Second Opinion: ‘The Ice Cream Truck’ Review
Stars: Deanna Russo, Emil Johnsen, John Redlinger, Sam Schweikert, Hilary Barraford, Bailey Anne Borders, Dan Sutter, Dana Gaier | Written and Directed by Megan Freels Johnston
Mary’s husband gets relocated for work which allows her to move back to her suburban hometown. As her family ties up loose ends back home, Mary moves into their new house all alone and….waits. Yet in this idealistic world, something seems very odd. The Ice Cream Man, a symbol of youth and good times, starts killing some of her neighbors. Mary soon learns that the suburbs are scarier in more ways that she ever remembered.
Going into The Ice Cream Truck I have to admit I had some lofty expectations… When I read this movie was directed by the grand-daughter of one Elmore Leonard (if you have to ask, leave the room). Now yes, I know I shouldn’t let that factor into how I choose my viewing but its a good place to start.
The Ice Cream Truck didn’t disappoint me… Though if you watch the trailer and then expect to be watching some gore filled serial killer horror (which from the trailer you could well expect that) then you may be a little disappointed. However stick with this flick because what you actually get is a well-paced slow burning psychological thriller, that waits till the last 10-15 minutes to ratchet up the action. Oh, and there’s a few pretty neat deaths. At first I felt fairly disjointed with the flick, people were dying and no one in the neighborhood seemed to give a shit or even know, but it turns out director Megan Freels Johnston is taking her time and building towards something, all the while having Deanna Russo deliver an incredibly layered performance in a movie that is only a sharp and swift 90 minutes.
The movie stars Deanna Russo (Being Human, Gossip Girl) as Mary. Mary has had to relocate to some suburban neighborhood after her husband being offered a new job. She makes her way to the new house a few days before the rest of the family and meets all the local neighborhood stereotypes on offer including the “stepford wives”, the local hunky yard cleaner and the Ice Cream Man… Unfortunately she’s about to find that they have moved to a suburban hell hole!
I’m not going to say The Ice Cream Truck is the worlds best movie but it’s a definite recommend. Was I expecting something else? Yes. Did I like what was presented? Yes. Johnston has given us a well constructed thriller. The only place it really falls apart is that… Well the kills are pretty easy, I personally like some cat and mouse. However Emil Johnson as the Ice Cream Man is creepy as hell. Deanna Russo is great in the lead, so no complaints on that front and we got a cheeky little twist that made me go… HUH?!?!
Not the strongest recommendation I could give but you should give this flick a go; at only 90 minutes your in and out before you know it. Personally I think you will get a kick from this movie.
The Ice Cream Truck will be released in theaters and on VOD, across the US, August 18th. If you want to read a different take on the film, check out Nik’s review.
