April showers are bringing great things to Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans!

Well, as March went out like a kiaju, April showers are bringing even more great events into the Pacific Northwest.  Just take a look at this edition of the Weekly Update, and I suspect you'll find some great things happening near you.

Oh, and if you think I forgot it was Easter weekend, here's something to make you think twice about hunting for colored eggs in the dark corners of your house, the attic, and the basement.  Just a warning. 

I've got the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar up to date, so you can start planning your year around all the great upcoming events.  Just remember, I'll be adding more cons, festivals and movies as I find them, so keep your schedule flexible.

That's all I have for now.  Have a great holiday weekend (however you choose to celebrate it), stay safe, and I'll be back next week with another update from The Shadow Over Portland!

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

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.

Back in Theaters

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The OMSI Sci-Fi Film Festival opens today in the OMSI Empirical Theater (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) and runs through (checks the site) holy Cthulhu, Thursday, May 23!  Nope, not listing everything, but I will say the selections are pretty strong.  '78's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, three films from John Carpenter, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, '53's The War of the Worlds,  and the festival ends with a screening of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga!  All on the Empirical Theater's four-story screen!!  Visit the link for all the details.

Staff Picks Spring 2024 at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) include Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula (playing on Friday, March 29, and Thursday, April 4) and the zombie flick Wild Zero (playing on Friday, March 29, and Tuesday, April 2).

Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, is playing at McMenamin Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), and the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, March 31).  Please check the link to find out when the dubbed or subtitled version is playing.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show the dubbed version on Sunday, March 31.

The Sprocket Society brings back The Saturday Secret Matinee to The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) running through Saturday, March 30.  Every show starts with an episode of the serial Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, followed by a secret classic feature, all in GLORIOUS 16mm.  And yes, you can purchase a series pass.  Check the link for hints of the features to be shown.

The Olympia Film Society Kids Club is showing Jim Henson/Frank Oz feature The Dark Crystal at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) on Sunday, March 31 at 1 pm.  Kids under 12 are admitted FREE. 

First Run Features  

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is playing at SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the Columbia Theatre-Saint Helens (212 S 1st St in Saint Helens, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), the North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd N in North Bend, OR; scheduled through Sunday, April 7), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), and the Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4). 

The found footage horror film Late Night with The Devil is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, April 2), the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Monday, April 8), and the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4).

The psychological horror film Immaculate opens tonight at the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), and the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4).

Okay, this sounds too weird not to include on the site.  Mike Chelsik and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews (Lake Michigan Monster) latest film, Hundreds of Beavers, about a drunken applejack salesman becoming a hero during a supernatural winter by trapping hundreds of beavers (take a look at the poster and imagine the Looney Tunes possibilities), is playing at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4), and the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 4).  The film will also play on Sunday, March 31, at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) at 2 pm.

The film will be shown on Thursday, March 28, at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; the 7:45 pm showing is SOLD OUT).

March Monster Madness Festival

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with the found footage monster movie Cloverfield on Friday, March 29.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with the South Korean monster movie The Host on Saturday, March 30.

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

I'm a little late on this one, but you have until April 2 to submit your horror short of feature to the Portland Horror Film Festival, taking place Wednesday, June 5, to Sunday, June 9, at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) and the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).  Visit this link to learn how to submit your film.

The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon is accepting submissions for the 2024 festival in Portland, OR.  Visit the link above for all the details, as there are multiple deadlines (the final one is on August 1 for limited films).

The 16th Annual Guignolfest 72 Hour Horror Film Contest is taking applications for 2024 now.  You can also watch the trailer on YouTube.

The Northwest Flying Saucer Film Festival returns to McFiler's Chehalis Theater (558 N Market Blvd in Chehalis, WA) this September, and will begin accepting submissions of UFO themed shorts, documentaries, animations or music videos from Northwest filmmakers on January 1.  Deadline is August 18, 2024.

March, 2024

Friday, March 29

Funhouse Lounge (2432 SE 11th Ave in Portland, OR) presents Burwesque! A Wisque Cewebwation of The Pwincess Bwide (I think that drove my Spellchecker insane) tonight and tomorrow at 10 pm, and on Sunday, March 31, at 7 pm.

Cross-Faded Cinema with DJ Nicfit invites you to become "One of us!  One of us!" at 7 pm tonight at the Here-After (2005 1st Ave in Seattle, WA; enter through the alley).  Doors open at 6 pm.  This is a 21 and older show.

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) brings Dario Argento's masterpiece Suspiria to the big screen tonight and tomorrow at 10 pm.

