Kickstart Your Weekend!

I'm starting a new tradition at The Shadow Over Portland, where I'll feature a different crowdfunding event that might interest Horror Fans everywhere.  And I'm going with Manos Returns as my first Kickstart Your Weekend post.

Yeah, it's a pretty bad movie, but no matter how easy it is to lampoon it, but Manos: The Hand of Fate is one of those movies that could have been better than it was.  From what I've found on the Internet (and we all now everything on the Web is true), Harold P. Warren shot the film as the result of a bet that he could make a movie.  I suspect the script was written on a few cocktail napkins at the same bar he made the bet, and he discovered he didn't have enough to make a movie, or the budget to flesh out his idea of a polygamous cult traveling though dimensions to worship a god the script refuses to elaborate upon.  So he took a bunch of community theater actors and demanded they stretch things out to achieve a feature length running time.

Of course, having women wrestling in their nighties 

fills up some time.

So, we are left with so many questions.  Who, or what, is Manos?  Why does The Master need so many wives?  And what is the ultimate goal of Manos and his cult?

And the chance to have those questions answered is why I'm featuring this crowdfunding event.  Manos Returns, created by Jackey Neyman Jones (Debbie in the original film) will be directed by Seattle, WA, filmmaker Tonjia Atomic (Plain Devil, Hobo with a Trashcan) and the script by Steve Foley (Plain Devil, Cemetery Tales) might revel the questions lingering from the original film.

So, what do you get from this?  Well, a cool frigging tee shirt.

Yeah, who wouldn't want to wear this shirt?  I've ordered mine, because who doesn't want the Master on their chest.  Okay, that sounded creepy, but still, it's a cool shirt.

The film will bring back Tom Neyman as The Master, and the funding will assure him payment for his participation.  And seriously, if The Master finally gets some money from this property, I'm fine with that.  And I'm sure some of my readers are willing to kick in $27 to $30 to help The Master get his due.  Click on the link to order the tee shirt, and be quick about it.  You have until October 15.  Visit the Facebook Event Page to order your shirt.  And you know you want one!

The Master commands you to fund this film.

A quick update of stuff I didn't get to last week, because...

Yes, I had a few events to add to the Horror Calendar, but decided to head to the festival right after work on Friday instead.  It's been over a year since my last dose of Cosmic Horror, and I needed my fix as soon as possible.

And I had a GREAT TIME!  I'll be posting more about it tomorrow, but for right now, I want to thank Brian and Gwen Callahan for the wonderful three day festival, and for allowing me to be a panelist on Sunday night.  THAT was a thrill I will never forget!

Yes, that's me!

My first ever moment as a Convention panelist!  

And at the Twentieth Anniversary Celebration, no less!!

So yes, I was a bit anxious to get there.  As mentioned above,  I'll post more about the event tomorrow.  But for now, let's get to the updates!

First, if you like your Wednesdays on the WEIRD side, head to The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway) in Tigard, OR, on October 7 for a screening of Frankenstein '80.  The management of The Joy asked me to warn you that this feature is not for the faint of heart.  It is considered one of the sleaziest, goriest update on the classic tale ever filmed, which is why it's this week's Weird Wednesday offering!  The show starts at 9:15 pm and admission is FREE, so spend some of that extra money at the snack bar.  Oh, and The Joy serves beer, so drink up while being responsible.  As with all Weird Wednesday, you must be 21 or older to attend.  Check out The Joy Cinema website for more details.  

The only thing that could make Halloween any better is a film about LUCHADORS battling Dracula, the Wolfman and their minions.  Yep, you know you have to see Santo y Blue Demon contra Dracula y el Hombre Lobo, which screens at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, on Saturday, October 24, at 4 pm.  This is an all ages screening (this version is dubbed) of pure, cheesy greatness.  The party starts in the upstairs lobby of The Hollywood Theatre before the screening, with local vendors and a face painter.  And yes, you can bring your luchador mask!  Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details.  

Before there was Sam, the 80s brought us Sammi Curr, dead rock star about to be reborn thanks to a bullied metal fan, in Trick or Treat.  This fun little supernatural slasher flick, with lots of cool kills, a great soundtrack and cameos by Ozzy Ozbourne and Gene Simmons, screens at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, in GLORIOUS 35mm on October 14 at 7:30 pm.  Presented by TIMEWARRIOR-Molten Metal Merchandise, you won't want to miss this hard to find film.  Visit The Hollywood Theatre website for more details and advance ticket sales.

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But that's not all.  I'll be updating the Horror Calendar all week (I have the times for Blade and A Nightmare on Elm Street up now), with more ghoulish delights as we bask in the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!  So keep checking back!!

And remember, if you want to promote your horror/sci fi/fantasy event, send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll include it on the Horror Calendar and future updates.