Director Eli Roth has admitted that his upcoming horror film "Ice Cream Man" uses AI-generated visual effects, days after appearing to suggest an animated sequence was hand-drawn. The reversal follows social media claims that AI was used extensively throughout the film, with users pointing to the involvement of AI visual effects studio Dark Half. The episode highlights the growing tension between filmmakers' use of AI tools and audience expectations of transparency ahead of release.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Roth said "I misspoke," clarifying that AI was used in "a very small portion of a few scenes" and describing it as technology and creativity coming together to realise his vision, with the film due out on 7 August. He had previously told Polygon he originally drew a cartoon sequence himself, inspired by a 1920s Mickey Mouse cartoon, before animators refined it. The controversy echoes similar incidents involving "Late Night with the Devil" and "Stop That Train," where filmmakers faced scrutiny over undisclosed or disputed AI use in their productions.