Oh damn, I'm running late again...

I don't know what happens to my spare time.  I think I've made a solid plan for everything I want to do during the week, but I often end up cutting back on some things, and rushing to finish others.  And I'm not sure why it happens.  It's not like I misjudge the hours in a day.  That's pretty consistent and hard to mess up.  

Part of the problem could be I underestimate the amount of time I need to sleep, so I end up hitting the snooze button a bit too often.  Maybe I underestimate how long it will take to finish some tasks.  Or I underestimate the rest I need after a stressful shift at the day job, and I drag a bit before starting in on a project after getting home.

Or maybe it's a bit of everything I mentioned above, combining to effectively "erase" an hour or two every day from my waking hours.  Whatever the reason, while it's annoying, I guess it could be worse.

Like being caught in a time loop.  On a work day, and going to work is the only way to find how to break the loop.

But, now you have the latest Weekly Update to check out.  And some great events are coming in the next few days.  OMSI in Portland has started its Studio Ghibli Film Festival, which runs through to April.  The Emerald City Comic Con is this weekend in Seattle.  The Joy Cinema in Tigard starts its Friday Midnight Movie series tonight with The Omega Man, while The Music of Twin Peaks returns to the Alberta Abbey in Portland on Saturday.

Next weekend looks great too, with the adult animated film Unicorn Wars opening at CineMagic in Portland next Friday, and Mad Heidi, the first Swissploitation film, opening at SIFF Cinema Egyptian in Seattle the same day.  And check out Cult of! Star Trek vs Star Wars-A Drag and Burlesque Show on Sunday at Mississippi Pizza/Atlantis Lounge in Portland next Sunday.

If I'm running late again, and you can't wait for me to get the update out, head over to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar.  I have most everything listed on the page by Friday afternoon, so you can plan your evening, even if I'm behind with the official post.  Of course, I've also got listings for the rest of the year, and the dates for Fan Expo PDX in January, 2024 (early bird tickets are on sale now), so you can also make long range plans as well.  Just be aware, I updated it every few days, so you'll want to keep checking back for more great events coming in 2023 and beyond.

Well, that's all for this week.  Stay safe and I'll be back next Friday 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 

 

 

Emerald City Comic Con takes place through Sunday, March 5, at the Washington State Convention Center (705 Pike St in Seattle, WA).  Visit the link for details, and follow the event on Facebook.  Katee Sackhoff, Mercedes Varnado and Simon Kassianides (The Mandalorian) and David Tennant (Doctor Who, Good Omens, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Arrow cast members Stephen Amell, Emily Bett Rickards and Colton Haynes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast members James Marsters, Kristine Sutherland and Charisma Carpenter, Twin Peaks cast members Ray Wise, Sheryl Lee and Sherilyn Fenn, Neve Campbell (Scream, The Craft), Matthew Millard (Scream, Scooby-Doo) and Tom Skerritt (Alien, The Dead Zone; appearing Sunday only), Veronica Cartwright (Alien, The Birds, Invasion of the Body Snatchers; appearing Sunday only), Mark Ruffalo (MCU's Hulk), and Lori Petty (Tank Girl) are scheduled to appear.

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

David Cronenberg's psychological drama/kind-of body horror film Crash is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 8).

The sci fi dystopian film Snowpiercer is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 8).  Given the recent weather patterns, this should be required viewing.

Mary Lambert's adaptation of Stephen King's Pet Sematary is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9).

Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke is playing in both dubbed and subtitled versions at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9).

The Studio Ghibli Film Festival opens on Friday, March 3, at the OMSI Empirical Theater (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR).  The festival runs through Sunday, April 2, and features subtitled and dubbed versions of some GREAT films.  With over 30 days of films, I'm not listing them all.  I've got enough gray hairs.  Just visit the link for the schedule and to buy tickets.

The animated classic The Iron Giant is playing at the McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9).

Travel the multiverse again as Everything Everywhere All at Once is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, March 5), and the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9).

The film plays Saturday and Sunday, March 4 and 5, at the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR).

The film opens on Friday, March 10, at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Monday, March 13).

First Run Features  

If you haven't seen the trailer online, yes, this is a real movie and it looks INSANE IN THE BEST WAYS!  Cocaine Bear is playing at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, March 8), the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9),  the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, March 8),  Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, March 7), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, March 5), SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), and CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9), and the following McMenamins locations: Olympic Club (112 N Tower Ave in Central, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16) and Power Station (2126 SW Halsey St in Troutdale, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).

