IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! So you had to expect this week's update would be a massive tome. And I've probably missed a few events, which I'll add throughout the week in separate updates.
And if you think this one's long, next week is shaping up to be just as long.....
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Open Gallery (323 NW 6th Ave) in Portland, OR, presents
Every Day is Halloween, an art show presented by Pork Magazine and Goblinko. The show features original drawings by Sean
Äaberg and denim vests by Katie
Äaberg, a Goblinko Megamall Pop-Up Shop and more! The show runs through November 1, and you can find more details at the
Facebook Event Page.
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The Shining continues at
The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St) in Portland, OR. I guess The Rose City has yet to get enough of Jack being a dull boy/axe murderer. Showtimes are 4:20 and 9:30 pm through Thursday, October 22. Visit
The Academy Theater website for more details.
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The subtitled German horror film,
Good Night Mommy, continues to screen at
Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave) in Portland, OR. As a pair of twin brothers greet their mother after cosmetic surgery, they begin to doubt the woman is actually their parent. And, as expected, things go bad from there. Showtimes are 4, 6:45 and 9 pm through Thursday, October 22, with a matinee screening at 1:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18. Visit the
Cinema 21 website for more details.
The film also opens Friday, October 16, at the
Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St) in Bellingham, WA. Shows of Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 8:45 pm, with a Sunday showing at 7:45 pm. Get more details at the
Pickford Film Center website.
Friday, October 16
Evil Dead The Musical hits the stage at
The Wildish Theater (128 NE Russet Street in Springfield, OR) for two shows, at 7 pm and 9:15 pm tonight only. And yes, there will be a SPLATTER ZONE! And should you splattered with blood, no crying out "D'UH!" Find more information at the
Evil Dead The Musical website.
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I have an exclusive report (well, it was when I added it to the Horror Calendar) from Friday Night Frights in Tacoma, WA. Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses will screen at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2411 N. Proctor St) tonight at 10 pm. Tickets for the screening are only $5, a steal during the Halloween season. Find out more at the Facebook Event Page.
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Mel Brooks' classic homage/spoof of the Universal Horror Movies, Young Frankenstein, opens tonight at The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St) in Vancouver, WA. You know the movie, you've memorized the best lines, now see it on the big screen. Showtimes are 6:30 pm on Friday, October 16, 4 pm on Saturday, October 17, 5:30 pm on Sunday, October 18, 8:30 pm on Monday, October 19 and 5;15 pm on Tuesday, October 20. Visit The Kiggins Theatre website for more information.
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Okay, despite any issues you might have with Roman Polanski, the person, Rosemary's Baby is a masterpiece of horror. The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St) in Portland, OR, will screen the film through October 22 and you might not find another chance to watch this true horror classic on the big screen again. Showtimes are 11:40 am and 6:45 pm through Thursday, October 22. Visit The Academy Theater website for more details.
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JOIN US! At
The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, at 9:45 pm for a screening of
Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn in glorious 35mm!! Presented in partnership with the
Living Dead Horror Convention (November 13 at the Oregon Convention Center) and
Sinful Audio, I don't think I need to say anything more about why you MUST SEE THIS FILM ON THE BIG SCREEN! Tickets are $8, or you can spend a bit more and buy an advanced ticket (and be sure you can get into the theater) by clicking on
The Hollywood Theatre website.
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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, opens tonight at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.
Tonight, get ready for disco, Jamie Lee Curtis and a masked killer in the 1980 slasher classic, Prom Night. And I bet you're waiting for Leslie Nielsen to crack a joke every time he's onscreen (his career changing performance in comedy classic Airplane was in theaters two weeks before Prom Night).
The show starts tonight at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend. You'll find more information at The Laurelhurst Theater website.
Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, presents the strangest cinematic offering I can think. The American Genre Film Archive and Something Weird Video present Smut Without Smut, a fundraiser for their kickstarter campaign. The double feature presents two hardcore genre films, The Mad Love Life of a Hot Vampire and The Haunted P___y (I'll let you fill in the blanks and no, you shouldn't need to buy a vowel), WITH THE HARDCORE SEX SCENES REMOVED! Do either of these films have a plot, or will it be the shortest double feature in the history of cinema? One things for sure, it should be fun! The show starts at 8 pm on October 16 only. Visit The Grand Illusion website for more details and plot summaries for both features.
