Welcome to December, and the Pineapple Express coming this weekend!

Yeah, things are about to get windy and wet in the Pacific Northwest, as another atmospheric river is coming our way.  This one is considered a Pineapple Express, a non-technical term for a strong and persistent flow of warm moist air and heavy precipitation.  Sure, it might be warmer than usual, but things are going to be very windy and wet.  Here in Portland, we're already getting warnings about potential power outages caused by downed trees and limbs, and possible flooding, so it could get wild out there.

What a messed up way to start the month!

If you decide you don't want to stay home over the weekend, this edition of the Weekly Update has plenty of great movies and live events for you to check out.  But, if the weather is as bad as some are predicting, you might want to visit the links below to make sure the event you're heading to isn't experiencing a power outage.  That's why I include them.

I still have a few events to add to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, but I've already got lots of great ways for you to spend the rest of the year, and details on upcoming cons and other events in 2024.  I'll be adding more, so keep checking back.

That's all I have for this week.  Be safe, stay as dry as you can, and I'll be back next Friday with more great things happening under The Shadow Over Portland! 

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

Kate Hamill's adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really, will be at the U.S. Bank Main Stage at the Portland Center Stage at the Armory (128 NW 11th Ave in Portland, OR) through Sunday, December 24.  Sounds like a great way to spend Christmas Eve!  The show is in previews from Sunday, November 26 to Thursday, November 30, with the opening on Friday, December 1.  

Alberta Abbey (126 NE Alberta St in Portland, OR) presents The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody through Saturday, December 9.  This is an 18 and older event. 

Jurassic Quest continues stomping across the Pacific Northwest this month, stopping at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center (3800 SW Airport Wy in Redmond, WA) from Friday, December 1, to Sunday, December 3, then at the Ford Idaho Sports Center (16200 N Idaho Center Blvd in Nampa, ID) from Friday, December 8 through Sunday, December 10, with a final stop at the Washington State Fairgrounds (100 9th Ave SW in Puyallup, WA) from Friday, December 15, to Sunday, December 17.

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

The classic fantasy The Princess Bride is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Monday, November 27).

It's A Very CineMagic Christmas II at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthrone Blvd in Portland, OR), with Joe Dante's holiday horror classic Gremlins, and action classic Die Hard, being screened through Thursday, November 30.  Click on the link for days and showtimes.

The Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) is showing World War Z tonight, Sunday and Wednesday, November 24, 26 and 29.

Ridley Scott's sci fi/noir film Blade Runner is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, November 29).  I think the theater is showing the Final Cut.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is playing at McMenamin's Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, November 30).

The Olympia Film Society Kids Club presents Jim Henson's dark fantasy Labyrinth at 1 pm every Sunday this month at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).  Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE.

First Run Features  

Godzilla Minus One is playing at  Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7),  the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), the Yelm Cinema (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthrone Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 14), McMenamins Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, November 6), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), and the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, December 10).

Here's one that was off my radar.  And now I see why.  The Shift, a take on the biblical story of Job (only this time, the character is hopping about various alternate worlds trying to get back to the woman he loves), is playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), and the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7).  Yeah, it's a religious sci fi movie, from the studio that gave us Sound of Freedom.  Nothing wrong with that, just figured you should know

John Woo's action Christmas film Silent Night is playing at the Yelm Cinema (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 7).

The dark comedy fantasy Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), and Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), the Lauralhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, December 6), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 7), and the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7).

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

The BoneBat Comedy of Horrors Film Fest 2024, taking place on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) is now accepting submissions through Friday, March 1.  Visit the link for details.

Kickstarter Campaigns

The BoneBat Comedy of Horrors Film Fest 2024 has started a Kickstarter campaign for the 2024 festival.  As of November 24, you have 20 days to help back the festival.  Visit this link for details.

