Sorry I'm behind again, but my witch doctor told me what to do.

What a man does for pay is of little significance.  What he is, as a sensitive instrument responsive to the world's beauty, is everything!

H. P. Lovecraft

And, sorry to say, I lost sight of that, Pacific Northwest Horror Fans.  I came back from my vacation away from my "real job" so rejuvenated and ready to go, I stopped taking the treatment that helps me weather the blows from my daily existence.

So I saw my witch doctor a few days ago and he told me what to do.  He said, "Oh-E-Oh-Ah-Ah, you know what you need, so start taking it!  IDIOT!!"

Okay, before anyone accuses me of making fun of people with depression, I will say I have it, and humor is becoming my response to it.  It's not a diagnosed ailment, but I have the classic symptoms and a few friends in the medical profession have suggested more pharmaceutical remedies to my problem.

But I consider my depression to be more situational, not chemical.  Let's just say my life went to crap in 2006, and I have yet to fully recover.  Things are much better, but sometimes I fall into the false hope that I don't need the witch doctor (AMA unproven) treatments to take the edge off and allow me to functioning outside of my daily life (You know, the one that pays the bills).

I keep trying to wean myself off the treatment, but without it, I continue to falling into an abyss that is hard to escape once it has swallowed me.  Hence, the low postings for the past two months.  I thought I was over it, I was wrong, and it took too long to figure out.

Sorry about that.

But, I'm back on my witch doctor treatment and I'm feeling pretty good.  And I don't plan on backing off on it for a while, so expect your weekly updates to start back up from The Shadow Over Portland.  Sorry for the long break, Northwest Horror Fans.  Not planning on letting it happen again.


Ongoing

Submissions are being accepted for the PDXtreme Fest, 3 days of horror, crime, gore and more at the the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark) in Portland, OR, December 2 through 4 this year.  You can find more details on how to enter your film at the Facebook Event Page.

------------

Mental Trap Escape Room Game invites you, and four to ten members, to escape a locked room in one hour.  And yes, it is timed.  Created by the devious minds behind 13th Door Haunted House, Glowing Greens Miniature Golf and Haunted Productions, this offers you the challenge to find the clues keeping you locked in the room and escape within an hour.  But, as the website suggests, it's not as easy as it sounds.  Located at 3855 SW Murray Blvd in Portland, OR, you can challenge your wits (and those of your team mates) to solve the puzzle before time expires.  I don't know what happens if you don't succeed, but that's part of the fun.  For more details, visit the link.

------------

Bleedingham, a Northwest Horror Short Film Festival, is now excepting submissions.  The chosen films will screen at the Pickford Film Cinema (1318 Bay St) in Bellingham, WA later this year.  More details can be found at the official website.

Buy it NOW!

Get ready for the most amazing Bug Hunt in GLORIOUS 70mm, as The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, presents a screening of James Cameron's Aliens July 15 to 17.  Tickets are selling out fast, so visit the link as soon as you can for more details.

July, 2016

Friday, July 8

Okay, I keep including Jaws screenings on this site, even thought I consider it more an adventure film akin to The Naked Jungle (Charlton Heston verse a 2-mile-wide swarm of army ants in the South American jungle), but I will NOT deny the Spielberg classic has moments that are SCARY AS FREAKING HELL!  Central Cinema (1411 21 Ave in Seattle, WA) screens the film through Tuesday, July 12.  For more details and showtimes, visit the theater's official website.

------------

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 SE 50th St in Seattle, WA) is screening a new restoration of the UNCENSORED DIRECTOR"S CUT of Lucio Fulci's Cat in the Brain.  Fulci stars as a director driven insane by his movies.  And considering this film was released after his classics Zombie, City of the Living Dead, House by the Cemetery, The Beyond and The New York Ripper, as well as a few others, this might be the cinematic representation of a director coming to grips with the horrors he unleashed on the screen.  Or, just another AWESOME GOREFEST!  Check it out and decide for yourself!!  The film screens tonight and tomorrow at 9 pm.  Visit the theater's official website for more details.