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If you're looking for something other than the standard candy you'll get trick or treating, head to Choktoberfest, at Old Portland, Hardware and Architectural (700 NE 22 Ave) in Portland, OR, for artisan chocolates, traditional German fare and beer! Tickets are $20 during pre-sale, via the link on the Facebook Event Page.
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The Funhouse Lounge (2432 SE 11th Ave) in Portland, OR, brings back a Halloween favorite with Murder Mystery Machine. The Funhouse Lounge Improv Company craft a bloody murder mystery from audience suggestions, and the sleuths of Mystery Inc. are there to investigate.
ZOINKS! Yep, Scooby Doo and his human friends will puzzle over clues, chase monsters, unmask the villain (one assumes) and treat themselves to Scooby snacks.
Of course, this ISN'T going to be like the Saturday morning cartoon, and the Funhouse Lounge considers the events to be "Rated R" for themes and simulated violence, so you might think twice before bringing the kids.
Shows are at 7 pm Thursdays through Saturdays through November 7. Tickets are available in advance for $12, and at the door for $16. Thursday night's performances are "pay what you want," as long as tickets are available.
For more details, and advance ticket sales, visit the Funhouse Lounge website.
Saturday, October 17
Evil Dead The Musical returns to
The Wonder Ballroom stage (630 East Main in Portland, OR) for one show only at.....
UPDATE!
Oh, we now have THREE shows, at 6 pm and 9:15 pm tonight (October 17), and 2 pm on Sunday, October 18th. Yes, you can find splatter zone tickets for all shows, and why would you miss that opportunity in an Evil Dead musical? Find more information at the
Evil Dead The Musical website.
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The
Rocket Sci-Fi Matinee brings another beastly babe to the
Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay Street) in Bellingham, WA, with a noon screening of
The She Creature! An evil hypnotist (is there any other kind?) discovers his lovely assistant's prehistoric ancestors were monstrous aquatic beings, and he uses her to, say it with me now, commit murders. Yes, that's a shocker, but the creature design looks great and it should be a lot of fun on the big screen. Admission is only $2, and you'll find advance ticket sales and more details at
the link.
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Goobie Gobble, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) is presenting at 35mm screening of the still controversial Tod Browning's Freaks. Using deformed actors who performed in circus sideshows, Freaks was considered too shocking to be screened, and was banned in Great Britain, and other countries, for over 30 years. Yet, it's an interesting study in who the real monsters are, as a beautiful trapeze artist marries a midget performer for his money, only to have her (and her lover, the strongman of the circus) meet their comeuppance at the family of "freaks."
Let's be honest, the normal people in this film are the villains. Yet, as the freaks exact justice in the only option available to them, most audiences will be disturbed by the visual images of the "freaks" crawl through the rain to extract their revenge. It's unsettling, as we "see" those that don't look "right" act as monsters, even as their cause is just. And our reaction to the final few moments of the film if we (the audience) relieved we wouldn't react the same way to Stallone and the rest of The Expendables acting in the same fashion.
And the film's message resonates today, as we are besieged by politicians wanting to erect a wall against those who look and act different than "us," painting them as monsters without questioning our motivations for excluding them from our society or their inner humanity. A thinking film for Northwest horror fans,
Freaks screens today and Sunday, October 18, at 3 pm. For more details, and advance ticket sales, visit
The Hollywood Theatre website.
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More zombie mayhem hits Portland, OR, tonight, as
Stumptown Zombie Con 2015 travels about our fair city. The event starts at
The Dixie Tavern (32 NW 3 Ave) at 2 pm, should you need help from Makeup Artists to help you find your inner zombie (the event will list prices and strongly suggests tipping the people applying your makeup). Be sure to make an appointment!
At 4 pm, the event starts up at
The Dixie Tavern, then makes its way to
Jones Bar at 5:15 pm,
Waterfront Park at 6:30 pm,
Kells Irish Pub at 7 pm, then ends at
Ankeny Alley from 8:30 to 10 pm.
