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

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans, I hope you have a nice Sunday.  I'd just suggest staying away from any wild rabbits you might see hopping about this weekend.  If it's hiding eggs, and behind schedule, expect that encounter to get a bit rough...

Holy crap, the Easter bunny is severely over-caffianated!

To get the season started, take a look at this edition of the Weekly Update.  I've found monsters laying eggs, zombies and MUCH MORE to keep you busy after the colored egg hunt is over.

And be sure to check out the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, as I've found some great movies, and festivals coming our way.  I've got the schedule for the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, BC, the spooky offerings at the Kiggins Theater in Vancouver, WA, and MUCH MORE!

Remember, if you want your event posted on the site, it's easy and FREE!  Just email me with all the details, and promotional artwork, at shadowoverportland@live.com, and I'll do the rest!!

From Ashland, OR, to Vancouver, BC, The Shadow Over Portland has you covered!

Now Showing

Us, the new horror film from writer/director Jordan Peele (Get Out), is scheduled to play at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) through Thursday, April 25.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Us is also scheduled to play at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) through Thursday, April 25.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Cinema 21 website.

April, 2019

Wednesday, April 17

Celebrate Easter early at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR), as Wyrd War presents Luigi Cozzi's sci fi gore fest Contamination tonight at 7:30 pm.  Featuring pulsating space eggs from a coffee plantation in Brazil, lots of bursting chests and a soundtrack by Goblin, this "homage" to Alien is classic low budget cheesy goodness.  Show up early for the Wyrd War egg hunt with lots of gruesome prizes!  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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The Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) presents Black Representation in Horror tonight starting at 7 pm.  Local filmmaker and horror enthusiast Isabella Price will look at black representation in horror, starting with the early days of horror cinema to the current collection of zombie, slasher and ghost films.  The presentation includes a screening of Candyman, starring Tony Todd.  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) brings you another round of Monster Roulette tonight at 9:15 pm.   One guest will draw a title from the Mystic Pumpkin, and that will be the night's feature.  Don't worry, it will have a monster!  Admission is FREE, but you must be 18 or older to attend.  Don't forget to stop at the concession stand before the film for some tasty treats and beverages!  For more details, visit The Joy Cinema website.

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Re-Imagined Radio presents Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Facts on the Radio LIVE on stage at 7 pm at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA).  The presentation includes two short acts of radio drama, performed by voice actors, based on a sci-fi radio drama.  The acts are followed by one of two WSU scientist, Dr. John Harkness and Dr. Marc Kramer, who will discuss the scientific facts surrounding the theme of each act.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Kiggins Theatre website.

Friday, April 19

Get ready to Squirm in your seat as Friday Night Frights celebrates Earth Day with a film about flesh eating worms!  The show starts at 10 pm at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA).  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) presents the sci fi classic, The Matrix, through Thursday, April 25.  For more details, including showtimes, visit the Academy Theater website closer to the opening date.

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Tonight's Friday Late Night Movie at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) pays tribute to the late Luke Perry with a screening of 1992's Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Showtime is 11:45 pm.  For more details, including a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) presents the anime Penguin Highway through Sunday, April 28 (no showing on Friday, April 26).  The film involves a boy genius who investigates the appearance of penguins in his suburban neighborhood hundreds of miles from the ocean, tracing their appearance to a woman from his dentist's office.  Um, okay, sounds weird but fun!  The film will be presented in Japanese with English subtitles every day except for Monday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 24.  Those two days will be an English dubbed version.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Grand Illusion website.

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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) presents the Germany-Austria gothic folk tale Hagazussa through Thursday, April 25.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Grand Illusion website.

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Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) presents a 4K restoration of the George Romero zombie classic Night of the Living Dead through Tuesday, April 23.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Central Cinema website.

