The Shadow Over Portland: 9/4/16

Well, it's barely into September and I already feel I'm behind. Every time I feel I've covered EVERYTHING under The Shadow Over Portland, I keep finding new events to add to the Horror Calendar. The past few days working on the site have induced a mental overload that is best summed up with a single picture....

Okay, I've covered everything.

Oh, wait, here's something else.....

ARRRGH!

I'm not kidding. So much is happening under The Shadow Over Portland that I need help. If you know of a event happening in the Pacific Northwest, a haunted attraction, a corn maze, a film screening, or anything else, email me at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll add it to the Horror Calendar. And the event doesn't have to be horrific. I also include fantasy and sci-fi events on the calendar.

That said, here's the events I have through September. But keep checking out October's offerings on the Calendar, to help you plan for THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! McMenimun's Mission Theater is screening some pretty awesome films, as is The Laurelhurst Theater (both in Portland, OR). I'll be adding more events as I find them, so check back often.

Please note, I've moved film submissions to their own page, Open Film Submissions. I'll list them in the normal updates for the first few weeks, but please click the link to keep updated on the festivals looking for submissions. And check out the Corn Maze, Haunted Maze and Pumpkin Patch page for all the events happening in farms falling under The Shadow Over Portland!

But for now, I'm signing off. It's been a rough week at the day job and I need some cheese to ease the pain of the hours I spend at the "normal" work-a-day world, while working on the site on the off hours. Maybe some disco horror.....

Oh, yeah.

That hits the spot.

Well, here's all the spooky events happening through September. You know I'll be adding more, so stay tuned!

Ongoing

Mental Trap Escape Room Game invites you, and four to ten members, to escape a locked room in one hour. And yes, it is timed. Created by the devious minds behind 13th Door Haunted House, Glowing Greens Miniature Golf and Haunted Productions, this offers you the challenge to find the clues keeping you locked in the room and escape within an hour. But, as the website suggests, it's not as easy as it sounds. Located at 3855 SW Murray Blvd in Portland, OR, you can challenge your wits (and those of your team mates) to solve the puzzle before time expires. I don't know what happens if you don't succeed, but that's part of the fun. For more details, visit the link.

Open Auditions

If you're interested in joining the Zombie Fest Northwest Makeup Team, block out your calendar for Saturday, September 17 and contact Darla at info@skinperfectinseattle.com. You can help create zombies for this all-ages, family friendly event designed to raise awareness concerning disaster preparedness, and help raise money for the Highland Food Bank, the Des Moines Food Bank, Highline Schools Foundation Excel Grant Program and the Friends of Normandy Park Foundation. Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details.

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Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10, Clark County ScareGrounds (at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 17402 NE Delfel Road in Ridgefield, WA) will have final open casting call for paid actors and staff. Auditions start at 6 pm both days. You must be over 16 years old, love Halloween, being in costume and make-up and, of course, enjoy SCARING PEOPLE! Along with actors, ScareGrounds is looking for entertainers, event and VIP staff, and a SPFX Make-up lead and assistant. Get all the details at the ScareGround Facebook Page.

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Volunteer Orientation for people interested in working at the Nightmare at Beaver Lake Haunted Attraction takes place on September 17 and 18 at Sammamish City Hall (801 228 Ave SE in Sammamish, WA), from noon to 2 pm. If you want to get a head start on Actor Training, and Improv Class will be held from 2:30 to 4 pm both days. If you're 12 to 14 years old, your parents are encouraged to attend. For more details on the event, visit the Facebook Event Page or the Nightmare at Beaver Lake Facebook Page for more details.

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Haunted Nightmare at The Nile (6601 24th St SW in Mountlake Terrace, WA) is having volunteer gatherings for actors and FX artists on September 10. Visit the Facebook Page for more details.

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Sunday, September 11 is your last chance to addition to be a SCARE ACTOR or PAINTBALL ZOMBIE at Stalker Farms Haunted Attractions (8705 Marsh Rd in Snohomish, WA) between noon and 5 pm. All actors are paid for their work, which is pretty nice. Visit the Stalker Farms Haunted Attractions Facebook Page for more details.

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The Fear PDX Haunted House is looking for actors for the upcoming attraction. You have to be 18 or older to apply. Fill out the application at The Fear website and you'll be contacted for an interview. You can find out more about The Fear by visiting the official Facebook Page.