As the event is bar oriented, you must be 21 or older to attend. Also, the site suggests paying your tab with cash. Prizes will be awarded for best costume, and a Zombie, Monster or Halloween Themed costume is required. Tips for winning a best costume prize, as well as more information about the event, is available at the
Facebook Event Page. Oh, and the event is free (except for your bar tab)!
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The
Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, is screening
A Nightmare on Elm Street and
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, both in GLORIOUS 35mm! Okay, the first one is a classic and the sequel, well, it does stray from the typical NOES scenario, as Freddy is trying to posse a young man and re-emerge into our world. But the homoerotic overtones give the script more of a punch than your average sequel, and it's amazing New Line Cinema let director Jack Solder and writer David Chaskin veer so far from the source material, and into the realm of a high school student questioning his sexual identity.
ANOES plays at 7 pm on Saturday, October 17 and 8 pm on Monday, October 19.
Freddy's Revenge plays at 9 pm on Saturday, October 17 and Tuesday, October 20 at 8 pm. Visit
The Grand Illusion website for more details.
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If four hours of "spooky Horror and Halloween shopping fun" sounds like a great way to spend your Saturday, head to
The Jack London Bar (529 SW 4th Ave) in Portland, OR, for the
Ghoulie's Graveyard Sale, starting at 4 pm. You can pick up that special decoration to make your Halloween Home complete, while enjoying Spook Music, Spooky Raffles and DRINKING!
Okay, I should not need to mention this event is for those 21 or older.
And, after the sale, you can stick around for the "classic industrial night Tyranny" starting at 10 pm!
Get more information at the
Facebook Event Page.
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If you happen to be north of the Columbia River, the zombies are coming!
Doomsday Brewing Company (421 C St Unit 1B) in Washougal, WA, is hosting a
Zombie Brewfest from 3 to 10 pm, featuring over 25 local craft beers amongst the zombie fun, as well as live music by Guillotine Necktie and food by Foody Blues BBQ and the full Doomsday Brewing menu. General Admission is $15, with presale tickets available now with two extra beer tokens! Visit the
Facebook Event Page for more details and a link to advanced ticket sales.
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The EMP (325 5th Ave N) in Seattle, WA, is hosting a
Fashionable Undead Prom: '90s Nightmare dance for all Horror Fans. Sure, the site has suggestions on what to wear, but seriously, do true Horror Fans need them? Tickets to the Prom include admission to
Can't Look Away, the EMP's horror museum and, I have to say (based on my visit several years ago), it's worth the cost. Tickets are $25 ($18 for EMP members) and you'll find more information at
the link.
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Halloween gets an early start in Tigard, OR, as
The Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway)
presents
Scare-a-Thon, 12 hours of great old and new horror films. It all starts at 1 pm with the greatest horror comedy ever made,
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, followed by
The Bride of Frankenstein at 3 pm.
Next, for the first time in the Portland area for 60 years, the Vincent Price thriller,
The Mad Magician, will be shown in GLORIOUS 3D at 5 pm, along with the 3D Three Stooges short,
Spooks. Hell, that's better than ANY 3D feature offered in the giant multiplexes.
The scares continue with
The Abominable Dr. Phibes at 7 pm,
Return of the Living Dead at 9 pm and Charlton Heston laying the groundwork for his NRA leadership role in the post-apocalyptic
The Omega Man at 11 pm. Admission is $5 for regular features, $6 for the 3D feature, or buy a full day pass for just $19!
So Pick and Choose, or spend all day at
The Joy Cinema. Hey, the forecast says it will rain on Saturday, a great excuse for spending 12 hours in the comfort of a theater, watching some great horror classics!
Visit
The Joy Cinema website for more details.
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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at
The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.
Tonight, the deadly effects of cheap booze hits home in 1987's
Street Trash. Hobos are melting thanks to the drink Viper, while two brothers find different ways to deal with homelessness, while a cop is looking into the liquifying homeless population.
The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend. Visit
The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.
Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Sunday, October 18
Sure, it's a sci fi/action film, but
Robocop has some amazing, nightmare inducing makeup effects by Rob Bottin that I can't not include it.
Cartopia (1201 SE Hawthorne Blvd) in Portland, OR, will screen this classic, followed by an episode of
Twin Peaks (note: episodes have screening since May, so you will be a bit behind) tonight after the sun is down. Get there early and partake in some of the food served at Cartopia! Check out the
Facebook Event Page for more details.
