The horror of Daylight Savings Time is back upon us!

If you've followed this blog for any time, you know I'm not a fan of Daylight Savings Time.  I don't enjoy losing an hour's sleep, I don't like feeling groggy while my body readjusts, and I like my evenings dark and spooky.

While I must admit, I don't think I'll have as difficult a time adjusting this year (as I no longer start work at 6:30 am), I still wish the state and/or Federal government would get off their butts and make it so this accursed time change no longer happens.  It's not like most people would be happy never having to go through another Daylight Savings Time.  But something with bipartisan support just won't be brought to a vote, while other legislation doomed to fail gets to the floor in a continuing game of political gotcha.

Meanwhile, the clocks keep laughing at us.

Okay, enough of that rant.  Despite the time a'changing, that doesn't mean you won't find some great events in this edition of the Weekly Update.  Along with a batch of great movies, you'll find a couple of live stage events (in Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC), an exhibit on Laika films in Seattle, WA, and a realistic dinosaur exhibit in Salem, OR.  And a a few different Leprechaun films playing next Thursday and Friday.

As always, if you want to see what's coming in the rest of 2023 and beyond, head over the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar for a peek at all the great events happening in the Pacific Northwest.  Remember, I add to it every few days, so keep checking back.  And, if you are planning/hosting an event, you can let me know by Messaging me on Facebook, or emailing me at shadowoverportland@live.com.  

Well, I hear the day job calling me, so I'd better wrap things up.  Stay safe and I'll be back next week with more great things happening under The Shadow Over Portland.

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

Happening This Week 

Live Attractions 

 

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.

 

 

The Marvel Universe of Super Heroes makes a stop at OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) through April 9, 2023.  Marvel (see what I did there) at the hundred of artifacts, from original comic book pages, interactive displays, life-size statues of Marvel heroes, costumes and props from films and TV programs, and MUCH MORE.  Excelsior! 

Back in Theaters

The second in Christopher Nolen's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight, is playing at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).

The sci fi/action classic The Matrix is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).

The sci fi comedy classic Back to the Future is showing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 15).

The Japanese horror classic Ringu (The Ring) is showing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, March 14).

Hail to the King, baby!  Okay, it's from a different movie, but it fits the Reel Oddities screening of Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-Tep, starring Bruce Campbell as Elvis in a Texas nursing home battling a soul sucking Egyptian mummy.  The film also includes Ossie Davis as a "dyed" JFK, Reggie Bannister as a health care worker, and is a terrific commentary on growing old in the US.  This movie is AMAZING, and shouldn't be missed on the big screen.  It's showing at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) on Wednesday, March 15 and 22 at 7 pm.  Damn, Campbell should have been given an Oscar nomination for his performance.  DON'T MISS IT! 

David Cronenberg's psychological drama/kind-of body horror film Crash is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 15).  

UPDATE: The screenings on March 8 and 10 are SOLD OUT.

The Studio Ghibli Film Festival opens on Friday, March 3, at the OMSI Empirical Theater (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR).  The festival runs through Sunday, April 2, and features subtitled and dubbed versions of some GREAT films.  With over 30 days of films, I'm not listing them all.  I've got enough gray hairs.  Just visit the link for the schedule and to buy tickets.

Travel the multiverse again as Everything Everywhere All at Once is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Monday, March 13), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), and the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).  And the film will have a one night Oscar screening at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) on Sunday, March 12, at 9 pm for just $5 Canadian.

M3GAN dances down the aisles of the Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).  You can read my review of the film here.

First Run Features  

Described as a low-key buddy film with a supernatural twist, The Civil Dead opens tonight at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 15).  A live virtual Q and A with director/co-writer/co-star Clay Tatum and co-writer/co-star Whitmer Thomas will follow the Friday premiere.

Unicorn Wars, described as a Spanish-French adult animated fantasy/drama/horror, anti-war feature, has a Portland exclusive release at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).  Oh, did I mention the plot revolves around the war between religiously bigoted teddy bears and environmentalist unicorns?  This sounds AWESOME!

Oh Cthulhu, there's another one?  How many idiot have to try and top the previous Ghostface?  It's not like it worked well for the other posers. Oh, it's different because its Ghostface takes Manhattan.  Scream VI opens tonight at the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, March 16), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 15), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, March 12), Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16) and the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).

If you haven't seen the trailer online, yes, this is a real movie and it looks INSANE IN THE BEST WAYS!  Cocaine Bear is playing at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16),  the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16),  Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 15), SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), and the following McMenamins locations: Olympic Club (112 N Tower Ave in Central, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16) and Power Station (2126 SW Halsey St in Troutdale, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).

You can read my review of the movie here.

  

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

The Portland Horror Film Festival is accepting submissions of short and feature length, independently produced horror films through March 28.  Visit the link for more details.

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.

The Crypticon Seattle Film Festival is now open for submissions.  The Late Deadline is April 4, 2023.  Visit the link for all the details.