December, 2023

Friday, December 1

GuignolFest brings The Richard Elfman Fantasy Insanity Night! to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight starting at 5 pm.  Richard and Anastasia Elfman will be in attendance, performing a live music and burlesque show.  The show includes screenings of the director's cut of the cult film Forbidden Zone, as well as Aliens, Clowns and Geeks, and the new horror comedy Bloody Bridget.  That's one full night of fun and gore!

Raging Grace, a horror film about struggles of an undocumented Filipino immigrant struggling to support her daughter, is playing at The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, December 6).

The Mondo Trasho series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the horror comedy Santa's Slay, featuring wrestler Goldberg as the murderous old elf, tonight at 7:30 pm.  You can read my review of the film here.

Gareth Edwards' sci fi film The Creator is playing at McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 7).

Joe Dante's horror holiday classic, Gremlins, is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) tonight, Sunday and Wednesday, December 1, 3 and 6, and at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, December 6.  The Monday, December 4 screening at 9:30 pm is in Hecklevision).

Tim Burton's holiday fantasy Edward Scissorhands is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, December 6).

The 1990 live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be shown in GLORIOUS 35mm at The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, December 3).

The Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA) will show Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone tonight at 8 pm.

Saturday, December 2

Brooklyn-based Charming Disaster joins Strange and the Familiars and Jet Black Pearl for a night of mystic, magical music at Mississippi Pizza (3552 N Mississippi Ave in Portland, OR) tonight at 8 pm.  Doors open at 7 pm.

Black Lodge Burlesque: A Night of Cabaret Inspired by David Lynch takes to the stage at 9 pm tonight at the Star Theater (13 NW 6th Ave in Portland, OR).  Doors open at 8 pm.

Photos with Portland's Krampus VIP Experience in Sellwood take place from 10 am to 6 pm today at Shwop (7126 SE Milwaukie Ave in Portland, OR).  Reservations are required, so visit the link and book your appointment with the Christmas demon.

David Cronenberg's Rabid, starring adult film start Marilyn Chambers as patient zero in a vampire plague that takes over Montreal, is playing at 9:30 pm tonight at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA).

The Star Wars Holiday Special is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will show the holiday fantasy classic It's a Wonderful Life today at 1:30 pm, and tomorrow morning at 10 am.

Sunday, December 3

The Krampus Bazaar takes place from noon to 6 pm today at The Church Cantina (5240 S Tacoma Way in Tacoma, WA).  Get your photo taken with Krampus, do some dark holiday shopping and even watch the Santa parade as it happens outside the cantina, and MORE!  Visit the link for details.

Market for the Strange: Krampus Night takes place from 11 am to 6 pm today at the Salem Convention Center (200 Commercial St SE in Salem, OR).  Time to get your holiday shopping done for the Strange ones in your life, and maybe something for yourself!

SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA) will show a new restoration from the original 35mm negative of the holiday horror classic Silent Night, Deadly Night today at 2 pm.

50 Years of SIFF brings Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock to SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) today at 4:30 pm.

S.I.N. Sunday at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the film that basically killed Michael Powell's career, the now considered a classic Peeping Tom tonight at 7 pm.  Present your OLCC or food handlers' card at the box office for $5 admission. 

The fantasy classic The Princess Bride is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) today at 3:45 pm.

Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR) will show Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Quote-Along today at 1 pm, and on Wednesday, December 6, at 7 pm.

The film is also playing today and Wednesday, December 6, at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR), and the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID).

Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*r!  The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) is hosting Draw Hard starting at 5:30 pm, where cartoonist Jack Kent kicks off the evening with a group drawing session of scenes from the holiday action classic.  Then settle in as John McClane takes on the terrorists in Nakatomi Plaza, with a screening of the classic film starting at 6 pm.

Monday, December 3

The Rio Grind Film Festival's Short Film Block will play at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 6 pm.  Shorts from Vancouver and beyond will be screened, with $500 cash prizes for the Best Canadian and Best International short.

Suitable Flesh, the feature adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's The Thing at the Doorstep, returns to the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:30 pm.  

