Tuesday, February 28, 2017

I told you March would be a busy month for Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy fans!


I was serious about March being full of great events for Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy fans.  And this lengthy Weekly Update only covers the first twelve days!  I don't remember a month this full of genre films, cons and celebrations since October.

Oh joy!
It's just like Halloween!!!
The only downside is the days will be longer!

If you're wondering what makes the first half of the month so busy, let's start with the Laurelhurst Theater in Portland, as March is Sci Fi month and they have a great selection of films coming your way.  Central Cinema in Seattle and the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, BC, are adding several films into the mix as well.  Bellevue College in Washington opens their production of Carrie: The Musical.  And in Seattle, Emerald City Comic Con opens, and the Museum of Pop Culture hosts a Sci Fi and Fantasy Celebration.

But the second part of March is full of fun events as well, including more from Central Cinema and the Rio Theatre and Friday Night Frights offers up another scary treat in Tacoma.  Evil Dead: The Musical splatters Renton, and a grunge musical based on Jekyll and Hyde premieres in Portland!  And, of course, there's more!!  Be sure to check out the Horror Calendar for more information on events coming this month, and through the rest of 2017.

You can always get your event listed on The Shadow Over Portland.  Just send me the details at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll add your film festival/performance/haunted attraction to the site.  You'll reach hundreds of genre fans in the Pacific Northwest and, best of all, listing on this site is FREE!

And please remember, should you attend any of the events listed here, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!

Ongoing 





Mental Trap Escape Room Games (3855 SW Murray Blvd in Beaverton, OR) has opened the Dead End Alley Ghost Trap, an Escape Room Game encompassing a real City Alley!  Your team of 4 to 10 players are a group of Ghost Hunters working to gain access into several buildings to capture escaped ghosts from an Entity Containment Unit breach.  This Escape Room contains lifelike gore and decay, loud noises and realistic collapsing buildings, as well as potential dense fog and strobe lights!  The game is open for a limited time (the event is offering bookings through March 20), so be sure to check out the Mental Trap Escape Room Game Facebook Page or Website for all the details.

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Capcom and iam8bit is bringing the Resident Evil Escape Experience to Portland through Sunday, March 5.  Tickets are going fast, with only a few openings available in February, so get your tickets soon!  Visit the link for more details.

Open Film Submission

Please visit the Open Film Submission page for details on several local film festival accepting submissions at this time.


March, 2017

Wednesday, March 1



Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) presents Tron in Hecklevision tonight at 7 pm.  Your witty texts will appear on the screen as Jeff Bridges is sucked into a computer and must fight for his digital life against the MCP.  Just so you know, though Tron is rated PG, some of the language of the heckles can get raunchy.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Weird Wednesday at The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) presents a classic with a screening of the 1925 version of The Lost World tonight at 9:15 pm.  The film features the amazing effects work of stop motion master Willis O'Brien and will look beautiful on the big screen.  Be sure and stop at the concession stand before the movie and help The Joy keep Wednesdays WEIRD!  For more details, visit The Joy Cinema website.

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Catch a screening of the film responsible for the term "gaslighting" as the McMenamins Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) presents the film Gaslight tonight at 5:30 pm.  Ingrid Bergman (who won her first of three Oscars for her performance) plays singer Paula Alquist, who falls in love and marries the dapper Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer). But Anton is a jewel thief and the murderer of Alquist's aunt, and sets out to drive his bride insane with the help of a maid (Angela Lansbury in her first movie role).  The pair starts dimming the gaslights in the house and making noises in the attic, while telling Alquist she is imagining everything.  In addition to Bergman's win, the film was nominated for a total of seven Oscars and also won for Best Screenplay.  For additional details about the screening, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page

Thursday, March 2 



The Emerald City Comicon comes to the Washington State Convention Center (705 Pike St in Seattle, WA) on March 2 though 5.  Guests have been announced, including the edition of Robert Englund (the ORIGINAL Freddy Kruger!), along with Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye in The Avengers films) and Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit, Ant-Man), Vincent D'Onofrio (Daredevil, Sinister), Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead) and Todd McFarlane (founder of Image Comics and creator of Spawn).  Four day passes and tickets for Saturday are sold out.  Visit the official website for more details and a link to advance ticket sales (while single day passes last).
 UPDATE: Sunday tickets have sold out. Thursday and Friday tickets are still available. 

Friday, March 3



Jim Henson's classic dark fable, The Dark Crystal, plays tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) at 11;45 pm (doors open at 11:15 pm).  Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.

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XX, a all-female-helmed horror anthology, opens today at the Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave in Seattle, WA).  Showtimes are 8:30 pm tonight and tomorrow (Saturday, March 4), and at 4 and 8 pm on Sunday, March 5.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Northwest Film Forum website.

