XYZ Films Picks Up International Sales Rights For Kevin Smith’s ANTI-CLAUS

XYZ Films has picked up all international sales rights to Kevin Smith’s ANTI-CLAUS, a Yuletide horror film populated by the stars of Smith’s TUSK, including Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez and Michael Parks.

The festive fright flick will be produced by Jordan Monsanto, Andy McElfresh and Jennifer Schwalbach for Smith’s SModcast Pictures, with Jason Mewes executive producing. XYZ Films will give buyers their first look at the project during the Marché du Film this May.

ANTI-CLAUS tells the tale of the centuries-old, devil-like creature known the world-over as the Krampus – the “Anti-Claus” of Alpine country folklore, infamous for eating naughty children during the season of giving.

“When I was a kid, if they wanted to make a Christmas horror movie, they’d stick an axe in Santa’s hands,” says Smith. “In ANTI-CLAUS, we leave Santa alone and creep with the Krampus through twisted tales of holly-jolly murder, desire, desperation and despair. Just in time for the holiday season.”

Principal photography begins in September. Explains Smith, “In America, we’re taught that nice kids gets presents from Santa and naughty kids get coal. But in countries like Germany, Austria, Bavaria, Romania and Hungary, Christmas is more metal than merry: Saint Nicholas brings a sack full of toys for good kids and the Krampus carries an empty bag for taking away the bad kids. I wanna see THAT Christmas movie. So rather than wait for it, we’ll make it instead.”

Robert Kurtzman, the SFX legend behind the makeup for TUSK, also returns to create the Krampus.

XYZ Films is currently handling sales for Smith’s upcoming and highly-anticipated horror-thriller TUSK, which will be released by A24 later this year. Sony Worldwide Acquisitions Group acquired several international territories at the European Film Market in February.

XYZ Films produced and is handling world sales on the recently released THE RAID 2, from writer/director Gareth Huw Evans as well as KILLERS, which is co-directed by Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel (The Mo Brothers). They are also handling international sales on the Sundance competition film LIFE AFTER BETH, starring Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Anna Kendrick, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Matthew Gray Gubler, Cheryl Hines and Paul Reiser and the Maori actioner THE DEAD LANDS from director Toa Fraser.

WME Global is handling North American sales.