Wednesday, February 22, 2017

February ends with a bang, and March is shaping up to be busy for Northwest genre fans!

Well, President's Day was last Monday and, based on the protest here in Portland, people are still upset at the results of the last election.  Say what you will, at least most of the candidates were visible during the campaign season, unlike the one that never showed up....

It appears the stars were not aligned last year
and this candidate slept through the campaign.

Come to think of it, things seem pretty crazy right now, so Cthulhu's campaign promise of insanity for all seems to have come to pass.  Hey, maybe the Great Old One did pull a November surprise and no one noticed... 

Well, enough political musings, it's time for the Weekly Update and I have an update on the screening of King of the Monsters at The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR, details on Miyakocon in Salem, OR this Saturday, the VHS Uber Alles screening in Seattle, WA and the horror anthology XX screening at the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, WA, starting on March 3.

And be sure to check out the Horror Calendar, for details on March genre offerings at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, BC, Carrie: The Musical opening in Bellevue, WA, screenings of the original The Wicker Man, as well as the remake, in Seattle, WA, and the cannibal horror film Raw opening at Cinema 21 in Portland, OR.  Showtimes have yet to be announced for some of these events, so be sure to check back later.  And take a look at the listings for the rest of 2017, as I'm added events occurring around the Pacific Northwest through October!

You can get your event listed on The Shadow Over Portland with surprising ease.  Just send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll list it on the site.  And remember, listing your event is FREE, and you'll reach hundreds of readers in the area.

And if you attend any of the events listed on the site, please let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!

Ongoing 



The Lure, a demented Polish musical about vampire mermaids plays through Thursday, February 23, at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR).  The film is presented in Polish with English subtitles.  For more details, including showtimes and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Cinema 21 website.

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Mental Trap Escape Room Games (3855 SW Murray Blvd in Beaverton, OR) has opened the Dead End Alley Ghost Trap, an Escape Room Game encompassing a real City Alley!  Your team of 4 to 10 players are a group of Ghost Hunters working to gain access into several buildings to capture escaped ghosts from an Entity Containment Unit breach.  This Escape Room contains lifelike gore and decay, loud noises and realistic collapsing buildings, as well as potential dense fog and strobe lights!  The game is open for a limited time (the event is offering bookings through March 20), so be sure to check out the Mental Trap Escape Room Game Facebook Page or Website for all the details.

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Capcom and iam8bit is bringing the Resident Evil Escape Experience to Portland through Sunday, March 5.  Tickets are going fast, with only a few openings available in February, so get your tickets soon!  Visit the link for more details.

Open Film Submission

Please visit the Open Film Submission page for details on several local film festival accepting submissions at this time.

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During February, Women in Horror Month, the Portland Horror Film Festival is waving submission fees for women directors.  Check out the Portland Horror Film Festival Facebook Page for more details.

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During February, Women in Horror Month, PDXtreme Film Festival will offer 25% off submission fees for all films directed or written by women.  Visit the PDXtreme Fest Facebook Page for the required code and a link for submitting your film.

February, 2017

Wednesday, February 22



"Wanna date?"  Well, mark this date down as Hotel Broslin screens the cult classic Frankenhooker tonight at Obsidian (414 4th Ave E in Olympia, WA).  The event starts at 9 pm with VHS/DVD/records/oddball memorabilia to buy, sell or trade.  Admission is free, but you can enter into a raffle by bringing a can of food for the Thurston County Food Bank.  Also, you must be 21 or older to attend.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Prepare for the Invasion of the Star Creatures, tonight's Weird Wednesday offering from The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR).  A low budget, low brow sci fi comedy written by Jonathan Haze (from Corman's The Little Shop of Horrors), this film is described as "so helplessly bad that it's almost unwatchable" in Bill Warren's book Keep Watching the Skies!  Sounds pretty WEIRD to me, and best of all, admission is FREE!  Remember, you must be 21 or older to attend.  And don't try sneaking in outside food or drinks, as this will likely incur the wrath of the Star Creatures!  Avoid that by stopping at the concession stand and buying some tasty treats, and do your part to help the Joy Cinema keep Wednesdays WEIRD!!  The show starts at 9:15 pm.  For more details, visit the Joy Cinema website.

Thursday, February 23



PIFF After Dark selection Daguerrotype, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's French ghost story, screens tonight at 5:45 pm at the Valley Cinema Pub (9360 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway in Beaverton, OR).  Please note, the movie is in French with English subtitles.  For more details on the film, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit this link.

Friday, February 24



PIFF After Dark continues at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) with the eco-horror film Without Name at 10:30 pm.  For more details on the film, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit this link.