Saturday, April 20

Urban Unglued Dark Markets presents The Cobweb Swap: A Swap Meet of Deadly Proportions from 10 am to 5 pm at the Dryer Masonic Center (306 134th St S in Tacoma, WA).  The event will feature vendors selling all things dark and unusual.  Parking and admission is FREE.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents the classic, somewhat family friendly film Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory today at 3:15 pm.  Let's be honest, family entertainment has changed since the 70s.  Still, don't miss it on the big screen.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton Street in Portland, OR) presents the anime Penguin Highway at 1 pm (in Japanese with English subtitles) and 3:30 pm (dubbed in English) today only.  The film involves a boy genius who investigates the appearance of penguins in his suburban neighborhood hundreds of miles from the ocean, tracing their appearance to a woman from his dentist's office.  Um, okay, sounds weird but fun!  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will screen the sci fi film Tank Girl today at noon.  For more details, including advance ticket sales, visit the Pickford Film Center website.

Sunday, April 21

The McMenamins Mission Theater and Pub (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) will screen the Joe Dante horror/comedy The 'Burbs, starring Tom Hanks, through Thursday, April 25.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Mission Theater website.

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The Northwest Film Center presents the insane video game adaptation Super Mario Bros. at 7 pm tonight at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR) in GLORIOUS 35mm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Northwest Film Center website.

Tuesday, April 23

In tribute to the late Larry Cohen, the Grindhouse Film Festival at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents a screening of Q-The Winged Serpent, in GLORIOUS 35mm, tonight at 7:30 pm.  Advance tickets are strongly suggested.  For more details, including advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Tuesday, April 23

The 2019 version of Pet Sematary will screen at the Rio Theatre (1600 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will play tonight at 8:45 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Wednesday, April 24

Re-run Theater at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) brings the 1979 television version of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, starring Gil Gerard and Erin Gray, to the big screen tonight at 7:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Thursday, April 25

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the documentary Hail Satan? through Thursday, May 2.  Filmmaker Penny Lane gained unprecedented access to The Satanic Temple and explores the Temple's fight for free speech and equality.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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The Black and Chrome (black and white) version of Mad Max: Fury Road will screen at the Rio Theatre (1600 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:15 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Friday, April 26

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents the anime Penguin Highway tonight at 7:30 pm.  The film involves a boy genius who investigates the appearance of penguins in his suburban neighborhood hundreds of miles from the ocean, tracing their appearance to a woman from his dentist's office.  Um, okay, sounds weird but fun!  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Tonight's Friday Late Night Movie at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. Showtime is 11:30 pm.  For more details, including a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Celebrate International Alien Day tonight (or tomorrow) with the Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) with a screening of the original Alien tonight and tomorrow at 11 pm.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Frightmare on Main Street presents Joe Dante's werewolf classic The Howling at 9:30 pm at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA).  After the film, the members of local podcast The Horror Aisle will discuss the film.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Kiggins Theatre website.

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Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) presents sci fi cult classic Stargate through Wednesday, May 1.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Central Cinema website.

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Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) presents the sci fi comedy Back to the Future Part II through Monday, April 29.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Central Cinema website.

Saturday, April 27

The undead take over the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) and forcing the screening of Shaun of the Dead tonight, instead of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  The RHPS Delinquents will be there, bringing the 2D zombie film to life in the theater!  Dress up as one of the undead, or as Shaun or one of his friends.  The evening starts at 9 pm with a pre-show pub quiz hosted by Hurricane Liz, with the movie starting at 10 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Kiggins Theatre website.

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The "nerdlesque" trope the Geekenders presents Talk Nerdy to Me at 9 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).  You must be 18 or older to attend.  For more details, including a list of performers and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, April 28

The Vancouver Toy Junkies host a Vintage Toy and Collectible Show today at the Warehouse 23 Event Center (100 Columbia Blvd in Vancouver, WA).  Early Bird admission is $10 and gets you into the show at 9 am.  General admission is just $3 and gets you in at 10 am.  The event runs until 3 pm.  Kids 16 and under are admitted in for FREE.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Olympia Film Society and Lincoln Elementary present Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro at 2 pm today at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Halloween (2018)

I must admit, I was a bit worried as the Internet released details concerning 2018's Halloween.  While I liked the idea of restarting the series at the end of the original, I also though Halloween H2O handled the concept of Laurie Strode dealing with the aftermath of her encounter with Michael Meyers pretty well.  Though Curtis describes that sequel to Variety as a money grab that started with good intentions (you can read her comments here), I really enjoyed most of it.  Strode's PTSD and alcoholism gave the film some gravity, and the explanation for Michael's return was believable enough.  Okay, the film had a few problems, but I didn't think it was as bad as most.  That might say something about me and my opinions on the latest film, so I just had to put it out there.

