Yep, I know I' m late with this Weekly Update, but I have a plan for 2025.

I'm late again, but I have a plan, of sorts, for next year.  I've been able to get a four day weekend this month, and I plan to use that time to develop a schedule that allows me time to work on my personal writing, and get the Weekly Update back on a timely release schedule.

But, as horror films have shown us, things seldom works out as planned.  Just saying.

So, we'll see how it goes.  I'm hoping setting a schedule on paper, and a series of goals, will spur me to sit my butt in front of my laptop and complete all the half-finished projects I've stored in various files.  And get the Weekly Update back on track.  I'll keep you posted.

For now, here's a Weekly Update that includes the upcoming weekend, so you'll be able to plan out your holiday festivities.  If you'd like to see more, the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar is up-to-date (at least for now).  But I'll be adding more events soon, as 2025 is coming and I'll have plenty more to share.

That's all I have for now.  You can follow me on Facebook (where I share the events I find on that site) and BlueSky.  Hope your holidays are bright, and I'll be back soon with another Weekly Update from The Shadow Over Portland.

Live Attractions Happening Now

Chain Link and Neon!, a collection of original 70s and 80s movie posters and memorabilia from "the Golden Age of Neon Sleaze," is on display at Wyrd War (3505 NE Broadway in Portland, OR) this month.  I hope to have more details coming soon.

Film Festival and Stage Performance Submission Information 

The Crypticon Seattle Film Festival is accepting submissions for the May 2 to 4, 2025, event taking place at the DoubleTree Hotel Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in Seattle, WA).  The late deadline is March 21, 2025.  Visit the link for all the details.

And Crypticon Seattle is accepting submission for their annual horror anthology Camp Crypticon Seattle through March 10, 2025.  The contest has 3 winners and 2 honorable mentions a year, and your story will be published alongside 3 local industry professionals.  Contest details are on the link above.

Happening Now

The animated feature The Wild Robot is playing at the McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12).

The horror film Heretic, starring Hugh Grant, is playing at the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), and the Living Room Theaters  (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12).

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is playing at McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12).

Reel Oddities brings a 4K restoration of the holiday slasher classic Black Christmas to the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) on Wednesday, December 11 and 18, at 7 pm.  A special limited edition poster can be purchased at the December 11 and 18 screenings (check it out above).

The animated fantasy Flow opens at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, December 11), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), the SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, December 12), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), the Art House (492 E 13th Ave in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 12).

The horror comedy Y2K, in which two losers friends crash a high school New Years Eve party in 1999 just as the Y2K bug causes all technology to start hunting humans (getting a Maximum Overdrive vibe), is playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, December 11), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Friday, December 13), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 12).

The Muppet Christmas Carol is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, December 11).

Joe Dante's holiday horror classic Gremlins is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, December 11).

Nightbitch, in which a stay-at-home mother finds she might be turning into a dog, is playing at the Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 12) the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 12), and the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 12). 

The holiday fantasy classic It's a Wonderful Life is playing at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 26) in GLORIOUS 35mm (with the exception of a few dates; details at the link).

A Very CineMagic Christmas is happening at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) with screenings of such holiday classics as Die Hard, Gremlins, and Santa's Slay (on VHS Night, Friday, December 6), scheduled through Thursday, December 12.  Visit the link for details.

You can read my review of Gremlins and Santa's Slay by clicking on the links.  And seriously, if you can, go see Santa's Slay.  It will be AWESOME in a theater with a group of people.

Fathom Events brings Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro back to theaters nationwide through Wednesday, December 11.  Visit the link to find a theater near you, and to find which screenings are subtitled and which are dubbed.

The Japanese horror fairy tale, The Snow Woman is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 12).

December, 2024

Wednesday, December 11

Krampus253 will be at RedHot Tacoma (2914 6th Ave in Tacoma, WA) for Krampus Night (times and details TBA).

The holiday horror film Krampus is playing at the Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA), in a sensory relaxed screening, tonight at 6:30 pm.

Church of Film brings The Cat's Mill, an animated version of the Latvian fairy tale, to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd N in North Bend, WA) is showing the Ray Harryhausen classic Jason and the Argonauts tonight at 7 pm.

Thursday, December 12

The Renton Civic Theatre (507 S 3rd St in Renton, WA) presents A Christmas Carol with Puppets through Sunday, December 22.

Circus Obscura will bring deliciously wicked entertainment to Raven's Manor (235 SW 1st Ave in Portland, OR) tonight.  Reserve your seat now, as this event will likely sell out.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (yeah, right) tonight at 11:15 pm.

The fantasy Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life is playing at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 7 pm.

Yippie-ki-yay, motherf*cker!  Die Hard is playing at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) tonight at 8:30 pm.

The film is also being shown on Friday, December 13, at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) at 7 pm, with a trivia contest.

Friday, December 13

Krampus253 is coming to the Retro Emporium Kent (328 W Meeker St in Kent, WA) today from 6 to 9 pm.  I can't think of a better day to get your picture taken with Krampus than on Friday the 13th!

Auburn Preneuers Markets present Elves Invade the Market at the Outlet Collection Seattle (1101 Outlet Collection Way, Suite 1126, in Auburn, WA) through Sunday, December 15.  Local artists and small retail businesses will be there to help with your holiday shopping, and Krampus253 will visit the market on Sunday.

