Sorry to be gone so long...

I can't believe I haven't posted a Weekly Update in a month, but the past four weeks have left me physically and creatively exhausted.  Combining a few issues at the day job, some (costly) repairs on my bike (fingers and tentacles crossed, I think I have that solved), and a leaking radiator in the place I'm renting (should be fixed on Friday, if all goes well), I'd come home in the evening feeling like I'd be hit in the back of the head.

Yeah, the look on Ox Baker's face sums up how I felt when I got home, crashed on the couch, and started watching comfort flicks.

Happy to say, things are getting better, so I'm actually able to sit down and focus on the Weekly Update.  I think I've cut all the out of date postings, but just check the dates and the links to be sure.

I also have to put some time in working on the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar.  I hope to have it up to date in the next week or so, as I know I have a lot more to add onto the page.

Well, time to have some dinner and watch a movie.  Gonna pop something I've seen, though not for a while, as I'm pretty sure I'll be in bed early again tonight.  Managed to keep the overwhelming exhaustion at bay for a while, but as of last night, it finally catching up to me.

Remember, you can follow me on Facebook and BlueSky (where I plan to be a bit more active in the coming weeks).

Have a great week, stay safe, and I WILL be back soon with another Weekly Update from The Shadow Over Portland.

Live Attractions Happening Now

Nothing for now, check back later.

Film Festival and Stage Performance Submission Information 

The Crypticon Seattle Film Festival is accepting submissions for the May 2 to 4, 2025, event taking place at the DoubleTree Hotel Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in Seattle, WA).  The late deadline is March 21, 2025.  Visit the link for all the details.

And Crypticon Seattle is accepting submission for their annual horror anthology Camp Crypticon Seattle through March 10, 2025.  The contest has 3 winners and 2 honorable mentions a year, and your story will be published alongside 3 local industry professionals.  Contest details are in the link above.

Happening Now

The animated feature The Wild Robot is playing at the McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), and at SIFF Cinema Downtown (2100 4th Ave in Seattle, WA) on Sunday, February 2, at 5:30 pm.

The Studio Ghibli film Ponyo is playing at the McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled from Friday, January 24 to Thursday, January 30).  Visit the link for showtimes for the dubbed and subtitled versions.

The animated fantasy Flow is playing at  the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), and the Art House (492 E 13th Ave in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 9), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Sunday, January 26), and the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC; scheduled on Sunday, January 15), the Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, January 28), and plays at the SIFF Cinema Downtown (2100 4th Ave in Seattle, WA) on Monday, January 27, at 5:30 pm, and the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) on Thursday, January 30, at 8:30 pm.

The film returns to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, February 8 and 9). 

Robert Eggers' remake of Nosferatu is playing at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Kelso Theater Pub (214 S Pacific Ave in Kelso, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, January 29), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 29), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), and the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30).

The film opens at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled from Friday, January 31, through Saturday, February 1), and the Columbian Theater (1102 Marine Dr in Astoria, OR; scheduled from Thursday, January 30, to Thursday, February 6).

The Olympia Film Society's Reel Oddities series brings The Fifth Element to the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) every Wednesday in January at 7 pm.

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The Blumhouse reboot of Wolf Man is playing at the following McMenamins theaters: the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, January 29), the Grand Lodge Theater (3505 Pacific Ave in Forest Grove, OR; scheduled through Monday, January 27), and the St Johns Theater (8203 N Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), and at the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 29),  Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, January 28) and the Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30).

Steven Soderbergh's supernatural thriller Presence is playing at the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30), and the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30).

John Carpenter's horror/sci fi classic The Thing is playing at the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) on Tuesday, January 28, at 9 pm.

The body horror film The Substance is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, January 28).

The film is also playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled from Friday, January 31, to Wednesday, February 5), SIFF Cinema Downtown (2100 4th Ave in Seattle, WA) on Tuesday, January 28, at 5 pm, and returns to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd; scheduled from Friday, February 7, to Thursday, February 13).

The Oscar Picks series at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) includes the animated fantasy Flow and the body horror film The Substance through Thursday, January 30.  Visit the link for showtimes.

The animated sci fi classic The Iron Giant is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30).

Robert Zemeckis' adapatuon of Carl Sagan's novel, Contact, is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 30).

The City of Lost Children, starring Ron Perlman, is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 29).

Director Robert Bresson's film based on the final days of the legend of King Arthur, Lancelot of the Lake, is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 30).

January 2025

Monday, January 27

Once again, Hundreds of Beavers invade the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) one final time tonight at 7:15 pm.

