Xan Cassavetes’ ‘Kiss of The Damned’ Acquired by Magnolia Pictures

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired world rights to writer/director Xan Cassavetes’ KISS OF THE DAMNED, an erotic vampire film that will make its world premiere as the closing night film of International Critics’ Week at the Venice Film Festival this Friday September 7th.

Starring Joséphine de La Baume (One Day), Milo Ventimiglia (Rocky Balboa, “Heroes”), Roxane Mesquida (Rubber) and Riley Keough (Jack and Diane, The Runaways), KISS OF THE DAMNED is a DeerJen/Verisimilitude production in association with Bersin Pictures. Produced by Jen Gatien and Alex Orlovsky, executive producers were Adam S. Bersin, Jacob Pechenik, Riaz Tyab and Jon Vinnik.

With her narrative feature debut, Xan Cassavetes (Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession) has crafted a stylish and sensory visual and aural experience that recalls the best of smart and racy European genre films from the 60s and 70s. KISS OF THE DAMNED is the story of Djuna (Joséphine de La Baume), a beautiful vampire who tries to resist the advances of the handsome, human screenwriter Paulo (Milo Ventimiglia), but eventually gives in to temptation. When her troublemaker sister Mimi (Roxane Mesquida) arrives unexpectedly, Djuna’s love story is threatened and the whole vampire community becomes endangered.

“Xan Cassavetes has managed to breathe new life into a tired genre in one of the most original, and frankly hottest horror movies I’ve seen in a very long time,” said Magnet/Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles. “KISS OF THE DAMNED is a smart film with real artistic aspirations that is also incredibly fun to watch.”

“It is incredibly gratifying to be working alongside real cinephiles and visionaries,” said producers Gatien and Orlovsky. “Magnet is such an exciting company who understand that cinema and entertainment can be synonymous. This is our vision for KISS OF THE DAMNED and we couldn’t be happier that they are partners.”

The deal was negotiated by for Magnet by SVP Dori Begley and director of acquisitions Peter Van Steemburg with the filmmakers, Alex Orlovsky, Jen Gatien and counsel André Des Rochers of Gray Krauss Stratford Des Rochers LLP.