Cinema of Horrors Haunted House (1301 Grade St in Kelso, WA) presents A Christmas Horror Story tonight and tomorrow night.  Only 1000 guests will be allowed to visit the attraction per night, so go to the  site's Facebook page and get on the mailing list for early access when tickets go on sale.  

The Frightmare Before Christmas features Krampus returning to The Fear PDX (12219 NE Glisan St in Portland, OR) through Sunday, December 15. 

Krampus Bremerton takes over Sisters' Cider House (921 Hildebrand Lane STE 111 in Bainbridge Island, WA) tonight from 6 to 8 pm.

The Disco Circus Centerfolds bring The Cryptid Mash, a night of blacklight beasts featuring burlesque, drag, acrobatics and more, to the Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 8 pm.  This is an 18 and older show.

Jurassic Quest, the "largest and most realistic traveling dinosaur experience in North America," is set to invade the Washington State Fair Grounds (110 9th Ave SW in Puyallup, WA) this weekend.

Meowsterpiece, a showing of the finest in Cat Cinema, and a fundraiser for the Oregon Humane Society, is playing at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) through Tuesday, December 24.  Among the films are House, Batman Returns, the sci-fi/action/horror film The Cat, Cat's Eye, the fairy tale/social satire The Cassandra Cat, the horror film Uninvited, and the Hammer film The Shadow of the Cat.  Visit the link for showtimes and all the details.

UPDATE: Paracinema is (sort of) hosting the Saturday, December 21, screening of Cat's Eye.  Expect a brief pre-show introduction, along with a special event poster sale, with 100% of the proceeds from all sales to the Oregon Humane Society.  And the poster will feature OHS adoptee, Zucchini! 

Yippie-ki-yay, motherf*cker!  Die Hard is playing at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR), with pre-movie trivia by ShanRock Triviology.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show a restored version of Werner Herzog's horror classic Nosferatu the Vampyre tonight at 7:30 pm.

Cult Sensation, presented by Violet Hex, celebrates its two year anniversary with a screening of John Waters' Female Trouble at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA) is showing Friday the 13th Part 2 tonight at 6 pm.

The film is also showing at the Art House (492 E 13th Ave in Eugene, OR) tonight at 9 pm.

The Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA) is showing Friday the 13th Part 3 tonight at 8:30 pm.

A new 4K restoration of Andrei Torkovsky's The Sacrifice, in which a man tries bargaining with God to stop a nuclear war, is playing at the SIFF Film Center (167 Republican St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, December 19).

Joe Dante's holiday horror classic Gremlins is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 19). 

Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's Misery is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, December 19). 

Saturday, December 14

Krampus Seattle will be at the Muse Lounge (224 Occidental Ave S in Seattle, WA) from 7 to 10 pm for the Seattle SantaCon-Krampus Night.

Krampus253 will be at robin Lakewood Camera + The Print Refinery (10015 Gravelly Lake Dr SW in Lakewood, WA).  Times and details TBA.

It's Naughty vs Nice, as the Charlston Business District, the Downtown Bremerton Association, and other businesses bring an epic wrestling match between Krampus Bremerton and Father Christmas.  The smack-down takes place from 6 to 9 pm at North Callow Ave in Bremerton, WA.

GrimeTime brings a gorehound double feature and horror market to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 9:30 pm.  The films include Brian Paulin's low-budget SOV splatter film Fetus, along with a secret screening of an infamous Japanese horror film never before screened in theaters.  Hm, wonder what that might be...

VHS Uber Alles brings to the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) the tale of three witchy teen girls unleashing a bloodthirsty elf during the holidays, and heading for an after-hours sexy sleepover party.  Yeah, that's gonna end well.  This never released on DVD feature is presented in GLORIOUS VHS tonight, and on Saturday, December 21, at 9:30 pm.

Paivi Hartzell's The Snow Queen, an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 10 pm, and on Tuesday, December 17, at 4:30 pm.

SIFF Cinema Downtown (2100 4th Ave in Seattle, WA) celebrates its first birthday with a screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory today at 12:30 pm.

Third Eye Cinema brings The Monster Squad to the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Pipe Organ Pictures at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents 1922's Nosferatu, with organist Dean Lemire performing his original score on the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ, tonight at 6:30 pm.

The holiday fantasy classic Miracle on 34th Street is playing at the Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) today at 3 pm.

Sunday, December 15

The Portland Market of the Beast takes place from 1 to 6 pm today at The Redd (831 SE Salmon St in Portland, OR).  You can purchase early bird admission  to get you in at noon.  Tickets can be purchased at the link or at the door.

Krampus Bremerton will be at the Crazy Hill Garden and Botanicals (23450 Washington 3 in Belfair, WA) today from 2 to 4 pm, to usher in the light of the Solstice and take photos with anyone brave enough.

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) is showing Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, is a post-screening Q and A with star Sheryl Lee, today at 3 pm, and on Monday, December 16, at 6 pm.  The Saturday screening has SOLD OUT, so buy advance tickets NOW.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing The Muppet Christmas Carol today at 11:30 am, and on Friday, December 20, at 6 pm.

The filmed-in-Oregon An American Christmas Carol: A Ballet Movie is showing at the Art House (492 E 13th Ave in Eugene, OR) today at 1 pm.

The horror/comedy The Invisible Raptor (what did you expect from a title like this?) is playing at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  And yes, Sean Astin is in the movie.