Friday, April 5, 2024

Where did the week go?

I've had a few things on my mind over the past few weeks.  So I shouldn't have be surprised that I lost track of time, and didn't realize until Wednesday that I hadn't done any work on the site to prepare the Weekly Update.  

But I was, and that was a bit panic inducing.

-Are you sure it's Wednesday?  Let me check my day planner.

-That's a journal.  The pages are blank.

If you know, you know.

Anyway, I was able to get it all done, even if I'm posting the update a bit later than I'd like.  And I was able to update the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar as well, at least for now.  You know I'll be finding more great events to add, so keep checking back.

Overall, I'm calling it a win for the week.  Stay safe, support the local events listed below, and I'll be back next week with more great things happening under The Shadow Over Portland.

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

Wyrd War Art Gallery (3505 NE Broadway in Portland, OR) is hosting an exhibition of the work of fantasy artist Richard Hescox (above is some of his work for the film The Howling) every weekend through April 28.  The gallery is open from 3 to 7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

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.


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) and at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Monday, April 8).  

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).

The Living Room Theater (341 SW Tenth Ave in Portland, OR) is showing 1954's Godzilla through Thursday, April 11.

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 10, 17, and 24.

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 through Sunday, April 7).  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 film a final time, in Japanese with English subtitles, on Monday, April 8, at 9 pm.

First Run Features  

The prequel The First Omen opens tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11) in GLORIOUS 35mm.  The film is also playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), and the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11).

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is playing at SIFF Cinema Downtown (2100 4th Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, April 10), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Columbia Theatre-Saint Helens (212 S 1st St in Saint Helens, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, April 10), 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 11), the 99W Drive-In (311 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR; playing with Dune 2 through Saturday, April 6), the Cameo Theatre (304 E 1st St in Newberg, OR; scheduled through Monday, April 8), the Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), and the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11). 

The found footage horror film Late Night with The Devil is playing at the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 11), 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 Wednesday, April 10).

Film Festival and Stage Performance Submission Information 
 
The third annual Stage Fright Festival, possible the world's only queer horror theatre festival, is accepting applications through April 30 for performers, vendors, volunteers and sponsors.  You'll also find information on the show's fundraiser, running through April 15.  The show takes place from Thursday, October 3, to Sunday, October 13.

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.

April, 2024

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!

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) is bringing Hundreds of Beavers back tonight and tomorrow at 10 pm.

The surrealist fantasy drama Being John Malkovich is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11:30 pm.

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).

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 Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Monday, March 8).

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.

The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) is showing the horror classic Carnival of Souls, featuring a score by FULLER performed live during the film by Plaid Raptor.  The band will perform a set of songs from their new album, SaltAir, after the screening.  It all starts at 7 pm.

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.

Tuesday, April 9

Burlynomicon-A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue returns to The Coffin Club (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR) for a night of gloriously ghoulish entertainment, and a birthday celebration for producer and host, Natasha Riot.  Doors open at 7 pm, show starts at 8 pm, and there is a two drink minimum (obviously, this is a 21 and older event).  Advance tickets are strongly recommended and available at the link above.

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

Hundreds of Beavers is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR). 

Wednesday, April 10

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing Rob Reiner's adaptation of Steven King's story, Stand by Me (yes, I know the novella is titled The Body) tonight at 7 pm.  

The Moscow Film Society brings John Carpenter's sci fi/horror classic The Thing to the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) tonight at 7 pm.

Thursday, April 11

Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke, presented in Japanese with English subtitles, is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).

Friday, April 12

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will screen the films Robot Ninja  and The Dead Next Door, with filmmaker J. RT. Bookwalter in attendance for a Q and A, tonight at 9:15 pm.  Please note, special event ticketing pricing is in place to help support Mr. Bookwalter during his theatrical roadshow.

The Olympia Film Society is screening the silent Sci Fi classic Metropolis at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) tonight at 7 pm, with a live score by David DiDonato.

Late Night with the Devil is playing at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled through Sunday, April 14).

To celebrate the 45th anniversary of George Romeo's 1978 masterpiece Dawn of the Dead, the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is screening a restoration of this horror classic through Sunday, April 14.  

Hop aboard the Pork Chop Express, as the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) screens Big Trouble in Little China tonight at 11:30 pm.

Severin Films and The Oscarbate Film Collective brings Francomania, a celebration of writer/director Jess Franco, to The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 9 pm.  The night starts out with Mansion of the Living Dead, followed by Macumba Sexual.  Severin will have a pop-up in the lobby selling discs.

Saturday, April 13

The BoneBat Comedy of Horrors Film Fest 2024, takes place at 1 pm today at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA).  Follow the event on Facebook for all the details.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) welcomes Severin Films for the screening of a restoration of Jess Franco's 1971 erotic horror classic Vampyros Lesbos tonight at 9:30 pm.

Everything from Nothing: The No-Budget Splatter of J. R. Bookwalter brings 1994's Ozone, and the Seattle premiere of the filmmaker's latest film, 2024's Side Effects May Vary to The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 8:45 pm.  Bookwalter will be in attendance.  

Sunday, April 14

Market for the Strange comes to Portland, OR, for the first time at The Leftbank Annex (101 N Weidler St in Portland, OR) today from 12 to 6 pm.  Admission is $5, with kids 12 and under admitted FREE.

The Oregon Symphony will cast a spell on you with Wands and Wizards, performing mystical music like Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice, selections from the Harry Potter films, and more!  The performance starts at 2 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (1037 SW Broadway in Portland, OR).

My Precious! A Lord of the Rings Drag and Burlesque Show takes place at 7 pm tonight at the Atlantis Lounge (3552 N Mississippi Ave in Portland, OR).  I'm assuming this is a 21 and older event, as it's in a lounge.  Call and check before you buy tickets for the kids.  Just saying.

Severin Films returns to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) for the screening of a restored, most comprehensive version available, of Jesus (Jess) Franco's Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein.  Described as a mix of 70's exploitation, Gothic horror and 20's German expressionism, this is one film I didn't know I needed to see!  The film starts at 7:30 pm.

McFiler's Chehalis Theater (558 N Market Blvd in Chehalis, WA) celebrates the 45th anniversary of the George Romero zombie classic Dawn of the Dead today at 5 and 7:30 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show the film tonight at 8:15 pm.

PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) will show the horror musical Little Shop of Horrors, with Gone West PDX hosting a pop-up plant sale in the lobby before the show (starts at 7 pm).