SINT is scaring The Netherlands already... and it's just the poster!

In a few weeks, two events will happen in The Netherlands which have to do with Saint Nicholas. First and foremost: the man himself will arrive from Spain, by boat no less. It's an actor of course (Bram van der Vlugt most of the times), but the whole nation will play-act like he's the real thing: a centuries-old benign bishop bringing gifts and sweets for good children, and gentle avuncular punishment for the not-so-good children.

All radio stations and television channels will join in the communal fib that he is real, and even the eight-o-clock news will NEVER reveal that we're looking at a very elaborate charade. For all intents and purposes, Saint Nicholas is real and visiting The Netherlands and Belgium for a few weeks, preparing for the celebration of his birthday on December the 5th when he'll bring presents and cheer throughout the Benelux region.

The OTHER event is the premiere of the new horror thriller by Dick Maas, called "Sint" on the 11th of November. In it, the legends surrounding our children's hero are not just subverted, they're brutally trampled and turned around: the 5th of December is not his birthday but the day he was murdered, the famous red "tabberd" and "mijter" he's wearing feature upside-down crosses, and the bends on his staff (oo-er) have been sharpened into a lethal weapon, fashioned to decapitate the descendants of his murderers whenever the 5th of December coincides with a full moon.

It's all obviously a joke aimed at audiences aged sixteen-and-above, but there is now real concern as many people are worried about children being traumatized by the movie's poster being plastered everywhere.
Yes, this here poster above this here article. The very fact that Nicholas looks somewhat sinister already serves to fray nerves...

There is now a real Dutch media-row with two very opposed camps: one which says that parents can easily tell concerned children that the Sint on the poster is obviously a fake (or an insane nephew of the REAL Sint), and one which wants all posters to be banned because they'll confuse children.

Both director Dick Maas and star Huub Stapel (who has collaborated with Maas on many films in the past, including his starring role in "De Lift") have stated they're delighted with all the attention their film gets and have been quoted as saying that no money could have secured such a good marketing campaign as the opposers are now providing.

Rest assured more "Sint" coverage will follow when the movie premieres...