Tuesday, December 5

The CMNYK Science Fiction Extravaganza brings Dick Tracy meets Gruesome, starring Boris Karloff (wonder who he's playing), to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR).  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm, show starts at 7 pm.

Raging Grace, a horror film about struggles of an undocumented Filipino immigrant struggling to support her daughter, is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:15 pm.

Wednesday, December 6

Church of Film brings The Golden Fern, Jiri Weiss' adaptation of Czech fairy tale author Jan Drda's story, to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Thursday, December 7

Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) will show both a dubbed and subtitled version of Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, scheduled through Wednesday, December 13 (subtitled version) and Thursday, December 14 (dubbed version).  SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA) will show both versions through Thursday, December 14 (dubbed version on the 1 pm showing on Saturday and Sunday only), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Sunday, December 10) will show both versions, and the Hollywood Theater (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is showing the dubbed version through Thursday, December 21, and the subtitled version through Wednesday, December 20, as well as the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 14).  The dubbed version is playing at the Yelm Cinema (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 14), and  both versions are playing at the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, December 10).

The dubbed and subtitled versions will open on Friday, December 8, at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthrone Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 21), and the film opens tonight at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled through Thursday, December 21).

Wow, this is getting messy.  Please check the links to find out what version is playing at the theater near you.

Eddie Alcazar's post-apocalyptic sci fi satire Divinity (which was shot on black and white 16mm) will be shown in GLORIOUS 35mm at The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) tonight at 7:30 pm. 

The holiday fantasy It's a Wonderful Life is playing at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 7 pm.  The theater is accepting donations of unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.

Friday, December 8

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will screen the George Romero classic Dawn of the Dead tonight and tomorrow night at 10 pm.

Godzilla Minus One is playing at the North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd N in North Bend, WA) tonight and tomorrow.

Mary Harron's American Psycho, starring Christian Bale, is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11 pm.

The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) will screen Room 237, the documentary exploring various theories about hidden meanings in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, tonight at 6 pm.  Separate admission required.

But stick around, as the PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) will screen Stanley Kubrick's The Shining Backwards and Forwards.  Yep, you can watch the film backwards and forwards at the same time, accompanied by a live score from Corey J Brewer.  I'd suggest being careful what you ingesting during this screening.

The holiday slasher It's a Wonderful Knife is playing at The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, December 13).

The holiday fantasy It's a Wonderful Life is playing at The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 28).

Joe Dante's holiday horror classic Gremlins is playing at McMenamins St Johns (8203 N Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, December 13). 

The Muppet Christmas Carol is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, December 13).

The Cassandra Cat, about a feline able to change the color of a person as it reveals their hidden character, is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 7 pm, and at 2 pm on Sunday, December 10.

The Olympia Film Society brings The Running Man to the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) today at 4 pm, on Sunday, December 10, at 7 pm, and Thursday, December 14, at 7 pm.

Saturday, December 9

Lady Raven Productions presents the 10th annual Vespertine Winter Ball from 9 pm to 2 am tonight at the Portland Art Museum Kridel Grand Ballroom (1119 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR).  This is a 21 and older event, and a formal dress code is enforced.  Think a formal attire, white winter, woodland-creature, Gothic gala, and check out the photo gallery for a sense of the dress code and costume ideas.

The Muppet Christmas Carol is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at noon.

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will screen Neil Breen's sci fi thriller Cade: The Tortured Crossing tonight at 9:15 pm, with a final showing on Saturday, December 30, at 9:15 pm.

Andy Milligan's Seeds, about a caustic family reunion that brings out the murderous rage in someone, is playing at 9:30 pm tonight at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA).

The Family Pictures series at the Hollywood Theater (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen The Muppet Christmas Carol today and tomorrow at 2:30 pm.

Sunday, December 10

The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR), along with The Numberz, will screen horror writer/director Sommer-Breeze Martin's short film Swipe Left, followed by a Q and A, then a screening of Bomani J. Story's The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster.  Doors open at 5 pm with a live DJ set, with the short starting at 5:30 pm.