What a way to start the New Year!

 If this edition of the Weekly Update is a bit late, it wasn't me slacking off on the first week of the new year.  Instead, it was the day job dousing me with all sorts of surprises and hassles.  And the scary thing is, I still have one very long day to go after I finish up Friday.

Yeah, that about sums up the week so far.  Don't see it stopping anytime soon, either.

So, before I have to get back, let's get this update finished.  This coming week is loaded with movies and, well, not much else.  But if you want to see a film, you'll find an amazing variety, from a new horror flick to some classic horror, sci fi and fantasy.

But other events are coming up, and you'll find them at the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar.  And if, somehow, you can't find something you like there, just check back later, as I update the page every chance I get.

Well, better get back to the day job before things really get nasty!  Stay safe, and I'll be back next week with more great events happening under The Shadow Over Portland!

If you'd like to support the site, please visit my Ko-fi page.  Thank you!

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

  

The Museum of Pop Culture (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) has Jim Henson puppets and set pieces from the 2019 Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on display now.  You can read about the display, and the work the museum put into displaying the artifacts, at the link.

 

 

The Marvel Universe of Super Heroes makes a stop at OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) through April 9, 2023.  Marvel (see what I did there) at the hundred of artifacts, from original comic book pages, interactive displays, life-size statues of Marvel heroes, costumes and props from films and TV programs, and MUCH MORE.  Excelsior! 

Back in Theaters

 

 

The sci fi anime classic Akira is showing at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) through Thursday, January 12.

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) continues the January Revival Series: Sci Fi

with Tobe Hooper's gloriously insane space vampire epic Lifeforce through Thursday, January 12.

 

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) keeps the Potter-verse rolling with screenings of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets through Thursday, January 12.  

 

The Jim Henson fantasy Labyrinth is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 11).

 

Guillermo del Toro's dark fantasy Pan's Labyrinth is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 11).

 

First Run Features 

 

The killer doll genre gets an upgrade, as M3GAN is playing at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12),  Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12),  the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 12), Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12), the Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 12), and the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12).  

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is playing at McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR) through Thursday, January 12.

 

The Pale Blue Eye, starring Christian Bale as a detective investigating a murder at a military academy with cadet Edger Allen Poe (Harry Melling), is playing at the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12).

 

Violent Night, featuring Santa Claus taking down a bunch of mercenaries, opens tonight at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 12).   You can read my review of the movie here.

 

 

Bones and All, a coming of age romantic cannibal road film (another film description I never expected to write), is playing at the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; plays through Thursday, January 12) and the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Thursday, January 12).

The black comedy/horror film The Menu is playing at the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January12), and Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 12).

 

Film Festival Submission Information

 

The Crypticon Seattle Film Festival is now open for submissions.  The Late Deadline is April 4, 2023.  Visit the link for all the details.

Auditions

The Majestic Theatre (155 SW 2nd St in Corvallis, OR) is holding auditions for its production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on Monday and Tuesday January 9 and 10, 2023, from 6 to 9 pm, by appointment only.  Click on the link for details.

 

January, 2023

Friday, January 6

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) presents the sci fi anime classic Akira tonight and tomorrow night at 10 pm.

Okay, this one JUST makes the grade, as it involves Shaolin monks and maybe some magic.  And it was filmed in Portland, OR!  VHS Late Night at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) presents Brain Smasher... A Love Story, starting Andrew Dice Clay and Teri Hatcher, in GLORIOUS VHS tonight at 10 pm.  Directed by Albert Pyun (The Sword and the Sorcerer, Radioactive Dreams, Dollman), CineMagic calls this "the strangest film ever shot in Portland."  Read the description and judge for yourself!  VHS Trailers start at 9:30 pm.

 

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show the animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, in tribute to the late voice actor Kevin Conroy, tonight at 7:30 pm.

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show the animated fantasy The Last Unicorn tonight at 6:10 pm. 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show Stanley Kubrick's The Shining tonight at 8:20 pm.

Saturday, January 7

The Sprocket Society presents Saturday Secret Matinees 2023 every Saturday through March 25 at 1 pm, in GLORIOUS 16mm, at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  Each Saturday starts with a new episode from the classic serial King of the Rocket Men, followed by a secret film.  The clue for today and next week's film is It Came from Planet Blech!

 

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Blade Runner: The Final Cut tonight and tomorrow at 7 pm.

 

Luc Besson's sci fi classic The Fifth Element is showing at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) through Wednesday, January 11.

 

 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show all three extended versions of Peter Jackson's classic The Lord of the Rings trilogy today.  You can come in costume, or just stay in your PJs.  The show starts at 11 am.

 

The trilogy is also playing at McMenamin Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR) starting at 11 am.  I'm unsure if it's the extended or theatrical versions being shown.

Sunday, January 8

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's psychological horror Cure will be shown at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight and Tuesday, January 10, at 7:30 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show the Jim Henson fantasy Labyrinth today at 1:45 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Breaking Dawn-Part 1 and Breaking Dawn-Part 2 today starting at 4:20 pm.  You can see just your favorite, or all three for one low cost.

 

 

Bones and All, a coming of age romantic cannibal road film (another film description I never expected to write), is playing at McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR) through Thursday, January 12.

Monday, January 9

The first full-length animated film, the 1926 German feature The Adventures of Prince Achmed, plays at 6:30 pm tonight at SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA).

Tuesday, January 10

Kung Fu Theater brings the samuria gore-fest Shogun Assassin to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

Wednesday, January 11

The Olympia Film Society presents Voyage of the Rock Aliens, starring Pia Zidora and Michael Berryman, at 7 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 18, and 25, at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).

Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain plays at 6 pm tonight at SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA). 

Fathom Events brings Shin Ultraman to theaters tonight and tomorrow.  Check the link to find a theater near you. 

 

Thursday, January 12

 

 

 Camp Napalm presents the vampire film The Hunger at 8 pm tonight at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA).  Drag-hosts Princess Charming and Mae Floods will be present.

 

Friday, January 13

 

Wyrd War brings Jason himself, Kane Hodder, to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) for a screening of Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, in GLORIOUS 35mm, tonight at 7:30 pm.

 

It's the ultimate smackdown, as Freddy vs. Jason plays at 11:30 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC)

 

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) continues the January Revival Series: Sci Fi

with Silent Running through Thursday, January 19. 

 

 

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) keeps the Potter-verse rolling with screenings of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban through Thursday, January 19.

Studio Ghibli's feature Ponyo, in both subtitled and dubbed versions, will be playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 18).

 

John Carpenter's horror/sci fi classic The Thing is showing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, January 18).

 

I hadn't heard about this one until today, but the buzz surrounding the film is pretty intense and I'm sold!  The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show the micro-budget Canadian horror film Skinamarink today at 9 pm, and tomorrow at 10:30 pm. 

The film is also playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 19), he Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Saturday, January 14), the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Monday, January 16), and CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, January 19).

Ferngully: The Last Rainforest is showing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Sunday, January 15).

 

Saturday, January 14

 

The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will show Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World tonight at 10 pm.

 

Lucio Fulci's fantasy film Conquest will be shown at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 10 pm.  Look, it's a Fulci film, so you know it's gonna be not family friendly, right?

 

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) presents a free screening of The Movie Orgy, Joe Dante's megamix of commercials, news reels, clips from feature films and MUCH MORE!  Be aware, this new restoration clocks in at 275 minutes (longer than the new Avatar feature).  Admission is FREE!