The Spirit of Halloweentown in St Helens, OR

The Spirit of Halloweentown returns to the the city of St. Helens in Oregon for a month-long celebration full of amazing events. From the St. Helens Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 1, at 4:30 pm, to haunted tours, pumpkin carving contests, a Howl-oween 5K dog walk, and more, this should be on every Northwest Halloween fan's calendar! You'll find plenty of events happening in the area through Halloween Night, so check out the Official Website link for all the events and details. And, should you want to be a part of the Halloween Parade, the photo above gives you most of the details.

Also, actress Kimberly Brown (who starred as Marnie in Halloweentown, the Disney Channel Original Movie filmed in St. Helen's) will return to the festival on October 8 and 9. You can find advance tickets for photo ops and other special events at the link.

Should you feel like dressing up as a creature of the night and possibly winning $1,000, sign up for the Creatures of the Catwalk, part of the month long Spirit of Halloweentown celebration in St. Helens, OR on October 9. Check out the link for entry fees and more details. The event takes place on Sunday, October 9 from 2 to 4 pm. Entries are limited, so get on it, creatures of the night!!

Also as part of the Halloweentown celebration is the Bonfire and Bones-Scream All You Want! Goth Extravaganza. The party starts at The Waterfront (275 Strand St in St. Helens, OR) at 7 pm on Saturday, October 22. You eat, drink and dance the night away, while participating in a costume contest! And yes, there will be a BIG fire! Visit the link for more details on the event and advance ticket sales.

Buy it NOW!

Fabio Frizzi, composer for some of Lucio Fulci's horror classics such as Zombie, The Beyond and Gates of Hell, is coming to The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 8 pm on Monday, October 3, to perform tracks from these classic films LIVE with a seven piece orchestra! Frizzi 2 Fulci starts at 8 pm, with general admission only $25. But, for $50, you can be part of a meet and greet event at 6 pm. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre official website. This event WILL sell out, so buy your tickets as soon as possible!

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It's a full evening of mayhem on Saturday, October 15, at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) starting at 9 pm. The All Night Horror Marathon will test your nerves (and stamina) as you watch 4 rare 35mm prints of horror flicks from the 70s and 80s. The titles will not be announced in advance, but the screening will include "a Satanic film, an underrated horror sequel, a forgotten 80s slasher and a batshit-crazy Italian gutmuncher." Well, that sure narrows it down. Tickets are $15, and you'll want to buy them in advance! For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon returns to spread cosmic horror across Portland. The madness starts at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) on October 7. For more details, visit the Official Website.

Be sure to check out the event's Kickstarter campaign. Even if you can't attend the festival, you'll find several cool rewards for your contribution! You have until 11:59 pm (PDT) on September 8 to make a pledge. All money raised by the campaign supports the festival. For more details, visit the Kickstarter page.

Oh, and I'll be a guest at this year's event! Please be sure to say hello if you happen to attend a panel I'm on, or just see me walking about. You won't miss me, as I'll be the big guy in the Lovecraft tee shirt and black Stumptown Kilt!

September, 2016

Friday, September 2

Okay, I just read the synopsis for Kevin Smith's Yoga Hosers, and wow, it sounds WEIRD! Two 15-year-old yoga fanatics (Lily Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith) must join forces with a legendary man-hunter (played by Johnny Depp, and yes, quite related to one of the leads) to defeat an ancient evil arising from beneath Canada's crust and threatening their invitation of a Grade 12 party. According to the synopsis, yoga poses will be involved, as well as a slew of guest actors. The film opens tonight at The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St) in Vancouver, WA. Showtimes vary throughout the week, so visit The Kiggin's official website.

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Okay, I'm sure people have issues supporting any film directed by Roman Polanski, after his escaping statutory rape charges in 1977. I know I do. But that doesn't make Rosemary's Baby (1968) any less a classic horror film. The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) is screening the film through Thursday, September 8, so if you haven't seen it, this would be a great time to check it out! Remember, you will be supporting a local theater, so that's a BIG PLUS! No showtimes have been announced, but it will be around 9 pm. For more details, visit The Joy Cinema official website closer to the opening date. And be sure to spend some money at the snack bar!

