Is another fad on the horizon? With the Swedish Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale arriving in the States here next month, a Dutch Santa Claus slasher is already breaking records over seas. Dutch helmer Dick Maas has a local hit on his hands with Santa slasher movie Sint, a movie we first told you about here. Inside you’ll find more details on their successful run.
Distributor A-Film claims opening weekend set a record for a Dutch movie rated 16 and above, dethroning Paul Verhoeven’s “Black Book.”

Figures released Thursday by the Dutch Film Distributors’ Association show “Sint” easily scored the biggest opening week for a Dutch film so far in 2010, taking E901,132 ($1.3 million) off 96 screens.

B.O. also stands up to U.S. product, beating the opening weeks of “Jackass 3D” and “Due Date,” while burying recent genre releases such as “Piranha 3D” and “Paranormal Activity 2.”

Holland celebrates the return of gift-bearing Sint Nicolaas each year in early December, with Sint-themed kid flicks frequently released in late November to exploit the holiday buzz.

Maas reverses the formula with a deranged Sint (Huub Stapel) kidnapping children and cutting a bloody swathe through the adult population.

Helmer made his name in the Netherlands with comedy series “Flodder,” before moving Stateside in the late 1990s for “Do Not Disturb” and “Down.”

“Sint” cements his return to Dutch-language film making after 2007’s black comedy “Moordwijven” (Killer Babes). Both films were produced by Maas and Tom De Mol.

Pic’s status as 2010’s top-earning Dutch film may be challenged in December with the release of “Loft,” a remake with local stars of the highest-grossing Belgian film of all time.