Director Eli Roth is back following the failure of his big-budget, live-action Borderlands adaptation, and this time he’s working independently, far from the meddling hands of a major studio. Produced and distributed under his newly formed indie banner, The Horror Section, ICE CREAM MAN marks Roth’s return to the gory horror roots that helped launch his career.

Bearing no relation to either the 1995 Clint Howard movie or the horror comic of the same name, ICE CREAM MAN follows a mysterious ice cream truck as it travels through the neighborhoods of an idyllic small town. Unbeknownst to the adults, any child who eats the ice cream becomes susceptible to the ice cream man’s dark powers. Before long, the children fall into a trance, as they awake in the middle of the night to the truck’s whimsical tune like followers of a sinister Pied Piper. What follows is a bloody montage of parents being killed by their own children in a variety of ways.

Luckily for little Jared, he’s lactose intolerant and passed on the frozen treats, leaving him unfazed by his peer’s shenanigans. He heads to school the next day, only to discover that something is seriously amiss with many of his fellow classmates. Things soon turn violent when the affected students begin attacking the teachers and staff, leaving Jared and the few remaining unturned kids to fend for themselves—or risk being forced to eat the ice cream and become one of them.

ICE CREAM MAN is built around a simple, nonsensical premise that isn’t meant to be taken seriously, and the film makes no attempt to hide its campiness. Instead, it frequently embraces it, resulting in some silly—and gruesome—scenes.

In fact, it’s the wonderfully gory deaths and impressive practical effects that make up for many of the movie’s faults. Though, honestly, the gory deaths are the only memorable things the film has to offer. I should also note the questionable use of A.I. in certain scenes, which certainly stands out as well, but not in a good way.

As for the Ice Cream Man himself, he’s a fairly boring villain who spends the entire movie simply smiling and handing out ice cream. I don’t think the character ever says a single word, instead leaving the children to do all the dirty work—especially when it comes to dealing with the town’s sole police officer and firefighter (I guess everyone else died before going to work?).

In the end, if you’re familiar with Eli Roth’s work or have seen the trailers, you probably already have an idea of what you’re getting into. It’s a decent movie if you approach it as nothing more than a mindless gorefest featuring kids killing adults in a number of different ways. Just don’t expect much beyond that.