Ice Cream Man

Clint Howard is no stranger to 80s exploitation and low budget horror. "Ice Cream Man" (directed by Norman Apstein) could have be his 90s shining comeback stone, an uncut gem (stirring away from 80s slasher tropes) as an unintentional contribution to meta-horror genre: to be or not be ice creamed. Or it's an influence from 70s/80s exploitation forerunners of cannibal and edible horror: "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Motel Hell" and of course Larry Cohen's "The Stuff". Although it's subplot is a resemblance of 70s "Don't Look in the Basement" story.

This film over the years has acquired an underground fanatic but Cult-Horror host persona, Joe Bob Briggs rejuvenates it within Middle America's "counter-cultural" mainstream. Film initially debuted in 1995 on VHS home entertainment then Briggs helped to bring it back as a black comedy slasher (but it's more like a R-rated Goosebumps story) in the 2000s.

Howard is the main star and villainous he is as deranged Gregory Tudor! A young man suffered a childhood trauma the leads him to be a psychotic hot mess. This storyline revolves a ice cream parlor-like factory (now operated by Tudor) in a suburban area with terror to churn.

Other known horror/cult genre stars play small, almost comedic roles from Olivia Hussey ("Black Christmas" fame), David Warner ("Time After Time" cult status) and the infamous David Naughton ("An American Werewolf in London").

If you are a Gen Zer (or leftover of Millennial mutations) you may want to catch this film and see what the fuss 90s physical media culture was all about! Films like this were a dime a dozen at then suburban/small town Bockbuster/Hollywood Video rental outlets!

A supposed sequel (with Howard backing it up) is still a brewing even after a 2014 failed crowdfunding effort. Howard also can be remembered as a possessed Satanic computer nerd in the 80s "Evilspeak", an unforgettable performance!

As a child, Gregory Tudor (Clint Howard) had witnessed his beloved ice cream truck driver getting gunned down. He grows up to be a very warped individual, not helped by his stay in one of the wackiest ever mental institutions in a movie. Now he himself is an ice cream man. He's determined to spread cheer to children, but there's no shortage of unappreciative tots and sleazy adults to be punished and potentially turned into ingredients for his frozen treats.

Most anybody would agree that this is a crap movie, but the filmmakers know it and just have fun with their premise. The result is a goofy 84 minute diversion, more a dark comedy than a true out-and-out horror film. It successfully goes for the gross out on a few occasions, especially when the camera prowls around the interior of the ice cream truck and shows roaches and rats crawling around in the ice cream. There's some gore, but not a large amount (director Paul Norman and company were originally going for a PG-13 rating), and sex appeal in the form of Wanda (Andrea Evans), though no nudity or sex.

Clearly, some fun was had with the casting decisions. Howard has one of the nuttiest lead roles of his acting career, and he makes the most of it, speaking in an affected growl that's a real hoot. Other familiar faces include Sandahl Bergman ("Conan the Barbarian" '82) and David Naughton ("An American Werewolf in London") as a married couple, Jan-Michael Vincent ('Airwolf') as an investigating detective, Olivia Hussey ("Black Christmas" '74) as a kooky nurse turned landlady, David Warner ("The Omen" '76) as the local reverend, and Doug Llewelyn ('The People's Court') as a store manager. The kids (Justin Isfeld as Johnny, Anndi McAfee as Heather, JoJo Adams as "Tuna", Mikey LeBeau as "Small Paul", Zachary Benjamin as Roger) are all quite appealing.

The highlight (or low point, depending on ones' tastes and sensibilities) is seeing a bored and very unconcerned Vincent unhurriedly walk away from a gaggle of encroaching but not very threatening mental inmates.

Five out of 10.

This has to be one of the funniest movies of all time. I can't imagine them making anything worse then this. Just from the opening scene you can tell that this movie will be worth every cent you used to rent it at the video store. It starts with an ice cream man unknowingly getting loaded with bullets (remember that there are vigilante groups everywhere trying to get rid of ice cream men). The greatest scene must be when the girl comes home to her minister father and him telling her that "the angel Gabrielle is speaking through your mother again". Every time I think about that scene I can't help but laugh. Trust me this movie is worth everything you spend on it.

Ice Cream Man is ultimately cheesy but so funny! Is this movie actually supposed to be scarey? Clint Howard is the godfather of B- movies and he is so funny in this movie. What makes him so funny is that he's trying to be a scarey guy and he totally isn't. There is nothing scarey about Clint Howard, only humorous. So, for all of you fellow B-movie lovers, go check out Ice Cream Man. You will not be disappointed!

A friend and I were down and needed a good 80s horror movie to perk us up. Ice Cream Man appeared to fulfill our needs down at the video store, esp. since our store only carried the version that lacked the blood on the outer box.

This movie was exactly what we expected, but better, a cheesey, histarically 80s horror movie with our favorite washed up stars, including Rebecca from Passions and the Proffesor from Teanage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.

The only scary part of the movie was what we found out about it on imdb.com : 1) The movie was made in '95 although the entire thing is right out of the 80s, just look at what they are all wearing and the size of thier hair.

2) The director Paul Norman has directed over 100 films, with Ice Cream Man being the only film that was not pornographic.

All in all this is a great movie if you need a laugh, you will get more than one.