Eli Roth reveals he incorporated generative AI into his latest horror film, Ice Cream Man.

Director Eli Roth has provided some clarity regarding the use of generative AI in his upcoming horror film, *Ice Cream Man*. Initially, he mentioned that one of the film’s AI-assisted sequences was hand-drawn, but he has since elaborated on the extent of AI’s involvement.

The film, which tells the chilling tale of an ice cream truck driver who transforms children into killers, has generated buzz about its visual style and the role of AI in its creation. An early version of the film sent to reviewers credits AI visual effects company Dark Half, prompting fans to speculate about how much of the film was crafted using generative AI.

This speculation arose after Roth discussed a standout sequence during an interview, describing an unsettling, Fleischer Studios-inspired cartoon that appears on children’s phones, luring them into a trance. When asked about the animation’s creation, Roth stated that he had personally drawn it.

“I have an animation background and I drew it,” Roth explained. “I worked with an animation team and aimed for a look reminiscent of an old Mickey Mouse cartoon featuring a haunted house, complete with dancing brooms and skeletons. I created the loop cycles and styles, then collaborated with animators to enhance the fluidity and worked with an artist to give it that vintage jittery feel. I meticulously drew the frames to match the style of 1920s haunted Mickey Mouse cartoons.”

After further inquiries about the film’s AI usage, Roth issued a statement clarifying that his previous comments did not fully convey the technology’s role.

“I misspoke. AI was used in a very small portion of a few scenes in the film,” he stated. “It was an opportunity where technology and creativity came together to help bring my vision for the film to life.”

Roth did not detail which specific scenes incorporated generative AI, reiterating that its application was limited. Efforts to clarify the matter with Roth’s representative and Dark Half have yet to yield a response.

*Ice Cream Man* is scheduled to hit theaters on August 7.