Things are looking bleak as we head towards THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

 

Man, I feel like the crazy old coot, yammering about a death curse, in an 80s slasher flick.

But don't forget, those guys are always RIGHT!

Okay, I hate to say this yet again, but the current surge of infections caused by the Delta Variant of COVID-19 has causing events to be canceled, and forcing venues to stiffen their safety guidelines.  Many theaters are back to limiting audience size, which makes advance tickets a must.  Also, some venues now require either proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test within the previous 48 hours.

All the medical models I've seen predict infection rates and hospitalizations will continue to climb until at least mid-September.  And if we don't see a drop in those numbers soon after the spike, it might lead to another quiet Halloween season.

So, if you plan on attending any of the events listed below, listed in the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar or the HALLOWEEN 2021 page, please go to the links provided for each event for the most up-to-date information.

The good news is all the events happening this week.  Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans will find plenty of films in local theaters, a Portland-area corn maze offering a sneak peek, and a Halloween Swamp Meet next weekend.  

Of course, the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar is filling up with film series, bazaars, conventions and MUCH MORE almost daily.  And the HALLOWEEN 2021 page has a few more attractions included, so please check both pages out.

If you'd like to support the site, please buy me a coffee on my Ko-fi page.

Stay safe, wear your mask, and I'll be back with another update next week from The Shadow Over Portland!

Ongoing

 

Bella Organic Farm (16205 MW Gillihan Rd in Portland, OR) is looking for actors to populate the Haunted Corn Maze on Friday and Saturday nights in October.  

ScaregroundsPDX is looking for 35+ Event Cast (AKA ScareActors), as well as other positions for event staff and crew.  Visit the link for more details.

 

Sunday, August 29, is the LAST hiring session for Stalker Farms Haunted Attractions 2021 season.  The attraction is looking for actors and securit.  The hiring session take place from 4 to 8 pm at Stocker Farms Country Market Office (10622 Airport Way in Snohomish, WA).  Visit this link to fill out an application BEFORE you attend a session.  Visit the Stalker Farms Haunted Attractions Facebook Page for more details.

 

The 13th Annual Guignolfest: 3-Day Horror Movie Contest is looking for more teams to join the 2021 list.  If you're up to making a 6:66 minute horror short in 72 hours, from script to final edit, visit the link and sign up!

 

Bleedingham: A Northwest Horror Short Film Festival, is accepting submissions for the 2021 program, scheduled to be held in Bellingham, WA, on Halloween weekend.

 

The Slay Film Festival is looking for some great horror short (8 minutes or less) films.  The festival is taking submissions through September 15. 

 

Playing This Week   

   

The remake of Candyman opens tonight at CineMagic Theater (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) through Thursday, September 9; the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) through Thursday, September 2; McMenamin's St Johns Theater and Pub (8203 N Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR) through Thursday, September 9; McMenamins Olympic Club Theater (112 N Tower Ave in Centralia, WA) through Thursday, September 9; and the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR) through Thursday, September 9.  Just don't go into the bathroom and say his name five times in front of the mirror.  That would NOT be good.

 

The Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA) will show Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as part of a 20th anniversary celebration through Wednesday, September 1.  

 

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen Steven Spielberg's sci fi classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial through Thursday, September 2.

 

The Summer Road Trips series at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) brings family favorite The Muppet Movie, and the less-kid friendly Mad Max: Fury Road to the big screen from Friday, August 27 to Thursday, September 2.  Admission to each movie must be purchased separately. 

 

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will screen comic book writer/artist/filmmaker Dash Shaw's animated feature Cryptozoo through Thursday, September 2.

Crypticon Seattle takes place this weekend at the Doubletree Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in Seattle, WA).  Among those scheduled to attend are movie critic Joe Bob Briggs, Cassandra Peterson (Elvira, Mistress of the Dark), Jeremy Davies (Lost, Sleepy Hollow, Ravenous, Twin Peaks), David Naughton (An American Werewolf in London), Lisa Zane (Freddy's Dead), Ken Sagoes (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 and 4), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp, Victor Crowley), Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 and A Nightmare on Elm Street 5), Allan Trautman (Tarman in The Return of the Living Dead and Return of the Living Dead 2), Katherine Kamhi (Sleepaway Camp), Eric Freeman (Silent Night, Deadly Night 2) and effects artists Rob Buchta and Tim Peirson.  Also, local horror filmmaker Joe Sherlock's latest feature, Channel 99, is an official selection for the Crypticon Horror Film Festival, screening at 10 pm on Friday, August 27.  For more details, check back here later, visit the Crypticon Seattle Facebook Page, or the official website.

 

UPDATE:  Actor John Kassir (Tales from the Crypt) has had to cancel his appearance due to a change in his shooting schedule.  Also, actor Billy Zane (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) has canceled his appearance due to the East Coast storms and the resulting effects on his shooting schedule.  Actor Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp, Victor Crowley) will be appearing on Friday and Saturday, August 27 and 28, only due to a schedule change.

 

Spend the last few days of summer too scared to be in the water, as the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) screens the classic Jaws in GLORIOUS 35mm!  You can see it on Friday, August 27 or Saturday, August 28, at 6:30 pm, or at 3 pm on Sunday, August 29.

 

Oh, I HAD to include this one!  The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents Pig, a revenge-thriller starring Nicolas Cage as a reclusive Oregon truffle hunter on the trail of his kidnapped, prize hunting pig.  Yeah, that sounds AMAZING!  And it must be, as the Rio continues to add additional screenings.  You can see it on Saturday, August 28, at 8:15 pm.  The film is also showing at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) through Sunday, August 29.