------------

Oh man, OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, located at 1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) opens it's 2016 Sci Fi Film Festival tonight and the roster is AMAZING.  From Forbidden Planet to Robocop, I'm pretty sure you'll find something interesting playing through July 15.  Just click to the OMSI Website, than scroll till you find the Sci Fi Film Festival link.

Saturday, July 9

FLASH!  AH-HAAA!!!!  The Olympia Film Society (205 5th Ave. SE in Olympia, WA) Sci-Fi Theater presents the 1980 camp classic, Flash Gordon, tonight at 9 pm.  Candy colored special effects, a (probably un-intentionally) silly script and a rocking soundtrack by Queen makes this a SERIOUSLY FUN FILM!  Don't miss it on the big screen!!!  For more details, visit the OFS official website.

Sunday, July 10

The Best of 2015 H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival DVD Release Party happens tonight at 8 pm at the Lovecraft Bar (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR).  Copies of the DVD will be available, and you must be 21 or older to attend.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Thursday, July 14

Though it's considered by some to be the worst movie ever made, I must strongly disagree and say Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space is an amazing film, one where the enthusiasm of the cast and crew overcome their overall filmmaking incompetence, leading to one of the most gloriously entertaining bad movies ever made.  I mean, you can't not listen to Dudley Manlove (oh yeah, that's his name) deliver the line, "You see?  You see?  Your stupid minds!  Stupid!!  Stupid!!!" and not realize he's giving it his all to make the delivery intense and exciting (Really, I've seen some BAD films and Manlove is an Oscar winner compared to some other performances).  See for yourself as the NW Film Center screens the film tonight at 7 pm at the Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave) in Portland, OR.  For more details, visit the NWFC official website.

Friday, July 15

Who is the real father of the adopted son of Robert and Katherine Thorn?  Could it be SATAN?!?!  As if you didn't already know.  Tonight, Friday Night Frights Tacoma presents a screening of the 1976 classic, The Omen, at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N. Proctor St) in Tacoma, WA.  Possibly the first American film to feature overly creative death scenes, you don't want to miss a character's (not spoiling it here) decapitation on the big screen.  It will look AMAZING.  The show starts at 10 pm and admission is just $6.  You'll find more details at the Friday Night Frights Tacoma Facebook Page.

------------

Get ready for the most amazing Bug Hunt in GLORIOUS 70mm, as The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, presents a screening of James Cameron's Aliens through July 17.  Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) awakens after a long cryogenic stasis, only to find no one believes her tale of Xenomorphs with acid based blood and nefarious intents, until the the terraformers on LV-426 stop sending radio messages.  Hitching a ride with some bad-ass Space Marine, she finds they are unable to deal with the threat.  Tickets are selling out fast, so visit the link as soon as you can for more details.

------------

If last nights screening of Plan 9 has you interested in more about the career of one of the worst directors ever, check out tonight's screening of Ed Wood.  Presented by the NW Film Center, this film is gives a rather fictionalized account of Wood's life, but star Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton are able to capture the enthusiasm Wood brought to many of his pictures.  And the film will be presented in GLORIOUS 35mm!!  The show starts at 7 pm at the Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave) in Portland, OR.  For more details, visit the NWFC official website.

------------

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 SE 50th St in Seattle, WA) is screening a new restoration of Lucio Fulci's Lizard in a Women's Skin.  One of his Giallo films, the story involves a frustrated wife finding her violent dreams becoming a reality.  Or are they?  Check it out and find out the answers for yourself!  The film screens tonight and tomorrow at 9 pm.  Visit the theater's official website for more details.

Saturday, July 16

Spend an evening with Rowdy Roddy Piper running out of bubble gum while kicking ass, as John Carpenter's They Live screens as part of The Olympia Film Society (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) Fright Club tonight at 9 pm.  For more details, visit the OFS official website.  And remember, the first rule of Fright Club is let all other Horror Fans know about Fright Club!!

------------

Well, that's what I have for now, but the Horror Calendar is continually updated, so keep check the link for more details on upcoming events.

Should you be hosting, or know of, an event that would interest my readers, email me at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll include in on the Horror Calendar and future updates.  Remember, I cast a wide web, including sci fi/ fantasy films, as well as some action films.  And I do not charge for listing your event on the site.

And, as always, should you attend any of these events, mention to the organizers you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!