You can read my review of the movie here.

The horror film no one expected, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, is playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR) through Saturday, March 4). 

Brandon Cronenberg's latest film, Infinity Pool (starring Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård), is playing at the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 9).

  

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

The Portland Horror Film Festival is accepting submissions of short and feature length, independently produced horror films through March 28.  Visit the link for more details.

The Northwest Flying Saucer Film Festival is accepting UFO/Alien themed short films, documentaries, animation or music videos for the festival, which takes place on September 22 at McFiler's Chehalis Theater (558 N Market Blvd in Chehalis, WA). Submissions are accepted on FilmFreeway through July 15.

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

March, 2023

 

Friday, March 3

The Midnight Move series at the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) kicks off with a bang, or multiple bangs, of gunfire.  Can The Family tear the guns from Neville's cold dead hands? Find out tonight, as they show The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston, Anthony Zebra and Rosland Cash,  at midnight.

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will show the new 4K restoration of John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 tonight and tomorrow night at 10 pm. 

The horror film The Invitation is showing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).  Admission is FREE, but you must RSVP at the link above.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) brings Wes Craven's original Scream back to the big screen tonight at 11:30 pm.

VHS Night at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) presents Drive (no, not that one), starring Mark Dacascos as a man with a power booster in his chest causing his martial arts abilities to reach superhuman levels, in GLORIOUS VHS tonight at 10 pm.  Doors open at 9 pm, with VHS trailers starting at 9:30 pm.

The Feminist March 2023 series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) brings Tank Girl, starring Lori Petty, to the big screen in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, March 4

The Music of Twin Peaks returns to the Alberta Abbey (126 NE Alberta St in Portland, OR) stage tonight at 8 pm.

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 Espionage!  

The 2020 restoration of the animated sci fi classic Akira is at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11 pm, and on Wednesday, March 15, at 9:30 pm.

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) brings Bride of Chucky back to the big screen tonight at 10 pm.  The poster tag line says it all.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show the director's cut of David Cronenberg's body horror classic Videodrome tonight and tomorrow at 6 pm.

The 7th St Theatre (313 7th St in Hoquiam, WA) will show Stanley Kubrick's classic dark comedy Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb tonight at 7:30 pm.

 

The Olympia Film Society presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with shadowcast by Riff Raff's Street Rats, at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) tonight at midnight.  Doors open at 11 pm.

Monday, March 6

M3GAN will dance and slash her way across the screen of the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9:30 pm.

You can read my review of the film here.

Tuesday, March 7

CMNYK brings Gappa to the Sci-Fi Extravaganza at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm.

Wednesday, March 8

Hail to the King, baby!  Okay, it's from a different movie, but it fits the Reel Oddities screening of Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-Tep, starring Bruce Campbell as Elvis in a Texas nursing home battling a soul sucking Egyptian mummy.  The film also includes Ossie Davis as a "dyed" JFK, Reggie Bannister as a health care worker, and is a terrific commentary on growing old in the US.  This movie is AMAZING, and shouldn't be missed on the big screen.  It's showing at the Capital Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) on tonight and on Wednesday, March 15 and 22 at 7 pm.  Damn, Campbell should have been given an Oscar nomination for his performance.  DON'T MISS IT! 

Thursday, March 9

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) brings Dreadnaught, a Hong Kong mix of comedy/slasher/gorgeously choreographed action flick to the big screen tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) will show the Disney sci fi cult classic Tron, with Spanish subtitles, tonight at 6 pm.  This screening is sponsored by Coos Health and Wellness.  Admission is FREE.

Oh Cthulhu, there's another one?  How many idiot have to try and top the previous Ghostface?  It's not like it worked well for the other posers. Oh, it's different because its Ghostface takes Manhattan.  Scream VI opens tonight at the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, March 16), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 16), and Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16). 

Friday, March 10

The sci fi comedy classic Back to the Future is showing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 15).

The Japanese horror classic Ringu (The Ring) is showing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, March 14).

The snowed out screening of The Seventh Curse at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will take place tonight at 9 pm.  Show up with your ticket or confirmation for the February 22 screening and you'll be let in. 

Described as a low-key buddy film with a supernatural twist, The Civil Dead opens tonight at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 15).  A live virtual Q and A with director/co-writer/co-star Clay Tatum and co-writer/co-star Whitmer Thomas will follow the Friday premiere.