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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, Washington, presents
Rampaging Mutant 35mm Triple Feature Pizza Party at 3 pm on Sunday, October 18. As the program describes mutants as "rarely happy and usually on some sort of a rampage," I assume this film will not contain turtles turning into ninja. But, you never know, as the films are not listed! Visit
The Grand Illusion website for more details.
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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at
The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.
"Wanna date?!?"
Yes, Frankenhooker is tonight's film, and this is a doozy. After a experimental lawnmower accident kills his fiancee, Jeffrey Franken sets out to bring her back to life, using the body parts from various prostitutes. But his reanimated bride to be is more interested in earning a living, and killing her clients, than being with him.
The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend. Visit
The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.
Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Monday, October 19
Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.
A young man finds a special high thanks to a parasitic worm named Aylmer in Frank Henenlotter's dark comedy Brain Damage. Aylmer secretes a highly addictive hallucinogenic, and all young Brian to maintain a steady supply is kill people for Aylmer, who eats brains. Yeah, nothing can go wrong with that arrangement.
Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Tuesday, October 20
Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.
A returning Vietnam vet finds his attempts to rebuild his life put on hold in Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except (AKA Stryker's War). When a murderous cult (led by Sam Raimi!) tortures his old girlfriend and the local cops, Stryker and his friends arm up and aim to take the cultists down. Oh, and according to The Evil Dead Companion, keep an eye open for an uncredited cameo by Bruce Campbell as a video newscaster.
The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend. Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.
Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Wednesday, October 21
The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, screens Science Crazed at 8 pm tonight only. I can't do justice to the plot synopsis offered by The Grand Illusion, but I will say it involved experimentation at the Shelley Institute, an woman giving birth to a full grown mutant/man that starts rampaging through the institute, with only.... Oh hell, you probably know the rest. If not, visit The Grand Illusion website for more details.
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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.
Demons 2, directed by Lamberto Bava and produced by Dario Argento (both worked on the script as well) takes place in a modern high rise, where a television show about the demon attack in the first film being aired. As a young girl watches, a demon emerges through the television and attacks, turning her into a demon. And, as I always say, mayhem ensues.
Keep your eyes open for Asia Argento, who was 10 years old at the time, making her screen debut. And, as expected, lots of gory demon attacks.
Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Thursday, October 22
The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, presents a Bigfoot double feature! Local filmmaker John Portanova's award-winning Valley of the Sasquatch is paired with one of his favorite 70s Bigfoot films, Creature from Black Lake. And Portanova will be in attendance! The show starts at 7 pm tonight only. Visit The Grand Illusion website for more details.
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Tonight only, at The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St) in Vancouver, WA, is screening the classic silent film, The Golem, with musical accompaniment by local composer and pianist Beth Karp of an original score she wrote for the film. Showtime is 7 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. You can get more information on the screening, and find a link to purchase advance tickets, at The Kiggins Theatre website.
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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.
It's a bit out of order, but Demons, directed by Lamberto Bava and produced by Dario Argento (both worked on the script as well), plays tonight. If you saw the sequel and thought it didn't make much sense, well, the first one is just a confusion at times.
A mysterious masked figure is handing out tickets to a special midnight screening at a local cinema. As the moviegoers settle into their chairs, one is turned into a demon and some spectacular mayhem ensues. The ending is just bonkers, as the two survivors ride a motorcycle through the theater, attacking demons with a sword and avoiding a helicopter that falls through the ceiling! Yeah, it gets that crazy.
The film was one of the many horror films in the 80s released into American theaters unrated, as the violence would have earned it an X-rating from the MPAA. Of course, that would have been the kiss of death, as that rating was associated with pornography and would have limited theaters willing to show, and advertise, the film.
Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
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Told you it was going to be a long one tonight. And I expect next week's post to be just as long, so brace yourselves, Horror Fans, we're in the thick of it now.
If you have an event I missed, please email me at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll get it on the site. If you emailed me and you don't see your event, I might have missed it in the deluge of information that's hit me in the past two weeks. Please email me again and I'll set things right.
And remember, should you attend any of these events, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!
