Happy May the Fourth (Be With You)!

I planned to have this out much earlier, but the day job pulled a fast one on me and it just didn't happen.  No matter, as it's much cooler to be posting closer to May the Fourth.  

And may the Fourth... uh, Force be with you!

Okay, maybe I'm trying to justifying being late with the Weekly Update, but that was not the update you were looking for.  Being a little late allowed me to add a few more events to this post, and none happened on Friday.  So I'm calling it a win, as you're getting more up-to-date details.

I also added a few more events to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, so check it out.  Remember, I keep adding to the calendar every few days, so keep checking back if you want to plan out the rest of the year.

Anyway, have to be at the day job in about 8 hours, so time to sign off.  Stay safe, have a great week, and I'll be back next Friday (hopefully earlier) with more great events happening under The Shadow Over Portland!

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

Crypticon Seattle takes place this weekend at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in Seattle, WA).  Director Joe Dante (The Howling, Piranha, Gremlins, Billy Zane (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, The Phantom, Dead Calm), Stephen McHattie (Pontypool, Orphan Black, The Strain), Robert Brian Wilson  (Silent Night, Deadly Night), Bonnie Aarons (The Nun), Ken Force ('78 Dawn of the Dead), Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator, From Beyond), Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, Suitable Flesh), Heather Matarazzo (Scream 3, Scream 5, Hostel Part II), Zach Galligan (the Gremlins and Waxworks series), and Quinn Lord (Sam in Trick 'r Treat), William Butler (many credits, including appearances in the Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Nightmare on Elm Street series), and Julie Brown (Earth Girls Are Easy), are scheduled to appear.   You can get updated details by following the con's Facebook page.

UPDATE: 

Local horror filmmaker Joe Sherlock's A Knife in the Dark will be screened Saturday at Midnight.  View the teaser on Vimeo.

Saw the Musical, an unauthorized parody of the film, is coming from New York to the Alberta Abbey (126 NE Alberta St in Portland, OR) through June 9.  As you might guess, the Abbey is issuing a parental advisory for explicit content.  Oh, and there is a "splash zone!"  Visit the link above for tickets.

Paranormal Cirque II invites you to face your fears as they invade the Clackamas Town Center (12000 SE 82nd Ave in Happy Valley, OR; maybe it'll become Unhappy Valley during the event) through Monday, May 6.  Please note, no one under 13 years of age will be admitted.  Those 13 to 17 years of age must by accompanied by an adult.

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.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is playing at the North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd in North Bend, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 5).  Your ticket will also get you into a screening of the documentary William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill, scheduled from Friday, May 3, to Sunday, May 5.

The Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave in Seattle, WA) is screening the glorious George Romero/Stephen King tribute to EC Comics, Creepshow, through Sunday, May 5.  At the Saturday, May the Fourth, screening at 7 pm, Romero researcher Adam Hart will give a brief talk on the horror director's work before the screening, and be present for a Q and A after the film.

Animay at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) kicks off tonight with the dubbed version of Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, playing through Thursday, May 9.

The Cameo Theatre (304 E 1st St in Newberg, OR) is showing Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace through Monday, May 6.

The film is also play at Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; schedule through Thursday, May 9), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 9).

The Silver Screen Society presents Studio Gibli Week at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) through Thursday, May 9.  Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, and Kiki's Delivery Service will be screened in both dubbed and subtitled versions.  Visit the link for dates and times.

The Mel Brooks spoof Spaceballs is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) on Friday, May 3, and Sunday, May 5.

The 1985 series at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) includes screenings of Re-Animator (in GLORIOUS 35mm), Fright Night, and The Stuff.  The series runs through Monday, May 6.  Visit the link for showtimes.

David Lynch's Dune is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Sunday, May 5).

Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, is playing at the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled from Friday, May 3, through Sunday, May 5).  Please check the link to find out when the dubbed or subtitled version is playing.

First Run Features  

The new horror film Tarot is playing at Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, May 8), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 8), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 9).

A group of crooks kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of an underworld figure, only to discover the kid's a pissed off vampire, in Abigail, is playing at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 9),  Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, May 8), and the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Saturday, May 4).  And I thought my day job was rough.

Okay, I've stopped mentioning superhero movies on the site, but I'll make an exception for this one.  Vera Drew's parody The People's Joker, featuring a transgender Joker and being somewhat autobiographical of the filmmaker's journey, is playing at the Darkside Cinema (216 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9) and the Capitol Theater (205 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 12).  The film faced legal challenges from DC for using characters from the Batman Universe, but seems to be coming to theaters now.  Guess the power of parody compels it... to be released.

PAMCUT will show The People's Joker, featuring live stand-up before the film, at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) on Friday, May 3, at 7:30 pm.

Sasquatch Sunset, which follow a family of Sasquatches for a year as they struggle with the changing world around them, opens tonight at the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 5), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), and the Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 9).

The Beast, a sci fi romantic drama loosely based on Henry James' The Beast in the Jungle, is playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), and the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9).

The film opens on Saturday, May 4, at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is playing at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 9), the Kelso Theater Pub (214 S Pacific in Kelso, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 8), and the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, May 8).

Film Festival and Stage Performance Submission Information 

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.