Unicorn Wars, described as a Spanish-French adult animated fantasy/drama/horror, anti-war feature, has a Portland exclusive release at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 16).  Oh, did I mention the plot revolves around the war between religiously bigoted teddy bears and environmentalist unicorns?  This sounds AWESOME!

Called the first Swissploitation film, Mad Heidi, which sees the titular character becoming a kick-ass hero out to liberate her country for cheese fascists (yep, that right; cheese fascists) opens at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA; showtimes TBA).  Be aware, the film is subtitled.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show the dark sci fi classic Children of Men tonight at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, March 11

The Signature Edition of The Iron Giant (featuring two all-new scenes) will be at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) today at 12:30 pm. 

Sunday, March 12

Cult of! Star Trek vs Star Wars - A Drag and Burlesque Show takes place at 8 pm tonight at Mississippi Pizza/Atlantis Lounge (3552 N. Mississippi Ave in Portland, OR).  Will it solve the debate as to which franchise is the best?  Probably not, but it will be FUN!

Cocaine Bear (2023)

The earliest animal amok movie I remember seeing was 1954’s The Naked Jungle, with Carlton Heston’s South American cocoa plantation threatened by a swarm of ravenous army ants. Since than, I’ve seen plenty more, with the animals just being animals (Jaws), or triggered into a rampage by a depleted ozone layer (Day of the Animals), pollution (Prophecy) or any other modern concern about the environment. 

Except for drugged out wildlife, which director Elizabeth Banks and writer Jimmy Warden leading this emerging sub genre with Cocaine Bear.  And what a glorious first entry it is, with plenty of gory gags and funny one liners to keep you interested during its short run time.

It's like mana from Heaven.  Keep it coming, baby!

VERY loosely based on a true story of a drug smuggler ditch his load of cocaine from a plane, to have it eaten by a black bear, the film takes extreme liberties with what happened afterwards.  In real life, the bear OD’ed and is now an exhibit in a Kentucky mall. As that would make a really dull movie, Warden spices thing up by imagining the bear developing a taste for the drug and going on a rampage to get more sweet, sweet nose candy. 

Getting caught in the bear’s search for its next fix is Sari (Keri Russell, The Americans, Antlers) searching the forest for her daughter Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince, The Turning) and her friend Henry (Christian Convery, Sweet Tooth).  Also in the forest is Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.,Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Eddie (Alden Ehenreich, Solo: A Star Wars Story), sent by drug dealer Syd (Ray Liotta, in his final film role) to recover the missing cocaine. 

Add in a few more characters as bear fodder and, as expected, mayhem ensues. 

Do I smell like cocaine?  Please tell me I don't smell like cocaine.  If I do, I'm so screwed.

Before we get to anything, let's talk about the gore, as it's glorious.  In a Vanity Fair interview, Banks talks about loving Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead, and it shows.  The gory attacks are bloody, and at times, quite realistic.  But the more extreme moments are injected with a sense of humor, as well as the aftermath, that would fit in Raimi’s universe and have you laughing out loud.  I know I did.

The CGI bear is fine, as I’m sure Weta stretched their budget to deliver some okay creatures.  But it’s hard to quibble with occasionally sub-par CGI, as this isn't a major studio release.  And I suspect you’ll be laughing too hard at the mayhem, and how the bear reacts to ingesting cocaine, to really notice the flaws.

The acting is much better than you’d expect, and given the cast, I’m not surprised.  Everyone delivers a solid performance, giving the film a better sense of believability than you might expect from a lower budget creature feature. 

Decent actors in an obvious B-movie?  That hasn't happened in a long time

That said, the film does drag at times, by allowing the actors to perform and develop their characters.  I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but with a title like Cocaine Bear, I wish the film had a bit more coked-out bear action and a little less character development.  I'm sure the script giving depth to the characters is what attracted such a solid cast, and I'm fine with that.  It lead to some really terrific one-liners and great comedic moments.  Forgive me for wanting a bit more mayhem.

As expected, The Asylum, ever willing to jump on a hot trend in movies, plans to release Attack of the Meth Gator this summer.  While I’m sure it will be crap, Cocaine Bear is CRAP-TASTIC, a gloriously gory creature feature better than you'd expect.  Though it might drag, surprising given its short running time, it’s worth checking out before other studios ruin this sub genre.  It’s a solid addition to the nature runs amok filmography, and a great time at the movies.  I haven't had so much fun at a horror movie since Slither.  And given Bank's high praise of Raimi's movies, I'd say that's a complement at the highest level.  I say, check it out!

Yeah, we knew it was coming.  No surprise there.