Karen Cliche Talks Ice Cream Man, Eli Roth and That Wild Ending
The actress opens up about playing Alison, improvising opposite Eli Roth, filming in a real cemetery and why ice cream trucks have always made her uneasy.
Karen Cliche has traded Thanksgiving dinner for a far more dangerous dessert. After appearing in Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving, the actress reunites with the filmmaker in Ice Cream Man, this time playing Alison, a mother whose family becomes caught in the movie’s bloody chaos.
During her conversation with Elias on Pop Culture Unplugged, Cliche reflected on seeing the finished film for the first time in Los Angeles. Even after reading the script and knowing what was coming, she found its relentless energy unlike the pacing of a conventional horror movie.
“It was more like a very chaotic assault on your senses, which I thought was great.” — Karen Cliche
Cliche called the movie refreshing and said its compact running time and fast pace kept her completely engrossed. She also laughed throughout the script, finding an unexpected sense of humor in the blood, guts and extreme situations—a reaction familiar to her from working on Saw VI.
Watch Karen Cliche’s full conversation with Elias on Pop Culture Unplugged.
How Eli Roth Brought Her Back
Cliche and Roth remained in touch after Thanksgiving, including appearances together at horror conventions. While she was working on one of his fake trailers, Roth introduced the concept for Ice Cream Man and casually suggested that they would play the parents.
“I was like, ‘Did you just offer me a part? I need clarity.’” — Karen Cliche
The offer later became official, and Cliche and Roth were also involved in casting the actors who would play their children. For Alison, Cliche wanted to establish a mother who felt notably different from Kathleen, her character in Thanksgiving. She and Roth approached Alison and Marty as cool, fun parents who still wanted their children to follow the right path.
Finding the Family Through Improv
That relaxed family dynamic was helped by improvisation. Cliche explained that their major family sequence ran 12 pages on paper, but Roth encouraged the actors to improvise for several minutes before beginning the scripted dialogue. The freedom made the scene fun, although the extended warm-up also presented a very practical concern.
“Dude, if we don’t start doing the scene soon, I’m going to forget all of my lines.” — Karen Cliche
She also praised Roth’s ability to act opposite her while directing the movie, describing him as collected, intense and focused. Watching him shift between responsibilities gave her a close view of how he assessed both his own performance and the work of the cast around him.
The Real Location That Made the Ending Creepier
Cliche may be a seasoned horror performer, but the ending of Ice Cream Man still unsettled her. Unlike the elaborate school sequences filled with prosthetics and body parts, many of her scenes were comparatively normal. The finale was different because the production filmed at a real cemetery.
“It was a real cemetery, let’s just say. So, yeah, I had a little creepy moment with that, to be honest.” — Karen Cliche
Asked whether Alison should be seen as another victim of the movie’s cycle of revenge, Cliche agreed and jokingly delivered the definitive parental response: “Let’s just say the kids are grounded.”
Interview Highlights
- Karen Cliche describes Ice Cream Man as a fast, chaotic experience that held her attention from beginning to end.
- Eli Roth first floated the role while the pair were working together on one of his fake trailers.
- Cliche and Roth helped with the casting process for the actors playing their children.
- The central family sequence included several minutes of improvisation before the scripted dialogue began.
- Filming the ending at a real cemetery gave Cliche a genuinely creepy moment on set.
- She praised the movie’s young performers and their maturity, versatility and talent.
- Despite her extensive horror résumé, comedy remains the genre she is eager to explore more.
- She has distrusted ice cream trucks since childhood—and making this film only made that feeling stronger.
Why Ice Cream Trucks Were Already a “Definite No”
The movie did not create Cliche’s fear of ice cream trucks; it confirmed it. She revealed that she rarely visited them as a child because the truck, its music and the person inside always seemed creepy to her. When Roth told her the movie’s premise, she felt as though he had pulled the idea directly from her thoughts.
“I kind of feel sorry for ice cream trucks around the world because this might have a negative effect.” — Karen Cliche
What Comes Next
Outside horror, Cliche has completed a period crime film directed by S. Craig Zahler. Set in 1950s New York City, the film places her alongside Vince Vaughn, Theo James and Patrick Schwarzenegger. She described the project as having a film-noir, independent spirit and called the experience a beautiful one.
As for her longer-term wish list, Cliche would love to return to comedy. After years of action, science-fiction and serious “tough girl” roles—often played with a touch of dry humor or sarcasm—she is ready to make audiences laugh more directly.
“I love comedy. Whether it’s improv, I just love comedy. I want to do more.” — Karen Cliche
Ice Cream Man is now available. Watch the complete interview above and subscribe to Pop Culture Unplugged for more conversations with the stars of film and television.