Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Ice Cream Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 2, 2018

Clint Howard has appeared in a great number of movies, but he was born to play the titular monster in 1994’s “Ice Cream Man.” It’s the perfect marriage of actor and part, requiring Howard to go wild as a cartoonish creeper, flaring up his looks and bottoming out his voice to join horror history as serial murderer who spends as much time killing as he does crafting frozen treats. “Ice Cream Man” isn’t an entirely successful endeavor from screenwriters David Dobkin (who would go on to direct “Wedding Crashers”) and Sven Davison, who engage in a battle of tone, working to craft something scary that also plays like a “Goonies” sequel, unsure if they want to unnerve viewer or delight them with an adolescent adventure. “Ice Cream Man” struggles to find stable ground, but when it focuses on Howard and his grand commitment to the role, it delivers the genre goods, as wild-eyed and raspy as hoped for.

After spending years in the Wishing Well Sanitarium, Gregory (Clint Howard) is out, trying to build an ice cream empire inside his parlor lair, also touring around the local neighborhood in his truck, sharing goodies with all. However, what’s actually in the ice cream is frightening, with Gregory’s psychotic side unable to be tamed, churning up murder victims to add to his flavors. For the local kids, the Ice Cream Man is a welcome reprieve from their broken families, but when Small Paul (Mikey LeBeau) goes missing, pals Johnny (Justin Isfeld), Tuna (JoJo Adams), and Heather (Anndi McAfee) team up to find him, gradually discovering what gruesomeness Gregory is up to.

“Ice Cream Man” isn’t a serious picture, commencing with full awareness that it’s ridiculous. Just how absurd the effort gets is perhaps up to the viewer, but the screenplay embraces the wildness of the story, creating a menacing but nutty figure out of Gregory, who’s ice-cream-salesman trauma dates back to childhood, setting him on a path of punishment. There’s potential ugliness with the premise, which involves a great deal of violence aimed at children, but Apstein keeps it relatively tasteful considering his options, with the writing eventually celebrating the kids and their amateur detective work, joining together as the “Rocketeers” to find their friend. This lightness may be disappointing to some, watching the bike- riding sleuths take over a movie about a monster who adds eyeballs to his Rocky Road recipe, and such juvenile distractions tend to pull “Ice Cream Man” toward kiddie film territory, which is strange to watch. The writing stops to consider soured parental influences for the kids, giving them a reason to be independent, and a few stretches of the feature play like a PG-rated production, only to sober up when Gregory returns to grind up dogs and adults for his special mix-ins.

“Ice Cream Man” is surprisingly colorful, and boasts an unusual supporting cast that includes David Warner, Olivia Hussey (portraying Gregory’s landlord and former nurse), Sandahl Bergman, David Naughton, and Jan-Michael Vincent (as the steely cop on the case). And, just to make a strange movie all the more peculiar, appearances from “The People’s Court” reporter Doug Llewelyn and adult film star Tori Welles are included. Of course, nothing distracts from Howard, who’s a beast in the starring role, giving the script needed emphasis as Gregory creates his toxic batches of hard-pack ice cream, also delivering needed lunacy to sell the production’s lamer ideas, including the positioning of severed heads on waffle cones, while another scene finds Gregory performing puppetry with the heads of additional victims, giving the endeavor a slightly surreal kick.

Ice Cream Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "Newly scanned and restored in 2K from the 35mm original negative." I doubt few ever expected "Ice Cream Man" to look good, but Vinegar Syndrome refreshes the softly shot feature for HD, giving it renewed texture, which works especially well with the movie's gross-out moments, which are vividly examined here. Detail is also strong with facial particulars, grasping all the strangeness of Clint Howard's horror appearance, and set decoration is open for study. Colors are vivid, leading with deep reds for bloodshed, and more exaggerated hues on costuming and ice cream concoctions pop accordingly. Grain is fine and filmic. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in fine condition, with only a brief speckle storm near the end credits.

Ice Cream Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides an evocative listening experience for "Ice Cream Man," delivering a lively track that retains fullness, even with the production's inherent thinness. Dialogue exchanges are compelling, detailing Howard's gravely vocal intent and other eccentric performance choices from the cast. Scoring isn't deep in the least, but the mix makes it count, offering clear instrumentation and position. Sound effects are appropriately sharp and squishy.

Ice Cream Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Norman Apstein.

• "Monstervision Summer School Edition with Joe Bob Briggs" (119:53, SD) presents the TNT debut of "Ice Cream Man," with host Briggs holding court in a classroom setting, trying out stand-up comedy on a handful of audience members. His "guest lecturer" is Clint Howard, who shares anecdotes about the making of the movie during breaks, also discussing his career origins, work with producer Roger Corman, and memories of "Evilspeak." For those in mood for trivia and Briggs's shtick, this is an amusing way to watch the film, which is presented in HD.

• Interview (19:49, SD) with Howard repeats many of the same BTS stories found on the "Monstervision" presentation, but offers an older, perhaps wiser actor who's well aware "Ice Cream Man" "ain't Othello." Howard shares his thoughts on co-stars and the picture's cult popularity, and he talks about his early career as a child actor, recalling run-ins with superfans Eddie Murphy and George Lucas. Interestingly, Howard is candid about the strange tonality of "Ice Cream Man," openly disappointed that the feature is caught between a kiddie movie and a horror show.

• Interview (15:01, SD) with Apstein offers another slightly grim view of "Ice Cream Man," with the director making it clear he was overwhelmed by the gig, working with limited money and a tight schedule he didn't keep. Casting is highlighted, with Howard initially unsure about the project due to all the child endangerment, and Apstein covers a few production achievements and shooting challenges. He's open about the movie's "mistakes," sharing unhappiness with the score. However, Apstein is delighted with the feature's cult success.

• Interview (7:33, SD) with David M. Goldstein is hilariously blunt, with the producer referring to "Ice Cream Man" as a "piece of crap," lamenting the money lost on the picture. He certainly doesn't hold back when discussing the cast, pointing out Jan-Michael Vincent's alcoholism, which the actor didn't hide while shooting. "Ice Cream Man" was such an unpleasant experience, Goldstein quickly gave up on the producing business, sharing an update on his personal life to close out the conversation.

• Still Gallery (2:34) includes publicity pictures.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Ice Cream Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Ice Cream Man" is worn down some by technical limitations, and the score by Richard Lyons works too hard to underline mischief, becoming a nuisance in a hurry. The material also has trouble filling up the run time, with a few superfluous sequences and a general drag during the climax, which goes for the grotesque, but isn't macabre enough. Again, "Ice Cream Man" isn't a sharply constructed feature, but there are pleasures to be found for those interested in cult oddities, Clint Howard, and shots of melting ice cream flavored with wiggling cockroaches. It's a small demographic, but I know you're out there.