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Sci Fi Month at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 East Burnside Street in Portland, OR) kicks off with a big bug hunt with Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers.  This satirical take on patriotism seems quite relevant today, and the action will look amazing on the big screen.  The film plays through Thursday, March 9.  Showtimes have yet to be announced, so check back, or visit The Laurelhurst Theater website, later. 

Saturday, March 4



The Museum of Pop Culture (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) is hosting the Science Fiction and Fantasy Celebration tonight at 7 pm.  This all ages events features special guests, themed gaming and activities, live music, trivia (for those 21 and older) and more!  Tickets include admission to MoPOP's Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic, Star Trek, Exploring New Worlds and the new Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame Gallery.  Costumes are encouraged.  Tickets are $22 ($18 to MoPOP members), $15 for youths 5 to 17.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page

Sunday, March 5



The Poe Show 2017 takes place tonight at 7 pm at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).  This "silly and ever-so-serious celebration and roast of Edgar Allan Poe" features Poe-themed games, prizes, music, mayhem and readings.  Admission is $5 and open to all ages, though the event will contain adult content.  For additional details, including a list of the artists that will be present, visit the Facebook Event Page.  

Tuesday, March 7



The Northwest Horror Pub Quiz returns to Home, A Bar (719 SE Morrison St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.  The top two teams win gift certificates to Home, A Bar, or you can score individual prizes during the lightning round questions.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page

Wednesday, March 8



Carrie: The Musical opens tonight at Bellevue College's Carlson Theater (3000 Landerholm Cir SE in Bellevue, WA).  The show runs through Saturday, March 11, with showtime at 7:30 pm for all performances.  Tickets are $12 for the general public, $10 for students.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Thursday, March 9



Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) presents a Pause and Draw screening of The Craft tonight at 8 pm.  During the run of this 90s classic about four teenage witches, the movie will pause and you'll have 5 minutes to draw what's on the screen.  Art supplies will be available, but feel free to bring your own stuff.  And be sure to stick around after the film to admire everyone's work and even trade!  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Friday, March 10



The Northwest Film Center presents a screening of Charles Laughton's only directorial effort, The Night of the Hunter, today at 5:30 pm in GLORIOUS 35mm.  Starring Robert Mitchum as a homicidal preacher on the hunt for a stash of stolen cash, this film is a haunting, dark fairy tale that shouldn't be missed on the big screen.  The presentation, including a post film discussion with Portland Art Museum docents and NW Film Center staff, takes place at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR).  Tickets are just $5.  For more details, visit the NW Film Center website.

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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents a remastered version of Abel Ferrara's classic revenge thriller, Ms. 45 (AKA Angel of Vengeance), tonight as part of their Friday Late Night Movie series.  Zoë Lund plays a mute garment-district worker who, after being the victim of multiple assaults, straps a gun to her garter belt and starts blasting any man who messes with her.  The film starts at 11:55 pm (doors open at 11:30 pm), and tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.  Minors are allowed in the balcony, but the film is rated 18A.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Serenity, Joss Wedon's cinematic conclusion to the cult television series Firefly, plays tonight through Tuesday, March 14 at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA).  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales (Wednesday's screening is just $1.99), visit the Central Cinema website.

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Old Jack Burton always says head to The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 East Burnside Street in Portland, OR) as Sci Fi Month brings Big Trouble in Little China to the big screen!  Grab your Seven Demon Bag and DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!  The film plays through Thursday, March 16.  Showtimes have yet to be announced, so check back, or visit The Laurelhurst Theater website, later. 

Saturday, March 11



The 7th Annual Steampunk Film Festival brings the best in neo-victorian retrofuturist cinema to the 5th Avenue Cinema (510 SW Hall St in Portland, OR) today at 6 pm.  Tickets are just $10.  For more details as they become available, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, March 12



Shriek: A Women of Horror Film Class will screen and discuss the classic 1973 horror film, The Wicker Man, tonight at Naked City Brewery and Taphouse (8564 Greenwood Ave N in Seattle, WA).  The event is sponsored by Scarecrow Video and Crypticon Seattle.  Tickets are $10, $5 for those 65 and older, veterans and students with ID.  And, if you plan to attend the Heckle Night screening of the remake (starring Nicholas Cage) on March 26, you can buy tickets for both for just $15 (details posted below)!  You must be 21 or older to attend.  The event, including a discussion of the film, starts at 6:30 pm.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Zymoglyphic Museum (6225 Se Alder in Portland, OR) will be open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm today.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.