Kevin Smith Krampus Film Retitled 'Anti-Claus;' Cast Revealed

Kevin Smith has just revealed a bunch of details for his Christmas horror anthology. Once called Comes the Krampus, it's now been re-titled Anti-Claus, and filming will start in September. Smith will be joined in the film by Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez and Michael Parks, all of whom appear in this year's Tusk. Parks and Long have also worked with Smith before that.

Below, see an early concept of the Kevin Smith Krampus and read some more of Smith's thoughts.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of Anti-Claus. Here's a concept image of the character.

Smith said the following about the film to the trade:

When I was a kid, if they wanted to make a Christmas horror movie, they'd stick an axe in Santa's hands. 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."

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.

The film will be up for grabs at the Cannes Film Market next month via XYZ Films.

Early versions of the film described it as a horror anthology, with different directors helming shorter segments. This announcement doesn't make that distinction, however, so maybe the script has since evolved into one full movie. Jason Mewes is an executive producer, though.

Smith's latest film, Tusk, will be released in the third quarter of 2014 while the director is in production of Anti-Claus. He still plans on making Clerks III, but that wouldn't happen now until this movie is done.