Tuesday, February 9, 2016

It's time for your weekly Horror Update, and I have some great offerings to share with you!

Yep, it's time for Northwest Horror Fans to break out their calendars and start marking the events happening under The Shadow Over Portland.  I've got chainsaw slashers in Seattle, werewolves in Portland, Bee Girls, Sharknados, some alien encounters and SO MUCH MORE!  Oh, and Buffy Trivia as well!  Get ready, Northwest Genre Fans, here's your weekly update!!

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.

Wednesday, February 10



Okay, if you missed Saturday's showing, Seattle Horror Fans, head to the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA tonight at 7 pm for a repeat showing of Pieces in GLORIOUS 35mm!  You will not regret it.  Scroll down the link for more details.

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Buffy Trivia Night comes to the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave) in Seattle, WA, tonight at 7 pm.  Visit the link for more details and ticket sales.

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Weird Wednesday presents another Paul Naschy werewolf classic, Curse of the Devil, at the Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway) in Tigard, OR, tonight at 9 pm.  As always, admission is free (so spend a bit more at the concession stand, damn it!), but you must be 21 or older to attend.  Find more details at the Joy Cinema website.  

Friday, February 12



The truth about demons will be reveled tonight at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, as VHS Uber Alles presents a Valentine's Day Special, The Demon Lover, in glorious VHS.  Hippies looking for fun join an occult study group, but back out when things get too heavy.  The leader uses his dark powers for revenge, leading to rituals, freak-outs, karate battles, kung-fun weapon wielding demons and....  whipped cream fights!?!?!  Oh, I would SO LOVE TO BE THERE.  Admission is only $2, a steal for so much CHEESY AWESOMENESS!  So be sure to spend a bit extra at the snack bar,   You can find more details at the link.

Saturday, February 13



Okay, it might not be everyone's Valentine Day film, but The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St) in Portland, OR, is screening The Silence of the Lambs through Sunday, February 14 at 7 pm.  Spend this most romantic evening of the year with Clarice Starling, a top FBI studnet, as she matches wits with Dr. Hannibal Lector and Buffalo Bill in a top notch HORROR film.  Yes, I'm record saying this isn't a thriller, but one of the best horror films of the 90s.  Visit The Clinton Street Theater website for more details.

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The Seattle Gothic Book Club is hosting a literary celebration of Whitley Streiber's horror novel, The Hunger, today at 1 pm at The Dreaming Comics and Games (5226 University Way NE) in Seattle, WA.  This all ages event features a discussion of the novel, as well as games, activities and light refreshments (feel free to bring some non-messy snacks to share).  You can find more about the event at the Facebook Event Page.

Tuesday, February 16



Repressed Cinema and The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, presents a screening in GLORIOUS 35mm of Invasion of the Bee Girls.  Government agent Neil Agar (William Smith) is sent out to investigate the death of men by excessive sex.  Yeah, that's NOT a typo.  And, of course, he discovers the nefarious plot of the Bee Girls.  I don't remember the specifics for the Bee Girls death by sex behavior, but I do remember the cheesy dialog, the gratuitous nudity and a few decent stunts.  The show starts at 7:30 pm, and you'll find more details, and advance ticket sales, at the link.  See you there!

Wednesday, February 17



Buffy Trivia Night returns to the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave) in Seattle, WA, tonight at 7 pm.  Visit the link for more details and ticket sales.

Thursday, February 18



Okay, if there is one film worthy of Hecklevision, it's Sharknado.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this film (and my mother found it better than Sharknado 2 because of the character development in the first one; I won't say any more) as a joyful celebration of such cheesy classics like The Giant Claw.  Sure, it's manufactured cheese, but it's going to shine compared to the current plans for the Universal Monster Universe.  Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave) in Seattle, WA, is screening amazingly awful (and totally AWESOME) film at 8 pm, and you can text your snarky remarks onto the screen!  More details, and advance ticket sale information, are available at the Facebook Event Page.