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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) presents a new 4K transfer of 1971's The Zodiac Killer.  Produced and directed by Tom Hanson (who previously owned a chain of pizza restaurants), the film was made with the goal of capturing the real Zodiac Killer.  During theatrical screenings in San Francisco, Hanson and actors from the film constructed traps in the theater in an attempt to lure the killer into the open and apprehend him!  The film constructs a back story for the killer, including the idea that pet rabbits told him to kill, creating one of the strangest films dedicated to the murderer.  Joe Ziemba and Sebastian Del Castillo, from the American Genre Film Archive, and Lisa Petrucci from Something Weird video will be in attendance.  The film starts at 9 pm.  For more details on the screening, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Grand Illusion Cinema website.

Saturday, February 25



The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents a tribute to writer/director John Fasano with a screening of Zombie Nightmare tonight at 9:15 pm.  The film, which stars Adam West, Jon Miki-Thor and Frank Dietz (who will be in attendance), deals with a young man killed by a gang, only to be resurrected by a voodoo priestess to avenge his death.  And the soundtrack includes music from Motorhead, Girlschool, Thor and Deathmask.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.    

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It's a good day to spend the evening at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) as Kong: Long Live the King! screens tonight at 7 pm.  This documentary explores the enduring appeal of this classic monster, from the 1933 classic to modern times.  Director Frank Dietz and producer Trish Geiger will be in attendance.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

UPDATE: Special Makeup FX legend Chris Walas (The Fly) will be in attendance.
 
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PIFF After Dark continues at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) with Andre Ovredal's (Troll Hunter) latest, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, tonight at 10:30 pm.  For more details on the film, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the link.

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VHS Uber Alles presents a screening of Death Warmed Up (AKA Death Warmed Over), a New Zealand sci fi/horror film, tonight at 9 pm at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  The story revolves around Michael, the victim of a mad scientist's experiments, who spends seven years in a mental institution for murdering his parents.  After his release, Michael sets out on a mission of revenge against the doctor who programmed him for murder.  Presented in GLORIOUS VHS (or maybe Beta, based on the FB page illustration), this film is pretty hard to find on the home video market, so this might be your best chance to see it.  And tickets are just $2!  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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MiyakoCon 2, an anime fan fest for Salem, OR, takes place today at the Red Lion Hotel Salem (3301 Market St NE in Salem, OR).  Sorry for the late notice on this one, anime fans, but I just found out about the con a couple days ago.  If you're interested, and will be in the Salem area today, visit the Facebook Event Page for more details and a link to advance ticket sales.

Sunday, February 26




The Vancouver Badass Film Festival presents Badass III starting at 2 pm today at The Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway in Vancouver, BC). The festival will present the only Vancouver screening of the 35mm exploitation epic, Frankenstein Created Bikers, and is expected to sell out fast.  Visit the Facebook Event Page or the VBAFF website for more details and advance ticket sales.

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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) presents Trailer Apocalypse Redux from Grindhouse Releasing tonight at 7 pm in GLORIOUS 35mm.  Prepare for 90 minutes of rare vintage trailers, featuring blaxploitation, sexploitation, horror, mondo, martial arts and other genres "not seen since the flea-ridden heydays of 42nd St."  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Grand Illusion Cinema website.

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The Zymoglyphic Museum (6225 SE Alder in Portland, OR) will be open to the public today from 11 am to 5 pm.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page

Monday, February 27



Grindtopia presents Grindtopia 3: The First Annual Black History Month Spectacular tonight starting around 6 pm at Hattie's Hat Backroom (5231 Ballard Ave NW in Seattle, WA).  You must be 21 or older to attend.  The spectacular starts around 6 pm with Ganja and Hess, followed by Coffy around 8 pm and That Man Bolt around 9:45 pm.  Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details.

March, 2017

Thursday, March 2 



The Emerald City Comicon comes to the Washington State Convention Center (705 Pike St in Seattle, WA) on March 2 though 5.  Guests have been announced, including the edition of Robert Englund (the ORIGINAL Freddy Kruger!), along with Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye in The Avengers films) and Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit, Ant-Man), Vincent D'Onofrio (Daredevil, Sinister), Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead) and Todd McFarlane (founder of Image Comics and creator of Spawn).  Four day passes and tickets for Saturday are sold out.  Visit the official website for more details and a link to advance ticket sales (while single day passes last).
 UPDATE: Sunday tickets have sold out. Thursday and Friday tickets are still available. 

Friday, March 3



Jim Henson's classic dark fable, The Dark Crystal, plays tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) at 11;45 pm (doors open at 11:15 pm).  Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Rio Theatre website.

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XX, a all-female-helmed horror anthology, opens today at the Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave in Seattle, WA).  Showtimes are 8:30 pm tonight and tomorrow (Saturday, March 4), and at 4 and 8 pm on Sunday, March 5.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Northwest Film Forum website.

Saturday, March 4



The Museum of Pop Culture (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) is hosting the Science Fiction and Fantasy Celebration tonight at 7 pm.  This all ages events features special guests, themed gaming and activities, live music, trivia (for those 21 and older) and more!  Tickets include admission to MoPOP's Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic, Star Trek, Exploring New Worlds and the new Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame Gallery.  Costumes are encouraged.  Tickets are $22 ($18 to MoPOP members), $15 for youths 5 to 17.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page