May, 2024

Friday, May 3

VHS Night at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth tonight at 10 pm in GLORIOUS VHS.  VHS trailers start at 9:30 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show Star Wars: A New Hope tonight at 11 pm.

The 99W Drive-In (3110 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR) is showing Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace, followed by the sci fi/horror classic Alien tonight and tomorrow.

The Japanese animated romantic fantasy Weathering with You is playing at 10 pm tonight at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor in Tacoma, WA).  It appears to be the dubbed version screening.

Hundreds of Beavers invade The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 7 pm. 

Saturday, May the Fourth (be with you)

The Admiral Theatre (515 Pacific Ave in Bremerton, WA) celebrates May the Fourth by screening the original Star Wars Trilogy today starting at 2 pm.

The original Star Wars Trilogy is also playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) starting at 5:15 pm.

The Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) celebrates May the Fourth by screening the movie that started it all, Star Wars: A New Hope tonight at 7 pm.

The film is also playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) today at 1 and 7 pm.

The filmed-in-Oregon horror film New Life, about a young woman fleeing a mysterious facility while evading an agent tasked to capture her, has its official Oregon premiere at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.  Filmmakers will be in attendance.

According to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR), Portland can't get enough of beavers (they said it, not me).  So Hundreds of Beavers will re-invade the theater today at 3 pm.

The film is also playing tonight at 8 pm tonight at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  "May the Farce be with chew."

It may not be from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) today at 11 am.

The animated feature Kiki's Delivery Service is playing at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) today at 11:30 am.  Screenings will be shown with English subtitles.

Sunday, May 5

Spirit Mansion, a night filled with four specialty themed cocktails and a live show lead by the descendants of paranormal investigator Edgar Sinclair, haunts the Historic Melody Mansion (615 SE Alder St in Portland, OR) tonight.  Tickets are selling out, so get yours soon.

PAMCUT celebrates the 70th anniversary of 1954's Godzilla with a screening of the film at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) today at 4 pm.

The celebration of Godzilla's 70th anniversary continues at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) with a screening of Destroy All Monsters tonight at 7 pm.

George Romero's The Crazies is playing tonight at 7 pm tonight at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  Romero scholar Adam Hart will be in attendance to introduce the film and for a Q and A after.

The movie that should have earned Bruce Campbell an Oscar nod, Bubba Ho-Tep, is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) today at 2 pm, and on Wednesday, May 8, at 6 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing Late Night with the Devil tonight at 9 pm, and at 8:45 pm on Wednesday, May 8.

Robert Egger's The VVitch is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Monday, May 6

A restoration of Wim Wenders' 1987 romantic fantasy Wings of Desire is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 9).

Tuesday, May 7

The Portland Horror Trivia Massacre takes place at 7:30 pm tonight at Home, A Bar (719 SE Morrison St in Portland, OR).

The CMNYK Sci-Fi Extravaganza brings Snowbeast, the 1977 made-for-TV rip-off of Jaws as a Bigfoot critter terrorizes a ski lodge during a major event, to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Look, this film is great cheesy fun, with a cast including Bo Svensen, Yvette Mimieux and Clint Walker, so check it out if you can.  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm and be advised, heckling is encouraged.

Wednesday, May 8

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) will show Cowboy Bebop: The Movie tonight at 7 pm.

Church of Film brings the 1961 Mexican horror film Curse of the Doll People to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Thursday, May 9

PAMCUT presents I Saw the TV Glow, about a boy introduced to a mysterious late-night TV show, only to find his view of reality begin to crack, at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  A Q and A with director Jane Schoenbrun (We're All Going To The World's Fair) will follow the film.

The Mel Brooks classic Young Frankenstein is playing at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) tonight at 7:45 pm.

Friday, May 10

Book of the Dead: The Evil Dead Saga Returns to CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) through Thursday, May 16.  All five films will be playing, with The Evil Dead and Army of Darkness being shown in GLORIOUS 35mm!  Visit the link for the schedule and advance ticket sales.

Aggro Dr1ft, about an assassin on a mission to kill a demonic crime lord, is playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).  This experimental film is presented entirely in infrared photography.

The folk horror classic The Wicker Man (no bees in this one) is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

The restoration of George Romero's zombie classic Dawn of the Dead is playing at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 12).

John McNaughton's horror crime film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Monday, May 13).

Animay at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) continues tonight with the dubbed version of the sci fi/psychological thriller Paprika, playing through Thursday, May 16.

The original Child's Play is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, May 14).

The Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) is showing Tron: Legacy tonight at 7 pm.  

Saturday, May 11

The Inland NW Toy Show Classic takes place today at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center-Bay 3 (at the corner of Broadway and Havana in Spokane, WA).  Early Bird admission, from 9 to 10 am, is $10.  General admission from 10 am to 4 pm is $5.  Kids 12 and under are admitted free.

Sunday, May 12

The Animayhem OVA Festival takes place at 7 pm tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  Expect some deep cut anime masterpieces on the big screen and a mini anime convention!

DEEP CUTS: Night of the Comet, a live recording of the DEEP CUTS podcast following a screening of the cult sci fi classic, takes place at The Rendezvous Seattle (2318 2nd Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight.  Doors open at 5 pm, with the screening taking place at 5:30 pm, and the discussion, lead by Evan J. Peterson and Morgue Anne, taking place at 7:30 pm.  This might be a 21 and older event.