TLA Releasing has picked upNorth American home entertainment and broadcast rights from Blue Star Movies toDavid Grieco's Italian-Russian psychological thriller Evilenko.

The Philadelphia-basedcompany plans an early 2006 release on the title, which stars Malcolm McDowellas the real-life Russian serial killer who killed more than 50 children over 20years.

Marton Csokas, whose creditsinclude The Lord Of The Rings, Kingdom Of Heaven and the recent psychological thriller Asylum, will play a detective and Evilenko's nemesis.

The picture has been aregular festival fixture on the European circuit and screened at the TriburonInternational Film Festival, and the San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy FilmFestival, among others.

TLA's director ofacquisitions Rich Wolff negotiated the deal with Blue Star Movies. "MalcolmMcDowell is one of our cinematic heroes, so we are thrilled to be able to workwith him," Wolff said.