It's almost Valentine's Day, and I've got some great events to share!

It's an extra long Weekly Update, as I've got some great ways for Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans in the Pacific Northwest to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Sure, you could opt for roses and chocolates, but if your tastes are lean more towards a haunted house, or a creepy, Valentine themed movie, I've got you covered.   

Be aware, these events are selling out.  One event I planned to post already has, and I'm sure many others will follow.  So don't wait for the last minute, or your sweetheart might pull a Harry Warden on you!

What do you mean, you forgot to make reservations?  The Shadow Over Portland had all the details!

Of course, the Weekly Update has plenty of non-Valentine themed events you can check out.  Hey, you might be single (like me), or just not want to deal with the holiday stuff.  As always, I've got you covered.

As for the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, I can't believe I've just added the first event for 2025.  I'll be adding more over the next week, as I'm a bit behind thanks to the day job.  So keep checking back for more great ways to spend the rest of the year, and beyond.

Speaking of the day job, I have to get back.  Stay safe, have a great week, and I'll be back next Friday (fingers and tentacles crossed) 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

The Harold Ramis fantasy rom/com Groundhog Day, Starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), and Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 7).

The Afrofuturist sci fi film Space is the Place is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 7).

Beware The Fog as it drifts into the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8).

1989's Batman is playing at McMenamins St Johns Theater and Pub (8203 N. Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR: scheduled through Thursday, February 8).

The extended version of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Hobbit trilogy is playing at the SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 14).  Visit the link for days and showtimes of each film.

The Empirical Theater at OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) will host the 2024 Studio Ghibli Film Festival through Sunday, February 25.  You'll find all the details, including the schedule, at the link.

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.

First Run Features  

The Playing Catch-Up series brings the horror film When Evil Lurks to CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, February 7).

The sci fi thriller I.S.S. is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 7).

Poor Things, based on Alasdair Gray's novel about a young woman who is resurrected after her suicide to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation, is playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, Thursday, February 8), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard in Portland, OR; scheduled through Sunday, February 4), the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Ark Lodge Cinema (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, February 4), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), McMenamins Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 7), the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor in Tacoma, WA) scheduled through Monday, February 12), and McMenamins Anderson School (18607 Bothell Way NE in Bothell, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 7).

Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, is playing at Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 8).

Please check the links to find out if the dubbed or subtitled version is playing at the theater near you.

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

The 16th Annual Guignolfest 72 Hour Horror Film Contest is taking applications for 2024 now.  Visit the link for details.

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.

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.

February, 2024

Friday, February 2

VHS Night at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) screens the killer primate film Shakma tonight at 10 pm in GLORIOUS VHS.  VHS trailers start at 9:30 pm.

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

The French horror film Baby Blood (AKA The Evil Within) plays at 9:30 pm tonight and tomorrow at The Beacon (44056 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA).

Saturday, February 3

CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) has re-scheduled Gamera: The Heisei Trilogy, with star Ayako Fujutani participating in a Q and A after Gamera: Revenge of Iris.  Unused tickets from the January 12-14 showing will be honored.  The kaiju mayhem starts at 2:30 pm.

PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) brings iLUMiDance, a performance blending electro-luminescent wire with dance and storytelling, followed by a screening of the 1982 cult classic Tron, starting at 6 pm.  Doors open at 5:30 pm.

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will screen the Blaxploitation horror classic Blacula, starring the amazing William Marshall, tonight at 10 pm.

The Family Pictures series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) has rescheduled the screenings of Jurassic Park to today and tomorrow at 3:30 pm.

As part of the monthly Studio Ghibli series, the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will screen Howl's Moving Castle through Wednesday, February 7.

Sunday, February 4

The Creepy Critters Late Late Show February promises a night of horror and alternative drag.  It takes place at 9:30 pm tonight at the Escape Bar and Grill (9004 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).

The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) will show the haunting romantic film Ghost today at 4 pm.

Tuesday, February 6

The CMNYK Science Fiction Extravaganza brings Creature, starring Klaus Kinski, to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm.

Wednesday, February 7

Satoshi Kon's sci fi thriller Paprika is playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled tonight, tomorrow night, and on Sunday, February 11).

Trek Nights at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen Star Trek Beyond tonight at 7:30 pm.

Thursday, February 8

Hoquiam High School Drama presents the musical The Addams Family at the 7th St Theatre (313 7th St in Hoquiam, WA) on February 8, 9, and 10, at 7:30 pm, with 1:30 pm performances on Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11.