As photos from the new film were released, I became concerned that the filmmakers planed to take the franchise into T2 territory.  Turning Laurie into a horror film equivalent of Sarah Conner, as the pictures seemed to hint, suggested this new sequel would take the series into a more action oriented direction, a big disservice to both Laurie and her nemesis.

Well, I was wrong, at least to a point.  Laurie is more badass than in the first film, but the script, and Curtis, took care to make her still vulnerable and not some indestructible heroine who survived by a heavy barrage of gunfire.  And by ditching the other sequels, and the baggage associated with them, Halloween is a worthy successor to the original.  It's quite brutal without being overly gory, it ditches any attempt to why Michael became The Shape (which hamstrung Rob Zombie's take on the character) and is an engaging enough horror film.

Unfortunately, like many horror film sequels, it just doesn't live up to the original.  And I think the problem is that Michael Meyers just isn't as scary as he was in the original.  Not that the filmmakers didn't try, as the movie has some really terrific moments. But the script, written by Jeff Fradley, Danny McBride and director David Gordon Green, just didn't gel into the fright fest that was John Carpenter's original.  Aside from stretching the suspension of disbelief, something most horror fans will tolerate to a point, the script is saddled with making the unstoppable boogieman terrifying once again, which is like waiting for a second lightening bold to strike the same spot.  It might happen, but the chances are exceptionally slim.

Hey, I've got the mask and a knife.

Why aren't you scared?

Halloween opens as two podcasters enter the institution where Michael's been incarcerated for 40 years.  As if this doesn't stretch credibility to the breaking point, they've also been given Michael's original mask from the evidence locker to brandish in front of him.  Michael doesn't react, though the other inmates somehow know this was a bad idea.  The pair leave without any audio other than the other inmates screaming, but no one seems too concerned with this development.  It's as if the two have never seen a horror film in their lives.

Hey, we're podcasters.

We know taunting a serial killer will boost our ratings.

If we survive... 

The podcasters next head to Laurie's fortress of a home, looking for an interview.  She grants them access for a fee, than sends them on their way after a few minutes.  We later learn Laurie has a strained relationship with her daughter, Karen (Judy Greer) when she gives her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matchak) the money from the interview.  Laurie implores Allyson to take the money and travel away from Haddonfield, though she's apparently not smart enough to take her own advice.  Anyway....

Hey, I've got a pistol and a hell of a lot of guns.

Your argument is invalid, alright?

Michael is being transported to another facility under the care of Doctor Ranbir Sartain (Haluk Bilginer), who took over Michael's case after Dr. Loomis' death.  Naturally, the transport takes place on October 30, and the vehicle crashes under mysterious circumstances, resulting in Michael's escape.

And, as expected, mayhem ensues.

Micheal somehow finds his way back to Laurie's fortress home, for reasons never explained.  He just arrives and starts terrorizing three generations of Strodes, because the film demands Laurie makes one final stand.

At least until the upcoming sequel.

I will say, the filmmakers do a good job, to a point.  The idea that Laurie is Michael's sister is dismissed early on, and we meet a bunch of disposable teens through Allyson, who are likable fodder for Michael to tear through.  The film also contains some nice nods to the original, with multiple scenes playing off Carpenter's classic film.

But nothing seems to gel, and the sequel comes off as another attempt to reboot a tired series.  Too many questions go unanswered and, as I mentioned earlier, Michael's motivation for heading to Laurie's house, and how he knows her address, are dismissed once the script dismisses any familial connection.  Michael's arrival is for no reason other than to set up the final act, which is well done.  It just lacks any sense of logic, as Michael is having a fine time in Haddenfield, slashing up anyone in his path.