Brian De Palma's sci fi film Mission to Mars is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR).

Saturday, March 30

DC in Concert brings 1989's Batman  to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (1037 SW Broadway in Portland, OR) with a live symphony performing the score, tonight at 8 pm.

The A24 horror film Bodies Bodies Bodies is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SW Clinton St in Portland, OR).

John Carpenter's sci fi/horror film The Thing is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR).

Sunday, March 31

The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) will show Ari Aster's Midsommar tonight at 7 pm.  Doors open at 6:30 pm, and you can make a flower crown before the movie starts.

April, 2024

Monday, April 1

The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) is showing My Neighbor Totoro through Wednesday, April 3.

Church of Film presents the first animated film from Hungary, Marcell Jankovics' Johnny Corncob at 8 pm tonight at the Dream House (412 NE Beech St in Portland, OR).  Admission is FREE.

Tuesday, April 2

The Rankin/Bass animated fantasy The Last Unicorn is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).

The CMNYK Science Fiction Extravaganza bring Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm.

Hundreds of Beavers continues to invade the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:20 pm.

Wednesday, April 3

Manual Cinema brings a new version of Frankenstein to life, using shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques and live music to deliver a haunting show at the Moore Theatre (1932 2nd Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Olympia Film Society series Reel Oddities Hungarian animator Marcell Jankovic's Son of the White Mare, described on the site as a "swirling, color-mad maelstrom of mythic monsters and Scythian heroes," at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) at 7 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 10, 17, and 24.

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing The NeverEnding Story tonight at 7 pm.  Get ready to relive some childhood traumatic moments!

Thursday, April 4

The prequel The First Omen opens tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, April 10) in GLORIOUS 35mm.  The film is also playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11).

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing Christopher Nolan's sci fi epic Interstellar tonight at 7 pm.

Friday, April 5

Friday Night Frights brings the ghost with the most, Beetlejuice, to the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm, with a live shadow cast.  The theater and Friday Night Frights are NOT responsible for any consequences should you say his name three times during the show.

VHS Night at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) brings the sci fi/fantasy/adventure Trancers, starring Tim Thomerson, to the big screen in GLORIOUS VHS tonight at 10 pm.  VHS trailers start at 9:30 pm.

Trek Nights at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) brings Star Trek: First Contact back to the big screen tonight at 7:30 pm.  Just in time for First Contact Day!

Nikos Nikoladis' grotesque, sensual and notorious cult classic Singapore Sling is playing at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, April 7).  Check out the description at the cinema's website (or better yet, the Wikipedia page on the film) to see what you're getting into.

Riddle of Fire, writer/director Weston Razooli's shot on Kodak 16mm fantasy involving three children encountering poachers, a witch, a huntsman and a fairy, is playing at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, April 16).  The opening weekend showings will be projected in GLORIOUS 35mm, all others showings will be projected digitally.

The classic zombie rom/com Shaun of the Dead is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11).

Hundreds of Beavers opens tonight at SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Friday, April 12.  Please visit the link for showtimes, as it's not continuously playing).

The Quote Along Edition of Monty Python and the Holy Grail is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, April 10).

Saturday, April 6

The 2024 International Mermaid Museum Festival opens today, and runs through Sunday, April 14, at the International Mermaid Museum (1 S Arbor Rd in Aberdeen, WA).  Olive the Alchemist, founder of the Seattle Mermaid School, will preside on the mermaid throne, while the Northwest's Una the Mermaid will perform in her tank.  I'll post more details as they become available.

UPDATE: The PNW Unicorns Sky and Blue, and their handler Crystal, will be in attendance.

The Gem City Comic Con takes place today and tomorrow at Expo Idaho (5610 N Glenwood St in Boise, ID).  Guests include Sean Austin (The Goonies, the Lord of the Rings trilogy), Colin Baker (Dr. Who), Gigi Edgily (Farscape) and more.  Visit the link for more details.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen a restoration of Mario Bava's classic 1964 Giallo Blood and Black Lace tonight and tomorrow at 9:30 pm.

The animated/live action comedy/fantasy/film noir mashup Who Framed Roger Rabbit is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).

Sunday, April 7

Creepy Critters April 2024 takes place at 7:30 pm tonight at the Escape Bar and Grill (9004 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  This alternative/horror drag event is for those 21 and older.  There's no cover for the show, but donations are accepted.

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is playing at 3 pm (with English subtitles) and 7 pm at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).

The OFS Kids Club is screening E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) at 1 pm, on Sunday, April 7, 14, and 21.  Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE.