Remember when Kevin Smith said something to the effect of “I’m going to make Clerks 3, then retire”? Apparently that’s coming after a few directorial detours.

Looks like Smith is will be making a third horror film, Anti-Claus. He just wrapped up Tusk and is recycling a good part of the cast (Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez and Michael Parks) for his Christmas Krampus contribution.

Smith says: “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.“

Robert Kurtzman (Cabin Fever, Late Phases) will create the Krampus. XYZ Films has picked up all international sales rights to the film, which shoots in September.