March, 2023

Saturday, March 11

The Sprocket Society presents Saturday Secret Matinees 2023 every Saturday through March 25 at 1 pm, in GLORIOUS 16mm, at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  Each Saturday starts with a new episode from the classic serial King of the Rocket Men, followed by a secret film.  The clue for this week's film is Espionage! 

Called the first Swissploitation film, Mad Heidi, which sees the titular character becoming a kick-ass hero out to liberate her country for cheese fascists (yep, that right; cheese fascists) opens at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Saturday, March 11).  Be aware, the film is subtitled.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On returns to the big screen at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) and the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) today and tomorrow.

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will screen Frank Henenlotter's debut feature film Basket Case tonight at 10 pm.

The Signature Edition of The Iron Giant (featuring two all-new scenes) will be at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 12:30 pm. 

Sunday, March 12

Cult of! Star Trek vs Star Wars - A Drag and Burlesque Show takes place at 8 pm tonight at Mississippi Pizza/Atlantis Lounge (3552 N. Mississippi Ave in Portland, OR).  Will it solve the debate as to which franchise is the best?  Probably not, but it will be FUN!

Tonight at the Red Fox (5128 N Albina Ave in Portland, OR), Church of Film will show the Gothic black comedy I Like Bats in an outdoor, covered and heated area.  The show starts at 8 pm (another victim of Daylight Savings Time!).

The 2020 restoration of the animated sci fi classic Akira is at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 11:30 am.

Monday, March 13

Brandon Cronenberg's latest film, Infinity Pool (starring Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård), is playing at 9:30 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).

Wednesday, March 15

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) hosts Dark Horse: Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind tonight at 7:30 pm.  The event features a screening of Steven Spielberg's sci fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, followed by a discussion of the new comic series Blue Book, with creators James Tyrion IV (Something is Killing the Children, Department of Truth)  and Michael Avon Oeming (Powers, Murder Inc.).  A special edition of Blue Book #2 will be exclusively available at the event.  You can pre-order a copy with your ticket purchase, and a limited number of copies will be available to purchase at the event. 

The 2020 restoration of the animated sci fi classic Akira is at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:30 pm.

Thursday, March 16

Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) celebrates St. Patrick's Day early with a screening of 2018's Leprechaun Returns in Hecklevision.

Friday, March 17

 

The Geekenders raise the curtain on The Muppet Burlesque Show at 8 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).  Doors open at 7 pm, but it's suggest you buy advance tickets.

Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA opens today 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.

Jurassic Quest, the largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibit, roars into the Pacific Northwest at the Oregon State Fair and Expoision Center (2330 17the St NE in Salem, OR) through Sunday, March 19.  Follow the event on Facebook for the latest details.

You'll find out who made when Friday Night Frights brings the craptastic Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive to the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Wyrd War celebrates St. Patrick's Day at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with a screening of the crap-tastic Leprechaun 4: In Space, with director Brian Trenchard-Smith in attendance.  Oh, there's also a treasure hunt that starts at 7:30 pm, with the film starting at 8 pm.  Brian Trenchard-Smith will be signing his book Adventures in the B-Movie Trade before the film, and will be present after the film for a discussion about his career with Wyrd War's Dennis Dread.

More St. Patrick's Day shenanigans take place at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) with a screening of the original Leprechaun, with Warwick Davis and Jennifer Aniston, tonight at 11:30 pm.

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will bring the animated sci fi classic Ghost in the Shell back to the big screen tonight and tomorrow night at 10 pm.

 

The 7th St Theatre (313 7th St in Hoquiam, WA) will show Monty Python and The Holy Grail tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 pm. 

CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the "first" trilogy in the Star Wars series, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith, through Wednesday, March 22.

Saturday, March 18

The Sprocket Society presents Saturday Secret Matinees 2023 every Saturday through March 25 at 1 pm, in GLORIOUS 16mm,at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  Each Saturday starts with a new episode from the classic serial King of the Rocket Men, followed by a secret film.  The clue for today and next week's film is Space Epics in Cinemascope.  

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will screen Frank Henenlotter's horror/comedy take on drug abuse, Brain Damage, tonight at 9 pm.

The classic 1990 monster movie Tremors, starring Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward, will be at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm, and tomorrow night at 9:30 pm.

Okay, I have to include this one, as the plot sounds so WEIRD.  Tonight at 9:30 pm, The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will screen Hamburger Dad, about a father who wakes up on day as a hamburger.  Shot in Seattle 20 years ago, the screening will be introduced by Scott Miller of Strange Tapes Zine, and include a Q and A with directors Kevin Clarke and Wil Long, and star Christopher Miller after the film.

Invaders from Mars (1953)

I have a long, complicated history with this film.  It's the movie that turned me into the genre fan I am, but also one I refused to watch again for decades.  Allow me to explain.

I was three when, for some reason I don't understand (given my mother's concerns about radiation coming out of early television sets), I was sat down in front of my grandmother's console black and white TV, to be babysat while the two talked.  Yeah, I'm that old, and I'm not sure, but it might have had a turntable as well.

Yeah, this is what I remember.

So, I'm not going to lie, the movie scared the living hell out of three year old me.  And, for some reason, I was hooked.  Even though I had nightmares for weeks, much to the dismay of my parents, I kept trying to seek out such spooky offerings.  

