A.V. Opinions: Damien Leone is the perfect director to resurrect Ice Cream Man
The horror genre thrives on reinvention, taking forgotten gems of the past and giving them a fresh and often blood-soaked new life. Enter Damien Leone, the mastermind behind the Terrifier franchise. With his knack for crafting unapologetically brutal gorefests and unforgettable villains, Leone is the ideal filmmaker to breathe new life into The Ice Cream Man.
For those unfamiliar, The Ice Cream Man is a 1995 B-movie cult classic starring Clint Howard as the titular homicidal vendor. While it’s remembered fondly by hardcore horror fans, it never quite scooped its way into the mainstream. But here’s the kicker: The Ice Cream Man isn’t just a movie anymore. In the world of comics, the Ice Cream Man series has become a critically acclaimed, 10-volume deep anthology of twisted tales, blending psychological horror, surrealism, and existential dread. This is the perfect source material for a reboot, especially in the hands of someone like Leone.
Leone has already proven his ability to create iconic horror villains with Art the Clown, a sadistic, silent killer who’s become a modern slasher legend. Now imagine David Howard Thornton, who brings Art to life with such maniacal precision, stepping into the blood-soaked shoes of the Ice Cream Man. Thornton’s ability to balance dark humor with sheer terror makes him the ideal actor to reimagine this sadistic character, turning him into another household name for horror fans.
Leone’s practical effects team would have a field day with the grotesque possibilities presented by the Ice Cream Man. From bodies churned into sundaes to cones filled with something far nastier than soft serve, Leone and his crew could take the kills to unimaginable and deliciously horrifying heights.
Here’s where things get even sweeter. Clint Howard, who originated the role of the Ice Cream Man, has already worked with Leone on Terrifier 3. This established connection makes a cameo from Howard practically a given in a reboot. Imagine him playing a deranged mentor to Thornton’s Ice Cream Man, or even a victim in one of the film’s most shocking kills. It’s the perfect nod to the original while forging a new path forward.
With Leone at the helm, The Ice Cream Man could go from cult obscurity to a mainstream sensation. His track record speaks for itself: he knows how to make audiences squirm, laugh, and cover their eyes all while clamoring for more. With David Howard Thornton delivering another iconic performance, Clint Howard returning for a fan-service cameo, and the practical effects team going all out, this reboot would be too sweet to resist.
Horror fans deserve another genre-defining villain, and Damien Leone has already proven he can deliver. It’s time to let him dip his hands into the blood-soaked ice cream tub and churn out a masterpiece. If he can take a clown and turn him into the face of modern horror, imagine what he could do with an ice cream truck. Let’s make it happen. Someone give Damien Leone the rights to The Ice Cream Man. We’re ready for another scoop of terror.
-Brad McBoom