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Well, I should direct deposit my paycheck to The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, this month, as the theater keeps up the awesome horror offerings with a 35mm screening of the original Fright Night tonight at 9:30 pm.  Part of the Queer Horror program, hosted by Portland's premier drag clown Carla Rossi, this CLASSIC 80s horror films features one of the sexiest vampire ever (oh, Chris Sarandon, you SO NAILED this one), as well as gay actors Amanda Bearse and Stephen Geoffreys, and suspected gay actor Roddy McDowall.  But their sexuality doesn't matter, as this film DELIVERS THE SCARES with some truly creepy scenes and a tour-de-force, practical effects filled final act that will make you rethink to CGI mayhem peddled by most modern films.  It's funny, it's scary and it's a film you don't want to miss on the big screen.  For more details, and advance ticket sales, click on the link.

Friday, February 19



Wizard World Comic Con returns to the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd) in Portland, OR, this weekend.  The big news for horror fans at this time is Elvira, The Hostess with the Mostess herself, Cassandra Peterson, will be at the show, as well as Scott Wilson (Hershel from The Walking Dead) and Tobin Bell from the Saw franchise (Bell is scheduled to appear Friday evening and Saturday only).  Whovians can meet a bunch of Doctor Who actors, and Star Trek fans won't want to miss William Shatner (appearing Friday night and Saturday only)  You'll also find a variety of comic artist, tattoo artists,  writers, animators, wrestlers and more.  Visit the Wizard World Comic Con website for more details and the latest updates.

UPDATE: James Marsters (Spike from Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel) is scheduled to attend the con at this time.  Keep checking back for updates and more information.

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Okay, if you haven't seen Sugar Hill, I can understand.  This CLASSIC Blacksplotation/zombie film is a bit under the radar, given the WB archive release with a cover that makes the film look like a Lifetime Channel film rather that the AWESOME zombie movie it is.  And, as a commentary on race relations back in the 70's, this movie packs a punch.  So don't miss your chance to catch this film on the big screen, as Friday Night Frights screens it at the Blue Mouse Theater (2611 N. Proctor St) in Tacoma, WA.

Okay, the "N-Word" is dropped several times, but hey, that's how it was back then, so don't try getting all PC on me.  I spent a good part of my youth in Florida, back when my parents lectured me that such language was wrong.  Sugar Hill takes it all in stride, with a black woman taking revenge against the white mob that killed her man, thanks to the help of Baron Samedi and the undead horde she invokes.  Sure, it's politically incorrect (in our more "enlightened times"), but is a snapshot of its time, and as an evisceration of the our previous (and current) societal norms, this film has a lot to say.
The show starts at 10 pm, and admission is only $6.  And, as expected, there will be prizes, trivia and GORE!  And dancing chicken feet!!!  You don't want to miss it!  Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details.  And you can read my review of the film at the link.

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Gail Simone, writer of several great comic series (including one of the creepiest current Vertigo titles, Clean Room), will be an EPIC signing event at Things From Another World (2916 NE Broadway) in Portland, OR, tonight at 6 pm.  Also at the screening will be Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook (Harrow County) and Sam Humphries (Jonesy, the story of a teenaged Cupid).  Find out more details at the Things From Another World Facebook Page.  

Saturday, February 20



Klaatu Barada Nikto!  No, not necktie or neon noodle, but the original lines, from 1951's The Day the Earth Stood Still, will be spoken at the Pickford Film Center (!318 Bay St) in Bellingham, WA, today at noon.  Yes, you can watch this Sci Fi Classic on the big screen for just $2!  More information, and advance ticket sales, are available at the link.

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Well, that's all I have for now, but you can find details on future events at the Horror Calendar, with information about conventions, film festivals and screenings through the end of the year.  Just remember, I'm always adding to the events, so keep checking back for updates.

Remember, should you be hosting an event that might interest readers of The Shadow Over Portland, all you have to do is send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll include it to the calendar and weekly updates.  Oh, and I should mention posting your event my site is FREE!

And, should you attend any of the events I mention on the site, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!