Tuesday, January 28 

CMNYK's Sound of Silents brings 1922's Nosferatu, with a live original score by Sonochromatic, to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The Movie Book Club series presents The Wizard of Oz at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) tonight at 7 pm.

The Grindhouse Film Festival brings the gory American release of Shogun Assassin to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm in GLORIOUS 35mm. 

Wednesday, January 29 

The Admiral Theatre (515 Pacific Ave in Bremerton, WA) will screen the 1993 time-loop fantasy Groundhog Day tonight at 7 pm.

The film is also playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled from Friday, January 31, to  Wednesday, February 5).

Horrible Bingo at the Art House (492 E 13th Ave in Eugene, OR) presents the sci fi/horror film Event Horizon tonight and tomorrow night at 7 pm.

Church of Film brings the seldom seen horror film Arcana to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Click on the link, as several trigger warnings are posted.

Thursday, January 30 

The Moscow Film Society presents Studio Ghibli's Porco Rosso at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) tonight at 7 pm.

Stuart Gordon's classic adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's Re-Animator is playing at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Friday, January 31) in GLORIOUS 35mm.

Walt Disney's Fantasia is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Celebrate the advance release of the mech/monster comic The 27 Run: Crash #1 at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  Every Attendee gets a free copy of the first issue, and signing starts at 6 pm, followed by a screening of the giant-robots-punch-giant-monsters classic Pacific Rim starting at 7 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is screening David Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me tonight at 9 pm.

The horror film Companion, as a weekend getaway descends into mayhem after the revelation that one of the guests is a companion robot, opens at the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; schedule TBA), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; schedule TBA), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; schedule TBA), and the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR; schedule TBA).  

The film opens on Friday, January 31, at the Kelso Theater Pub (214 S Pacific Ave in Kelso, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 12).

Just saying, I think the poster spoils it.  Hope I'm wrong.

Friday, January 31 

A sequel to the 1987 cult classic, Street Trash is playing at 7 pm today and tomorrow at the SIFF Film Center (167 Republican St in Seattle, WA) in GLORIOUS 35mm.

John Boorman's version of the King Arthur legend, Excalibur, is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 10 pm, and on Sunday, February 2, at 5 pm.  

Funny story, my mother wanted to watch this during one of my trips to Florida to visit my parents.  I asked if she was sure, and she was fine with her choice of a movie night feature.  Until she figured out in the first 15 minutes we weren't watching the musical Camelot.  She did enjoy this film, though.

Weird Elephant brings John Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet to The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight and tomorrow night at 10 pm.

Yorgos Lanthimos' captivating Frankenstein-ish film Poor Things, starring Oscar winner Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The Jim Henson/Frank Oz fantasy The Dark Crystal is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11:15 pm.

Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) is showing David Lynch's Eraserhead tonight and tomorrow night at 9:35 pm.

February, 2025

Saturday, February 1

Felissa Rose with provide live commentary to the cult horror classic Sleepaway Camp at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) today at 5 pm.

UPDATE: This event is selling out, as of Monday, January 27.

The Community Benefit Screenings series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents a screening of Men in Black, with all proceeds going to Pacific Pug Rescue today at 2 pm.

The Queer Horror series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents the Portland-made Hiding Henry, with a pre-show featuring the cast and crew, hosted by Portland's premier drag clown (and film co-star) Carla Rossi.  Oh, and the film was shot on GLORIOUS VHS.  It all starts at 8 pm.

The English dubbed version of Studio Ghibli film Howl's Moving Castle is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 12:15 pm.

The Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA) is showing the Silents Synced version of the 1922 film Noferatu with Radiohead tonight at 8 pm.

Sunday, February 2

The Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) will show the fantasy/comedy Groundhog Day today at 4 pm, as well as the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) is screening the horror/sci fi classic Alien, with actors Tom Skerritt and Veronica Cartwright in attendance for a Q and A, today at 4 pm.  As of Sunday, January 26, only 24 tickets are left.

UPDATE: This event is SOLD OUT.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing extended edition of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy today starting at 10 am.  Be aware, as of Monday, January 27, the screenings are 50% sold out.

Monday, February 3

The Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA) will show the original Blade, starring Wesley Snipes, tonight at 6 pm.

Happy Holidays, Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans!

I wasn't going to post this edition of the Weekly Update, as I was thinking it was Wednesday night.  But I realized the day job was messing up my sense of time, in addition to my schedule.  Everyone still working is being bounced around to fill holes in the schedule during our downtime.  And as we're shorthanded, those of us still working have to cover other jobs.  Fun times!