Look, the Strode house is down the road a mile.

Why are you bothering me?

Another unanswered question is why the hell Laurie decided to have a child, knowing her attacker is incarcerated just a few miles down the road.  Sure, she reason for staying in town is, as she confesses to Officer Hawkins (Will Patton) is that she's prayed for the day Michael escaped so she could kill him.  But, given that she's waiting for the day an unstoppable killing machine to gain his freedom, having a child seems a really stupid idea.  Another problem is that, later in the film, it's implied that Laurie intended to use Karen as bait for Michael, making her the worst parent ever.

To the script's credit, the inclusion of Officer Hawkins is a stroke of genius.  Not only does he chastised Laurie's confession for staying in Haddenfield in one simple line (delivered brilliantly by Patton) but for his attempt to kill Michael with his patrol car is the most sensible decision any character makes in the entire film.  

I don't care what you think about this photo,

he's the smartest character in the film.  Really.

As for the high school victims, the script allows Allyson and her friends behave like teens, not movie characters.  Though her boyfriend Cameron (Dylan Arnold) is as terrible as a high school crush can be, his fate isn't to meet up with Michael.  That fate is reserved for another, who truly earns the death bestowed by The Shape.

Okay, SPOILERS AHEAD! 

And Allyson's friend, Vicky (Virginia Gardner), who's babysitting a young boy, Julian (Jibrail Nontambu), and her boyfriend Dave (Miles Robbins) both die in a heroic manner that feels realistic.  The only problem is we never learn Julian's fate.  Sure, he makes it out of the house as Michael attacks, but it would be nice to see what happened to him.

As for the resolution, it's pretty well expected, as Laurie overcoming a potentially mortal wound to take Micheal on after Karen makes her stand and reconnects with her mother.  The film does end without the potential of a sequel, but we all know (given the film's box office take), Micheal will return, a phoenix emerging from the flames to try scaring up more box office bucks.

OKAY, SPOILERS OVER.

You know as long as I can fit in this mask,

I'll be back.

The biggest problem with Halloween is it pales when it compares itself to the original.  Multiple shots echo the original, but such imitations makes one realize how trendsetting Carpenter's film was.  It feels like the filmmakers were trying to use iconic moments from Halloween to remind us what was scary about the original, but it comes off as cheap imitation at best.

And the script never explains how Laurie made, or could even afford, turning her home a fortress.  We're expected to believe she could install a "safe room" with a motorized cabinet, multiple high powered outdoor lights and metal doors, all without any implied source of income.  And how she could get several obvious deathtraps past the scrutiny of local building inspectors is another big problem.  Perhaps one might miss that during the film, but the script needed to address this problem, not hope the audience wouldn't think about it.

 I'm all ready for those unwanted trick or treaters.

But my most serious complaint is, like the other sequels in the series, the film neuters Michael Meyers.  He was terrifying in the original, a child who became the embodiment of evil and escaped as an adult to wreak havoc once again.  But, as with the other films in the series, Michael becomes a standard slasher with an agenda and less of the mythical figure set up in the orginal.  While such a character might be fun to watch in a retro-style film, it's a disservice to the legacy of Michael Meyers set up in the original.

The cast is fine.  Curtis gets to be a bad ass, while still channeling the PTSD from H2O, and it does make her a unreliable character for a while, which is nice.  Greer and Matchak are good as Laurie's kin and Patterson is a nice voice of sanity among every other character's unbelievable motivations.  And Sartain gets a really great moment during the second act, in a scene that made me wonder if the filmmakers were going to take the film, and franchise, in a different direction.  

Halloween is a flawed attempt to reinvigorate a series.  Sure it's much better than the previous sequels and reboots, but simply falls short, as most horror do.  Seriously, Laurie, you should have moved, rather than try to raise a child right next to the place housing the killer you rightfully fear.  Honestly, your actions in H2O make more sense than your decisions in this film.

Sorry, this closet is occupied.