsettling style.

“I sat there and I drew out the frames that I wanted, and I tried to match the style of the 1920s haunted Mickey Mouse cartoons,” Roth said.

However, after Polygon asked about the film’s use of AI, Roth provided a follow-up statement to clarify his previous comments. The director admitted that his earlier explanation did not fully describe how the technology was used during production.

“I misspoke. AI was used in a very small portion of a few scenes in the film,” Roth said in a statement shared with Polygon.

Roth added that the use of AI was not a major part of the movie’s creation but was instead used as a tool to help complete specific creative ideas.

“It was an opportunity where technology and creativity came together to help bring my vision for the film to life,” he said.

The director did not reveal exactly which scenes included generative AI or what specific effects were created with the technology. He also did not explain the role Dark Half played in the production beyond confirming that AI was involved in limited areas of the film.

The discussion around Ice Cream Man comes at a time when the film industry continues to debate the role of generative AI in filmmaking. While some filmmakers see AI as another creative tool that can help achieve certain visual ideas, others remain concerned about how the technology could affect traditional artists and production jobs.

For Roth, the use of AI appears to have been focused on supporting his creative vision rather than replacing the traditional filmmaking process. The director has previously spoken about wanting complete control over Ice Cream Man, including its independent production and release strategy.

With the film already attracting attention for its extreme horror concept and unusual style, the conversation around its AI use has added another layer of interest. Roth’s comments suggest that while generative AI played a role in the movie, it was only a small part of the overall production.

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