Toronto: XLrator Acquires U.S. Distribution On Norwegian Thriller 'Thale'

BREAKING: XLrator Media has acquired U.S. rights to the Norwegian supernatural thriller Thale, which screens tonight at the Toronto International Film Festival's Vanguard section. The deal was sealed by the filmmakers and Barry Gordon, CEO of XLrator Media. The plan is to release early next year. Based on the stills from the film, featuring a hot naked woman with a tail, you can imagine this film will get attention and presents marketing opportunities.

Thale tells the story of a mythical 'huldra,' a beautiful, tailed female forest creature, who is discovered in a concealed cellar by two crime scene cleaners. The creature is unable to speak so she can't explain how she came to be there, but the pieces of the puzzle soon come together. She has been kept down there for decades, for reasons which will soon emerge. Someone is approaching from the outside. They want her back. The film stars Silje Reinåmo, Jon Sigve Skard, Erlend Nervold, Morten Andresen, Sunniva Lien, Roland Åstrand.

'Thale is a haunting and atmospheric thriller that grips you from the opening scene to the chilling finale,' said Gordon. 'It once again shows Scandinavia to be a rich wellspring for today's most compelling and stylish thrillers, from Let the Right One In to Troll Hunter to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and its sequels.'

Written and directed by Aleksander L. Nordaas, Thale is produced by Bendik Heggen Strønstad under his Yesbox Productions banner, co-produced by Lars L. Marøy at Film Found FUZZ and executive produced by Gudrun Giddings, Tore Fredrik Dreyer and Lars Andreas Hellebust. XYZ Films is representing the U.S. rights while Epic Pictures is handling international sales. Deal was negotiated by Gordon, Nate Bolotin of XYZ Films, and Gudrun Giddings and Kim H. Swartz at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.