Before the era of streaming, video stores needed a continual flow of new movies to sate the needs of viewers stocking up on a Friday night for a weekend film binge. With only a handful of films ending their run in cinemas and making their way to video each week, stores needed something to fill the gap. Studios like Asylum and Full Moon Features specialised in producing waves of content to fill the horror section, with some fans relishing in the niche subject matter and turning a blind eye, or even relishing, the often-dubious production values.
It is for these fans that films like Ice Cream Man exist. When their classmate (Zachary Benjamin) goes missing, the Rocketeers, a team of inquisitive children (Justin Isfeld, Anndi McAfee, JoJo Adams, and Mikey LeBeau) suspect the creepy – yet inexplicably popular – ice cream man (Clint Howard.) Instead of simply sharing their concerns with their parents, the Rocketeers instead try to investigate and lead detectives (Lee Majors II and Jan-Michael Vincent) to learning the truth.
It’s a strange ride. Were it not for the violence and gore, it could have been a school holiday adventure film. Professional baseball player Steve Garvey plays a role, whilst adult film actresses appear in oddly inconsequential roles. A child actor wears an obvious fat-suit, whilst the characters of the parents play into clear cliche territory. Yet, fans of the genre may appreciate some surprisingly detailed prosthetic special effects.
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