Yep, I'm early with this post, and for a good reason.

I usually race to get the Weekly Update out by Friday evening, but today, I'm very early.  One reason is tentpole pictures have taken over first run theaters, including locally owned ones that show older classic and not-so-classic movies.  And I can't blame the owners, as you will make a lot more money if the new blockbuster film (or multiple ones, if you have more than a single screen) is up on the screen.

And this is why I might dream of owning/running a movie house, but never will.  I'd be bankrupt within the year.  Still, I'd be putting up some wonderful films that I like, but that wouldn't pay the bills.

 I'm so glad I scheduled The Giant Claw.  Too bad no one else in Portland is...

The other reason for being early is, well, I've taken some vacation time, enabling me to get this week's edition out before noon.  And you'll be happy I did, once you check out all the great Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Events happing across the Pacific Northwest.

For films, well, we're got a classic low-budget horror showing at midnight tonight over at the Joy Cinema in Tigard, OR, Friday Night Frights brings an 80s slasher to the Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma, WA, and MUCH MORE!

As for live events, I've included plenty those as well.  Don't forget, the Paranormal Cirque II is at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds through this Monday and the Shenaniganza Night Market at 7:30 pm tonight (Friday, June 16) in Portland, OR.  Next weekend will be busy, as the Washington State Summer Con 2023 opens in Puyallup, WA, next weekend, the Hillsboro Hops host a Star Wars themed evening of fan fun and baseball in Hillsboro, OR, and the Moda Center in Portland, OR, hosts Jurassic World Live Tour.

I do want to mention that the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar has added a few new events to 2024, including links to the Oregon Ghost Convention taking place in Seaside, OR, in March, and the films playing at the Pickford Film Center's Studio Ghibli festival in Bellingham, WA.  Of course, I've added more stuff for this year as well, and will be posted even more events as I find them.  

Well, I have other things planned for my vacation, so I'm off.  Take care, have a great week and I'll be back on Friday with more great events taking place under The Shadow Over Portland! 

If you'd like to help support the site, please visit my Ko-fi page.  Thank you!

Happening This Week 

Live Attractions 

Paranormal Cirque II stops at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds (1900 7th Ave in Longview, WA) through Monday, June 19.

The Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR) will host Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio through September 17.  If you've seen the film (and even if you haven't yet, but what are you waiting for?), you don't want to miss this exhibit into the making of a stop-motion classic.

Stranger Things: The Experience comes to a capacious warehouse at 1750 Occidental Ave S in Seattle, WA, through Sunday, August 6.  Children under 5 years of age will not be admitted due to content, and anyone under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult.  You have to expect some real scares when you enter the Upside Down.

Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA is open at the Museum of Pop Culture (located in the Seattle Center; 325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA).  The exhibit features never-before-seen artifacts from the Laika production studios, immersive set displays, character interactive and a sneak peek at the studio's next feature, Wildwood.  The exhibit will be open through Summer 2024.

 

The Museum of Pop Culture (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) has Jim Henson puppets and set pieces from the 2019 Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on display now.  You can read about the display, and the work the museum put into displaying the artifacts, at the link.

Back in Theaters

 

In conjunction with the Portland Art Museum, (and in advance of the Discovering del Toro Film Series), PAM CUT will hold multiple screenings of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio at the Whitsell Auditorium at the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR) through Sunday, June 25.  Visit the link for showtimes and more details.

The Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) is showing Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen through Thursday, June 22.

The latest film series at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthrone Blvd in Portland, OR) is Cosmatos2, featuring films by director George P. cosmos and his son Panos, including Mandy, Of Unknown Origin, Beyond the Black Rainbow (in GLORIOUS 35mm), and the almost horror film Cobra (seriously, it's got a crazy cult of killers, and the film was given an X-rating for gore before some severe trimming).  Visit the link for films and showtimes.

The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) will show the Arnold Schwarzenegger fantasy action film Last Action Hero through Monday, June 19.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show the Jim Henson musical fantasy Labyrinth through Sunday, June 18.

The Olympia Film Society's Reel Oddities series will show the Wachowskis' Speed Racer at 7 pm every Wednesday in June at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).

First Run Features  

The horror comedy The Blackening is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, June 22).

The Boogeyman is haunting at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Monday, June 19), and the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 22).

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

Time to start assembling your filmmaking friends for The 15th Annual Guignolfest: 3-Day Horror Film Contest.  For more details, visit the event's Facebook page or website.

The Northwest Flying Saucer Film Festival is accepting UFO/Alien themed short films, documentaries, animation or music videos for the festival, which takes place on September 22 at McFiler's Chehalis Theater (558 N Market Blvd in Chehalis, WA). Submissions are accepted on FilmFreeway through July 15.

June, 2023

Friday, June 16

The Shenaniganza Night Market takes place from 7:30 pm tonight to 1 am at Urbanite (1005 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR).  Expect to find music, art and shenanigans, as well as vendors and MORE. 

Friday Night Frights brings the 1981 slasher Graduation Day, starring Christopher George and Linnea Quigley, to the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Tonight's Midnight Movie at the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) is the horror classic Carnival of Souls.  The film starts at midnight. of course.

The Sense of Wonder series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents the cult classic superhero comedy Mystery Men tonight at 7:30 pm. 

VHS Uber Alles brings to The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) a film about a nutria (basically a swamp rat) injected by scientists with human hormones, resulting in a NutriaMan hunting other humans in the Louisiana bayou.  When will these scientist learn?  It plays tonight at 9:30 pm in GLORIOUS VHS.

Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) will show David Lynch's Blue Velvet tonight at 9:15 pm, and on Monday, June 19, at 7:15 pm.

Saturday, June 17

Whoa!  The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will show The Matrix tonight at 9:45 pm.

Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) will show David Lynch's Mulholland Dr. tonight at 9:15 pm, and on Wednesday, June 21, at 6:45 pm.  The film is also playing at SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) through Monday, July 3.

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will show the sci fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey through Thursday, June 22.

The Isn't She Great series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen John Waters' Desperate Living in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 2:40 pm.

Sunday, June 18

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show David Lynch's Eraserhead tonight at 9:30 pm.

David Lynch's Blue Velvet is playing at SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) in 4K through Sunday, July 2.

The Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) is showing Back to the Future today at 2 pm.

Monday, June 19

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen the director's cut of Ridley Scott's Alien tonight at 9 pm.

Tuesday, June 20

Frank Grow's Love God, featuring gore, monsters, animation and bizarre hallucinations, plays at 7:30 pm tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).

Wednesday, June 21

The Sequelopolis series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents Addams Family Values tonight at 7:30 pm.

David Lynch's version of Dune is playing at SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) through Thursday, July 6.

Church of Film brings the film the Japanese film The Black Rose, focusing on a mysterious dancer (played by Japanese drag and cabaret legend Miwa Akahiro) who drives men to madness and death, at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR). 

Fathom Events brings Mad Heidi, with the titular character fighting against an evil fascist cheese tyrant in a dystopian Switzerland, to theaters nationwide today.  Visit the link to find a theater near you.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show a 50th anniversary screening of 1973's The Wicker Man tonight at 6:45 pm, and on Monday, June 26, at 9:30 pm.

It's Planet Terror: Tequila and Grindhouse night at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:30 pm.  Hosted by Luchagore Productions, the evening features amazing new flavors from Cinco Drink Co., DJ HUBZZ letting cumbria the night away, and an appearance by Latin drag queen Kiki LaLoka.  Oh, and Robert Rodriquez's Grindhouse will be screened.  Doors open at 8:30 pm.

Thursday, June 22

Wes Anderson's sci fi romantic comedy/drama Asteroid City opens tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 29), the Salem Cinema (1227 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 29), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 29), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, June 29), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, June 29), the Living Room Theatres (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 15), and the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 29).

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show the director's cut of Ari Aster's Midsommar tonight at 9:30 pm.

Friday, June 23

The Washington State Summer Con returns to the Washington State Fair Events Center (1301 5th Ave SW in Puyallup, WA) this weekend.  Tickets are on sale now.  Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Megaforce), John Barrowman (Dr. Who, Arrow), Rose McGowan (Scream, Grindhouse, Charmed) and Holly Marie Combs (Charmed), Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate: Atlantis), and John Wesley Shipp (The Flash), Vincent D'Onofrio (Marvel's Daredevil, Men in Black, Jurassic World), Vivien Lyra Blair  (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Bird Box), Giancarlo Esposito (The Boys, The Mandalorian), Todd Stashwick (Star Trek: Picard), John De Lance (Q in the Star Trek universe) and Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis and LaVar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation), and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Emily Swallow (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett) are scheduled to attend.  Grant Gustin (The Flash TV show) is scheduled to appear Sunday only.

UPDATE: Ming-Na Wen (Streetfighter, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mulan, The Book of Boba Fett) has announced her schedule has cleared and she will be at the con this year on Saturday. 

Shannen Doherty (Charmed) has had to cancel her appearance this year.  Given her recent announcement concerning her health, The Shadow Over Portland wishes her the best.  And F*** cancer.

The Hillsboro Hops presents Star Wars Night tonight at the Ron Tonkin Field (4460 NE Century Blvd in Hillsboro, OR) coinciding with their home game against Everett.  Enjoy the game with an evening filled with your favorite characters, and a night ending Star Wars themed firework spectacular.

Jurassic World Live Tour invades the Moda Center (1 N Center Ct St in Portland, OR) through Sunday.  Tickets are going fast for this chance to see full sized dinosaurs roaming about the Moda.

In conjunction with the Portland Art Museum's Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio, PAMCUT presents the Discovering del Toro Film Series, featuring multiple screenings of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (which starts playing on Saturday, June 10) as well as screenings of The Devil's Backbone, Blade II, Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water (all four presented in GLORIOUS 35mm), and Hellboy through Sunday, June 25.  The series takes place at the PAM Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR). 

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will show the dark horror/fantasy Moon Garden, with some screenings in GLORIOUS 35mm, through Monday, July 3.

Mad Heidi, which features the titular character fighting against an evil fascist cheese tyrant in a dystopian Switzerland, is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11:15 pm.

The After Hours series at Kenworthy Preforming Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) presents Pink Flamingos tonight at 10 pm.

The live action/animated classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit plays tonight and tomorrow at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).

CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will show the complete Lord of the Rings trilogy, but original and extended versions, though Wednesday, June 28.  Visit the link for showtimes.

The Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA) is planing to scare you out of the water with screenings of Jaws through Thursday, June 29.

Guillermo del Toro will appear at the Portland Art Museum's Grand Ballroom (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR) today from 3 to 4 pm for a a discussion of his works.  The event is SOLD OUT, but maybe he'll be around the museum that day.  Never know.

Saturday, June 24

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will show the director's cut of Ari Aster's Midsommar through Tuesday, June 27.

David Lynch's Inland Empire is playing at SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) through Tuesday, July 4.

Sunday, June 25

The Rocket Sci-Fi Matinee series at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) presents The Space Children today at 1:45 pm.

Tuesday, June 27

The Grindhouse Film Festival at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Lucio Fulci's horror classic Gates of Hell (AKA City of the Living Dead) in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Moscow Film Society invites you to relive a childhood trauma with a double feature of Watership Down and The Plague Dogs at Kenworthy Preforming Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) tonight starting at 7 pm.