My mother tried to steer me away from such films, but her efforts failed.  As a pre-teen, I kept switching the channel during commercials on sporting events to catch a glimpse of a creature feature on a different station.  This lead to my mother allowing me to have a small black and white TV in my bedroom, so I could watch my movies while the rest of my family was watching something like Wide World of Sports.  While it kept the peace in the living room, my mom still kept strict control over how often I could spend the afternoon in my room watching my TV.  Not a problem, as Portland, OR, didn't offer much genre films back in the 70s and 80s, but at least I got to watch films like Creature from the Black Lagoon without switching back to some sports show.

And I stand by my choice.  Why watch sports when you could watch THIS?

But I never sought out Invaders from Mars, even as the film became available on VHS.  Because I was afraid re-watching it would ruin the memory I carried of being scared witless.  And it was thanks to my library card.

I check out countless horror./sci fi books that I'd never be able to find in local bookstores at the time, and read about the movie.  How it's slow, how you can see the zippers on the monster suits, how it's a grade-Z film.  And I believed them.  In fact, I thought the color photos in the books were publicity stills, as I was convinced the film was shot in black and white, as that's how I saw it years ago.  And I was wrong.

I didn't want to see the film that made me a horror/sci fi/fantasy fan, as I worried re-watching it might ruin the person I became as a teen.  It wasn't until the early 2010's, when I found it on a streaming site (I'm not sure if it was legal or not), and checked it out.  And yes, the reviews I read were correct about some points.  The film does drags in the final act, with too stock footage of the military mobilizing to take out the Martians are inserted into the film (more on that), and yes, I could see the zippers in the suits

And let's be honest, even without the zippers, the Martians are kind of goofy looking.

But I also understand why the movie terrified me at such a young age.  It's a well designed movie, showing the Martian invasion through the eyes of a young boy who witnesses a UFO landing in a sand pit behind his home, and suddenly, everyone around him is changing.  And despite his pleas, no one believes him.

And that's why the film worked on me at such a young age.  Director William Cameron Menzies shot the film from David's (Jimmy Hunt) point of view.  His loving parents become cold and abusive, and as he tries to convince the local authorities, Menzies films them at low angles, so they tower over David while dismissing his concerns.  We know they've been taken over by the Martians, but no one believes him, except for Dr. Pat Blake (Helena Carter, in her final film role, which is too bad; she's really good in the role), who takes him to astronomer Dr. Stuart Kelston (Arthur Franz, Monster on the Campus, Abbott and Costello meet the Invisible Man), who alerts the military the invasion is happening.

And while they believe David, it's up to him to foil the invasion and save his parents.  Or does he?  I'm not spoiling the ending of a 70 year old film, but it falls into a cliche that's been overused since the film came out.  

To be honest, the film isn't scary to an adult.  But put your mindset into your inner five year old, and it's terrifying. You know an invasion is happening, but you're just a kid.  No one will believe you, and the authority figures are already under the control of the Martians.  It's a nightmare waiting to happen, and you  can't convince any adults to entertain your "fantasy" of an alien invasion.  No one believes you, even as your parents come to claim you from jail, and it's obvious they're controlled by the invaders.  It's some scary stuff, and Menzies' shots emphasize's David's distress to a harrowing point.

And the Martian leader is straight up nightmare fuel for a young kid.

So, after avoiding the film for so long, I fell in love with it once again. And I'm so glad Ignite Films has delivered a beautiful 4K remastering.  Before now, it's been hard to find, with a region free DVD release the only way to see the film, unless you find it on some streaming service, both of which were a bit sketchy and the quality of the transfer was always lacking.  

But this remaster looks AWESOME, as the colors pop out and the picture is crystal clear.  And even wirth the addition of the military muscle being added (apparently Menzies wasn't available for reshoots after the distributors found the film short of feature length, so the stock footage was plugged in to pad out the running time), the film is still able to strike a cord.  And, to be honest, the stock footage doesn't feel as long as the streaming version I saw.  I suspect the length of the military being mobilized might have been added to, in order to extend the running time even further and allow it to be shown on TV.  

And it's hard not to see how the film hits all the notes of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, released three years later.  Don Siegel made a classic film, but Menzies beat him to it with this one.

Yeah, the old dark woods hiding the Martians never looked better.

I think, even early on, this is the best re-issue of the year.  The extras are entertaining, including an interview with star Jimmy Hunt and a comparison with the between the original negative and the 4K restoration.  If you're an old school monster movie fan, you need to add this to your collection.  And if you've never seen it, you should check it out.  It's the reason we all love such films.  It's scary, says something about the time it was made. and reinforces why genre films can be such a perfect refection of the times they were made. and how they can continue to influence us to this day.  It was remade in 1986 by horror legend Tobe Hooper, and has been homaged in numerous other films.  It's perfect nightmare fuel for monster kids of all ages, and this remastered version shows why it should be higher on horror/sci fi fans lists of the best 50s films made.

Even Luigi Cozzi remembers this film.  If he's a fan, you should be too!