Anyway, I'm sure most of you are in bed, as Santa is coming to town.  But you'll wake up to a new update with lots of great movies screening in local theaters.  At least if you've been good all year.

But if you've been naughty, Santa might plow through you like a plate of cookies.

Okay, the update is out and it's time for me to celebrate the season with a time honored tradition.  As it's not Christmas for me until Hans Gruber falls off Nakatomi Tower.

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and I'll be back soon with another Weekly Update from The Shadow Over Portland.

Live Attractions Happening Now

Nothing for now, check back later.

Film Festival and Stage Performance Submission Information 

The Crypticon Seattle Film Festival is accepting submissions for the May 2 to 4, 2025, event taking place at the DoubleTree Hotel Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in Seattle, WA).  The late deadline is March 21, 2025.  Visit the link for all the details.

And Crypticon Seattle is accepting submission for their annual horror anthology Camp Crypticon Seattle through March 10, 2025.  The contest has 3 winners and 2 honorable mentions a year, and your story will be published alongside 3 local industry professionals.  Contest details are on the link above.

Happening Now

The animated feature The Wild Robot is playing at the McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 26).

The animated fantasy Flow is playing at  the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 26), and the Art House (492 E 13th Ave in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 26).

The holiday fantasy classic It's a Wonderful Life is playing at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 26) in GLORIOUS 35mm (with the exception of a few dates; details at the link), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, December 24), and the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, December 24).

The Nightmare Before Christmas is playing at the Art House (492 E 13th Ave in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 26).

December, 2024

Wednesday, December 25

Christmas Day

Robert Eggers' remake of Nosferatu opens today at the Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 2), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 2), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 2), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR; schedule TBA), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 2), the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 2), the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 2), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 26), the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, December 31), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Sunday, December 29), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 26), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, December 29), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 1), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 26), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 2),  the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 2), and the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Monday, January 6, in GLORIOUS 35mm, and switching to a digital presentation from Sunday, January 5, through Thursday, January 9).

The film opens on Thursday, December 26, at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 2).

Quick tip, check the links before heading out.  I know the Hollywood Theatre has sold out several screenings of the film, and other venues might do the same.

Thursday, December 26

The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) brings the original Star Wars trilogy back to the big screen through Saturday, December 28.  A trilogy pass is only $20, so you can watch it one film a day, or participate in the full-day marathon on Saturday.  Visit the link for more details.  

The horror film Heretic is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 7 pm, and on Saturday, December 28, at 4:30 pm.

The horror film I Saw the TV Glow is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:45 pm.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is playing at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) today at 2:30, 4:45, and 7 pm.

The animated film Flow is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 2 pm, and on Saturday, December 28, at 11:30 am.

Friday, December 27

The Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA) is showing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory tonight and on Saturday and Sunday, December 28 and 29, at 7:30 pm, and on Monday and Tuesday, December 30 and 31, at 5 pm.

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Monday, December 30).

The Silents Synced film Nosferatu with Radiohead is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11:30 pm.

Saturday, December 28

The Seattle Horror Filmmakers Hang - Die-Cember Edition takes place tonight from 6:30 to 11:45 pm at Seattle's only horror movie bar, Two Fingers Social (9211 Delridge Way SW in Seattle, WA).  Visit the link for details.

The Mill Creek Haunted Prison (5465 Turner Rd SE in Salem, OR) Christmas Nightmare takes place tonight.  Visit the link for details.

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will screen Brian De Palma's cult classic Phantom of the Paradise, to build up funds for the theater's relocation, tonight at 6 pm.

Staff Picks 2024-Years End at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) include Satoshi Kon's psychological thriller Perfect Blue, playing through New Year's Day.

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 10 pm.

Tuesday, December 31

The Atheria Fae Winter Ball takes place at 7 pm tonight at the Lewis and Clark Event Center (117 W Magnolia St in Centralia, WA).  Get all the information at the link above.

January 2025

Wednesday, January 1

The animated film The Wild Robot is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 1 pm.

Terry Giliam's sci fi/dystopian fantasy Brazil is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 6 pm.

Friday, January 3

John Carpenter's classic The Thing is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight and tomorrow at 7 pm.

VHS Night at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) brings the sci fi/horror, and likely a Predator rip-off, Split Second, starring Rutger Hauer and Kim Cattrail, tonight at 10 pm in GLORIOUS VHS.

Saturday, January 4

The Best of 2024 series at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) features The Substance (scheduled through Thursday, January 9), Longlegs (scheduled through Wednesday, January 8), and Dune Part One and Two, scheduled through January 6).