The new series Horror and Indigeneity, an exploration of how Indigenous Peoples have been depicted in horror cinema (good, bad and horrible), starts at 7:30 pm tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with Clearcut, starring Graham Greene.  The series is programmed and introduced by Dr. Kali Simmons, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University.

Baron Von Terror brings the musical monster film Little Shop of Horrors to Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight at 8 pm.

The horror rom/com Lisa Frankenstein opens tonight at the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 15), the Yelm Cinema (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, February 1), and the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, Thursday, February 15).

The film opens on Friday, February 9, at the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February15),

Friday, February 9

Cinema of Horrors presents Hearts of Horror-Valentine's Haunted House (1301 Grade St in Kelso, WA; located next to Fiesta Bonita at Three Rivers Mall) tonight and tomorrow night starting at 7 pm.  Advance tickets are required, and are limited to the first 1,000 people. 

Retro with XO presents Shock Show, a celebration of horror classics from the 1970s to 2001 with a cast of Portland drag talent, at 8 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).  Doors open at 7 pm.  This is a 21 and older event.

Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) will screen a subtitled 4K restoration of the anime Paprika tonight and tomorrow night at 9:30 pm.

The 1984 sci fi/rom com Electric Dreams, about a love triangle between a man, a woman and his computer (yikes, that sounds timely now) will play at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.

Got some money?  Wanna date?  Head to the Rio Theatre (1600 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) for a screening of Frank Henenlotter's cult classic Frankenhooker tonight at 11:15 pm.

Saturday, February 10

The Roller Barn (98 NE Barron Dr in Oak Harbor, WA) presents Scream Your Heart Out!, a Valentines weekend haunted house experience.  The event is tonight only from 6 to 10 pm, so buy your tickets soon!

The legendary Pam Grier will be at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) today for screening of 1974's Foxy Brown at 3 and 7 pm.  Tickets go on sale to members at noon on Thursday, January 11, and any remaining tickets go on sale to the general public at noon on Friday, January 12.

The gender-swapping sword-and-sorcery feature She is Conann is playing at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, February 20).  

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) presents The Show Has Already Started: Short Films by Bertrand Manioc (director of She is Conann) tonight only at 6:30 pm.

Sunday, February 11

Market for the Strange: Strange Lovers, a bazaar with some added attractions, takes place from 11 am to 6 pm at the Salem Convention Center (200 Commercial St SE in Salem, OR).  This is an all ages event.

Camp Napalm brings David Cronenberg's cult classic Shivers to the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight at 7 pm.  Prepare for an evening of sexual madness and body horror hosted by a couple of rock 'n' roll drag queens!

Animayhem brings the dubbed version of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The Rocket Sci-Fi Matinee series at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will show the Danish-American giant monster movie Reptilicus today at 1:45 pm.

The romantic fantasy classic The Princess Bride is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 1 pm.

HEY YOU GUYS!  The OFS Kids Club is showing The Goonies at 1 pm today and on Sunday, February 18, at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).  Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE!

Tuesday, February 13

Burlynomicon-A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue invites you to a Valentine's Eve soiree at The Coffin Club (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR) tonight at 8 pm.  Doors open at 7 pm, and there is a two drink minimum.  Obviously, this is a 21 and older event.

Wednesday, February 14

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

Thursday, February 15

Portland visual artist Eatcho and musician Pink Buddha bring a live score to the anime classic Ghost in the Shell at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).

The 1981 (at least I think so, as the site is using the cover for the Blu-Ray edition) slasher holiday classic My Bloody Valentine is playing at the North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd N in North Bend, WA; scheduled through Sunday, February 18). 

The new series Horror and Indigeneity, an exploration of how Indigenous Peoples have been depicted in horror cinema (good, bad and horrible), continues at 7:30 pm tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with The Manitou, shown in GLORIOUS 35mm.  The series is programmed and introduced by Dr. Kali Simmons, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University.

Friday, February 16

Friday Night Frights brings Bride of Chucky to the Blue Mouse Theatre (2603 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors , with a pre-film dream themed DJ set and introduction by Violet Hex, is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).  Doors open, with the DJ set starting at 6 pm.

PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) offers you a Blind Date Night with Tarot Readings tonight starting at 6 pm.  Get a free tarot reading from Margaret Malone, check out the rules and instructions for the evening, then settle in for a "mystery film."  Oh hell, it's The Love Witch.  Look at the photos on the site, it's pretty obvious. Unless we're being mislead.  Regardless, sounds pretty fun for a Valentine's Day celebration.

The horror film Ganja and Hess, starring Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead) and Marlene Clark (The Beast Must Die), is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, February 20).