In a competitive situation following Sundance, distributor Well Go USA Entertainment has picked up North American rights to the Park City at Midnight favorite “Killers,” which was executive produced by “The Raid” director Gareth Huw Evans, TheWrap has learned.
Well Go USA, which also acquired “Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead” at Sundance, plans a domestic theatrical release date for the fourth quarter of 2014.
The Japanese/Indonesian co-production was directed by Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel (aka The Mo Brothers), and stars Kazuki Kitamura, Oka Antara, Rin Takanashi, Luna Maya and Ray Sahetapy.
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The film was produced by Tjahjanto and Stamboel, as well as Yoshinori Chiba, Shinjiro Nishimura and Takuji Ushiyama.
“Killers” follows two serial killers, one Japanese and one Indonesian, as they post their violent crimes online in a psychotic battle for notoriety. It soon becomes clear that they will square off with one another face to face.
The deal was brokered by Well Go USA Entertainment president Doris Pfardrescher with XYZ Films’ Nate Bolotin on behalf of the filmmakers. XYZ Films also represents the film’s international distribution rights.
XYZ and Evans will reteam with Tjahjanto on the action thriller “The Night Comes For Us,” which Radius-TWC pre-bought domestic distribution rights to in advance of a scheduled 2015 release. Tjahjanto will direct, while Evans will produce and handle action direction. The two filmmakers previously collaborated on the “Safe Haven” segment of “V/H/S 2.”
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XYZ Films previously executive produced and handled international sales on the hit action film “The Raid: Redemption,” which was released by Sony Pictures Classics. They are also handling international sales on the recent Sundance competition title “Life After Beth,” which stars Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Anna Kendrick and John C. Reilly.
At the European Film Market, XYZ will also be selling Kevin Smith’s horror film “Tusk” and the Maori actioner “The Dead Lands” from director Toa Fraser. XYZ Films produced and is handling world sales on Evans’ sequel “The Raid 2,” which was well received when it premiered at Sundance last month. The company will also handle sales on Patrik Syversen’s Scandinavian werewolf movie “Party Animal.”
XYZ Films is an LA-based film production and sales company founded in 2008 by Bolotin, Nick Spicer and Aram Tertzakian, with partner Todd Brown joining the company in 2009.