Wednesday, September 7

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) presents The Hour That Stretches tonight at 7 pm. A presentation to keep live spoken-word alive, tonight features Wonderland Award-winning Bizarro author Garrett Cook, the Cosmic horror of Dominique Lamssies, Science Fictiion by Wendy Wagner, as well as others. For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Well, if you've ventured onto the Internet in the past couple of days, you've heard about the passing of Gene Wilder. The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) pays tribute to this comic genus tonight at 7:30 pm with a screening of the DARK fairy tale, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Perfect family viewing, if you can get past the chicken beheading during the steamboat ride, this film captures the mood of the original novel, with Wonka coming off as a sarcastic and uncaring jerk (at least till the end). For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the official Hollywood Theatre website.

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Well, you made it to the middle of the week, so it's time to The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) for Weird Wednesday! Tonight's feature is Missile to the Moon, a 1958 Sci Fi film about a moon being trying to get home from Earth. Of course, he's not alone, and our cosmic travelers find the moon inhabited by huge rock creatures and spiders and (of course) a bunch of beautiful women. Okay, the poster above should sum it up for you. The show starts at 9:15 pm and, as always, admission is free (but you must be 21 or older to attend!). Be sure to stop by the concession stand and pick up some tasty treats and drinks, and help support The Joy's efforts to Keep Wednesdays WEIRD!! And don't bring any outside food or drinks, or you might be attacked by a giant moon spider! For more details, visit The Joy Cinema website.

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Portland LOVES The Goonies, and McMenamins Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) knows it. The film plays at 5:30 and 8:30 pm tonight, and at 1 pm on Saturday, September 10. Visit the McMenamins Mission Theater website for more details.

Thursday, September 8

The Funhouse Lounge (2432 SE 11th Ave in Portland, OR) and Ann Gora Productions presents the sequel to Ed Wood's classic you never knew you wanted. Plan 10 from Outer Space, a musical comedy WITH GORILLAS opens tonight at 9:30 pm! Oh, this should be GOOD!!!!!! The show runs September 8 to 10, with an 8 pm performance on Sunday, September 11, then continues with 9:30 pm shows September 14 to 17. Tickets start at $15, and you can find details, as well as a link for advance ticket sales, at the Facebook Event Page.

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Dark Lodge Theater (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) presents John Water's Serial Mom tonight at 8 pm. The film stars Kathleen Turner as a 50s style mom that will do ANYTHING to defend her family from the slights from the outside world, including offing the offending people. For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Friday, September 9

Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) will screen Tremors through September 13. Showtime is 9:30 pm and you will find more details, and advance ticket sales, by visiting the Central Cinema website Upcoming Page and scrolling down the calendar of events.

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The 99W Drive-In (Highway 99 west of Springbrook Rd in Newberg, OR) has a family double feature full of mystery, danger and excitement planned this weekend. First up is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, followed by the Northwest favorite, The Goonies. Showtime is at dusk (of course, it's a drive-in) and the show will go on, rain or shine. For your information, the 99W is having some issues with Goggle, so for more details, stay away from Goggle for now and visit the 99W Drive-In website or the 99W Drive-In Facebook page.

Saturday, September 10

Tickets for the Rose City Comic Con at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd) in Portland, OR, are still available. Advance ticket sales, and updates concerning guests at the con, are available at the official website.

UPDATE: Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, Chad Coleman (Tyreese from AMC's The Walking Dead) and Karl Urban (Dredd) are all scheduled to appear.

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Audry II seems ready to take over Portland this Halloween season. The film version of the off-Broadway play will be shown several times at McMenimun Mission Theater during October, but before that, Portland Center Stage (128 NW 11 Ave in Portland, OR) presents Menken and Ashman's version of Little Shop of Horror on the U.S. Bank Main Stage. Of course, the film is based on the Roger Corman cult classic, but with musical numbers and a singing plant LIVE ON STAGE! If you love the film, you don't want to miss this production!! PCS suggests the production is suitable for ages 12 and up (be aware that children under 6 are not allowed to attend any PCS production). The show runs through October 16 and you can find more details and advance ticket sales at the PCS website.

Sunday, September 11

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the film Labyrinth, as Fathom Events brings the film to theaters across the nation today and on Wednesday, September 14. Showtimes are 2 and 7 pm, with a special introduction to the film and never-before-seen content included. To find a screening near you, and to purchase advance tickets, visit the Fathom Event website link for Sunday's showing, and this Fathom Event website link for Wednesday's showing.

Monday, September 12

Stop by McMenamins Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) for a Cocktail and a Movie (as long as you're 21 or older) as the Roald Dahl Film Fest presents a screening of The Witches at 8:30 pm tonight. The story follows a young boy who is turned into a mouse after discovering a coven of witches lead by Anjelica Huston. Yet he still fights to stop their plan to rid England of all children. You can also catch it on Tuesday, September 13, at 5:45 pm. For more details, visit the McMenamins Mission Theater website.

Thursday, September 15

McMenamins Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) continues the Roald Dahl Film Fest presents with screenings of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory through September 18. Dates and showtimes vary, so for more details, visit the McMenamins Mission Theater website.

Friday, September 16

Friday Night Frights is set to get you ready for THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR with a screening of Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn tonight at 10 pm, at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N. Proctor St in Tacoma, WA). Oh, and I should mention the Cosplay Contest, where coming in your best Evil Dead costume could earn you a Kandarian Dagger from Trick or Treat Studios! Even if you don't dress up, there will still be plenty of prizes to win at the screening. Tickets are $6 at the door. You'll find more details at the Facebook Event Page.

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Stalker Farms Haunted Attractions (8705 Marsh Rd in Snohomish, WA) and Crypticon Seattle present the 4th Annual Free Outdoor Horror Movie tonight at 7:30 pm. This year's feature is the cult classic, Spider Baby, with Lon Chaney Jr! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and food (but NO pets, alcohol or drugs of the legal or illegal type) and hope for dry weather! The screening will open with a few weird trailers, than mayhem will ensue! And, if you didn't notice, admission is FREE!! Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details.

Saturday, September 17

Take part in the fifth Zombie Fest Northwest Disaster Preparedness Festival today from 2 to 6 pm at Normandy Park Towne Center (19803 1st Ave S in Seattle, WA) today from 2 to 6 pm. You'll find a free zombification booth, live music, raffles to raise money for the Highline Schools Foundation and The Friends of Normandy Park Foundation, mock disaster zone zombie caricatures, food, beverages, official t-shirts, a scavenger hunt for kids and loads more. Also, additional parking and a free shuttle is available at The King County Regional Justice Center (19010 1st Ave S in Burien, WA). For more details, visit the Official Website.

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The Olympia Film Society (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) presents a screening of Stanley Kubrick's Lovecraftian Sci Fi classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey tonight at 6:30 pm, and Sunday, September 18 at 7:30 pm. Saturday night's screening will include a post-film discussion by Lesle Shore, Ph. D. So, you might wonder why I consider this film Lovecraftian. Well, it's about an alien race tampering with the evolution of humanity, much like the Elder Things did in At the Mountains of Madness. So, we face the unknown, knowing another race far more advanced than ours is pulling the strings. Yep, Lovecraftian! Check it out for yourself and tell me I"m wrong. For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page and scroll down a bit.

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As the world starts warming up, a newspaper discovers that simultaneous nuclear weapons test have knock the Earth out of orbit and towards the Sun! Yeah, that sucks. The Day the Earth Caught Fire plays at noon today at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA). Part of the Rocket Sci-Fi Matinees series, tickets are just $3. You can find more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, at the Pickford website.

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Bruce Campbell: Last Fan Standing comes to Revolution Hall (1300 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm. This is an all ages, reserved seating show. For more details, you can visit the Facebook Event Page, but if you already know you're buying tickets, visit the Revolution Hall website.

Friday, September 23

Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th Ave in Seattle, WA), in association with Grindhouse Releasing, presents a digital restoration of the gore classic I Drink Your Blood, in its original, UNCENSORED form. No showtime has been announced, so check back here, or visit the Grand Illusion Cinema website, later in the month.

Saturday, September 24

The digital restoration of Don Coscarelli's horror classic, Phantasm, comes to The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm. A pre-recorded Q and A with Coscarelli and actors Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury and Kat Lester takes place after the film. For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Wednesday, September 28

Frankenstein: A Cabaret opens at The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight, running through Sunday, October 2. A modern retelling of the classic horror story, The Broken Planetarium (click the link to visit the troupe's website) uses Shelley's work to explore female sexuality, desire and the drive to create. The site notes this show is appropriate for those 18 years of age or older. For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the theater's official website.

Friday, September 30

Fright Film Month starts early at The Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR) tonight as 1973's The Wicker Man screens through October 6. Yes, it's the good one with Edward Woodward and Sir Christopher Lee, not the remake! Don't miss a chance to catch this classic on the big screen! No word on showtimes yet, but check back here, or visit The Laurelhust website closer to October.

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Help spread the word! If you attend any of these events, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!

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Thursday, September 8, 2016

The Hollywood Theatre just upped the Halloween ante!

Wednesday, September 7, 2016