 

A new take on the Arthurian legend, David Lowery's The Green Knight is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) and the Hollywood Theatre (4211 NE Sandy Ave in Portland, OR) through Thursday, September 2.

 

August, 2021

Friday, August 27

The 7th Annual PDX Drive-In Spectacular concludes their genre offerings tonight at the Portland Expo Center (2060 N Marine Dr in Portland, OR) with the classic horror film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  Gates open at 7 pm, with music by Abronia until dusk, when the movie begins. 

"It's your one way ticket to midnight....  Call it Heavy Metal!" The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) screens the adult animated feature tonight at 7 pm.

 

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) presents Takashi Miike's insane cult classic Dead or Alive tonight at 10 pm. 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen the 80s slasher classic Sleepaway Camp tonight at 11 pm.  If you haven't seen it, here's a chance to see it on the big screen.  Just don't let anyone spoil the ending for you!  

 

Saturday, August 28

You're invited to a Sneak Peek at The MAiZE at The Pumpkin Patch (16511 NW Gillihan Rd in Portland, OR, on Sauvie Island) today and tomorrow, from 9 am to 6 pm.  Admission is just $5.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show returns to the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA), along with the Denton Delinquents to do the Time Warp again!  Purchase approved prop bags at the theater, wear a costume and give yourself over to absolute pleasure.  The doors open and the pre-show begins at 10 pm.  Advance ticket purchases are required.  If you want to bring a bunch of friends and sit together, consider purchasing as a group.  For more details, including a link for advance ticket sales, visit the Kiggins Theatre website. 

 

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will also be screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight, and they invite you to "Be It Yourself."

 

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) pays tribute to late director Richard Donner with a screening of his horror classic The Omen on Saturday, August 28, at 9:30 pm and on Sunday, August 29, at 6:30 pm.

 

Sunday, August 29

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) offers you a final chance to watch James Cameron's sci fi classic Aliens, starring Sigourney Weaver, tonight at 9 pm.  If you miss it, it's game over, man.  Game over!

 

 

Disney's sci fi classic, 1982's Tron, joins the Northwest Film Center's Cinema Unbound Summer Movies and Open-Air Experiences tonight at the Lloyd Center Rooftop Cinema (1317 Lloyd Center in Portland, OR; the entrance is at the West-end parking garage on 10th Ave and NE Halsey).  Doors open at 7 pm, with food and beverages available for purchase (please, no outside food or drinks).  Music begins at 7 pm, with the film starting at dusk.  Advance tickets ensure you won't wait in the ticket purchase line, but DO NOT guarantee entry after 8:30 pm.  No refunds or exchanges for arrivals after the film starts (around 9 pm) or missed screenings.  Bring a chair or blanket, dress for the weather, but leave pets at home.  Click on the link for all the details, than scroll down to the movie link, and check out the other great films in the series! 

 

UPDATE:  This event has been CANCELED.  

 

Monday, August 30

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) offers you a final chance to check out the monster movie A Quiet Place Part II tonight at 9:20 pm.

 

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents a digital restoration of Kinji Fukasaku's cult classic Battle Royale tonight at 7:30 pm.

September, 2021

 

Thursday, September 2

 

McMenamin's Kalama Harbor Lodge (215 Hendrickson Dr in Kalama, WA) presents the musical monster movie Little Shop of Horrors, outside and under the stars in the Westin Amphitheater, tonight at dusk.  At least I'm assuming it's the musical, and not the Corman classic.  The website didn't specify which film will be shown.  Admission is FREE, but minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

 

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will screen the supernatural psychological thriller Personal Shopper, starring Kristen Stewart, tonight at 7 pm.

Friday, September 3

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will show comic book writer/artist/filmmaker Dash Shaw's animated feature Cryptozoo on Friday and Saturday, September 3 and 4, at 10 pm.

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents a 35th anniversary screening of  Stand by Me tonight at 8:45 pm. 

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen the amazing, insane Nicolas Cage horror film Mandy tonight at 11 pm. 

 

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen the anime classic Princess Mononoke through Thursday, September 9. 

 

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen Alfred Hitchcock's classic Vertigo through Thursday, September 9.  

 

Saturday, September 4  

 

The Halloween Swamp Meet at Oaks Amusement Park (7805 SE Oaks Park Way in Portland, OR) takes place today from noon to 7 pm.  Local artists and vendors will have unique items for sale, and a costume contest takes place at 4 pm.  Admission to the Swamp Meet is FREE, but you'll need to purchase bracelets and online tickets for guaranteed ride admission (or buy a ticket there and hope for the best, I guess).  See you there!

 

The bands King Ghidorah, Pink Tornado, and New Not Normals play at the No Fun bar (1709 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight starting at 7 pm.  Admission is $8 cash only, and you must be 21 or older to attend. 

 

UPDATE: This event has been CANCELED.  

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is the place to get your Cage fix this weekend, as they screen the John Woo action film Face/Off, with Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. 

Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) will screen Star Wars: A New Hope from Saturday, September 4, to Wednesday, September 8.

 

Sunday, September 5

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen Japanese auteur Sion Sono's Prisoners of the Ghostland tonight at 10:30 pm and on Tuesday, September 7, at 6:45 pm.  While the plot, involving a ruthless criminal forced to track down a politian's runaway daughter, sounds a bit like Escape from L.A., the film stars Nicolas Cage, who describes it as "the wildest movie I've ever made...", and he's been on a roll, so I think it's worth checking out.