Wow, things are getting weird with local, independent theaters.

Okay, just saying it's not a bad thing that independent theaters are causing me issues.  But I will say it was easier running this site pre-COVID.  

And it's not that most locally owned theaters have started showing first run films. Instead, the problem is how these films are performing, and how quickly theaters will dump a box office dud and change it out for a movie with a wider draw.

Look at Everything Everywhere All at Once.  The film is still in theaters over a year after its release, and theaters keep adding it to their schedule as they dump a faltering blockbuster.  But the film's Oscar wins are only part of the story.  I've noticed that Cocaine Bear is also being added as a filler film before the next (hopefully successful) family blockbuster.  And I think that points to a trend.

Yep, I'm still in theaters!  Not bad for a bear with a habit!!

Since COVID, the window between a film's theatrical release and streaming premiere has narrowed to a point where it's cheaper for a family to watch the latest blockbuster on their big screen TV, rather than shell out a bunch of money for admission and snacks, regardless of whether the film is being screen in a local theater or a major multiplex.

So it makes sense that a locally owned theater, which often only has a single screen, will opt out of continuing to show a failing family film for one that has an appeal to people willing to spend an evening watching a movie in a theater, either as a date night, or because they are single and don't have to pay for a family night out.  It makes sense, given the state of home video systems, for a family to watch a poorly performing movie at home.  With a child's admission being over $10, why not rent the film on a streaming service for about the same price as an adult ticket.  And I'm sure the same applies to local theaters, though ticket prices are often are significantly lower.

Please understand, I'm not blaming locally owned theaters for making decisions in their best interest.  If it keeps them in business, that's great.  I'm just saying it's hard to keep up with all the last minute changes, so please use the links I provide on the site.  You'll get the most up to date information, and possible find a screening later in the week that wasn't there before.

Anyway, let's get to the Weekly Update.  A lot of great stuff is happening, so just scroll down and check it out!

Of course, you can always go to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar to get a heads up on the events happening in the rest of the year.  I've got some updating to do, but hope to have it ready by, I don't know, maybe Tuesday.  But keep checking back, as I update it frequently.

Well, this is going out a bit later than I'd like, so I'm going to sign off.  Take care, stay safe, and I'll be back next week with more great things 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 

Varsity Cheerleader Werewolves LIVE From Outer Space, a cabaret-style production featuring sexy cheerleaders, rebellious youth, evil aliens, 80s music, cabaret dance numbers and puppets, opens tonight at The Chapel Theatre (4107 SE Harrison St in Milwaukie, OR).  The production runs through Saturday, April 8.  I was sold on this by the title alone, but then I read about the puppets!

Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA opens today at the Museum of Pop Culture (located in the Seattle Center; 325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA).  The exhibit features never-before-seen artifacts from the Laika production studios, immersive set displays, character interactive and a sneak peek at the studio's next feature, Wildwood.  The exhibit will be open through Summer 2024.

 

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! 

Film Festival and Series

The Studio Ghibli Film Festival is at the OMSI Empirical Theater (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) 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.

Back in Theaters

The Horror Series Spring Revival 2023 series at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) continues with the creepy cult classic Spider Baby, starring Lon Chaney Jr and a young Sid Haig, playing through Thursday, April 6.  This is a rare opportunity to see the film on the big screen, so don't miss it!

Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning animate feature Pinocchio returns to the big screen at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 6).

The cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, April 5).

Hayat Miyazaki's Porto Rosso is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6). 

The 1984 comedy classic Ghostbusters is at McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6).

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is playing at McMenamins Anderson School (18607 Bothell Way NE in Bothell, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4), St. Johns Theater (8203 N Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4), the Power Station (2126 SW Halsey St in Troutdale, OR; scheduled through Sunday, April 2), and Old St. Francis (700 NW Bond St in Bend, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4).

Still in Theaters

Yes, Everything Everywhere All at Once gets its own category, as it's still playing in theaters A YEAR after its release.  You can find it at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Sunday, April 2), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, April 2) and the following McMenamins locations: Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, April 5), Anderson School (18607 Bothell Way NE in Bothell, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4), Olympic Club (122 N Tower Ave in Central, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4), St. Johns Theater (8203 N Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4), the Power Station (2126 SW Halsey St in Troutdale, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4), and Old St. Francis (700 NW Bond St in Bend, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4).

First Run Features  

The French comedy Smoking causes Coughing deals with a group of superheroes named Tobacco Force, who are sent on a week-long retreat to rebuild their team spirit.  Too bad the Emperor of Evil decides to destroy the Earth at the same time.  The film opens tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Sunday, April 2),  Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), and the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Saturday, April 1). 

The ghost story (I think) The Civil Dead is playing at Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6).

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor among Thieves opens tonight at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 13), Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Liberty Cinemas (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA: scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the  Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, April 5), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, April 2), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6) and the Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6).

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 Tuesday, April 4), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), Studio One Theaters (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), and the St. Johns Twin Cinemas (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4).

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 Tuesday, April 4), the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, April 6), and the Kelso Theater Pub (214 S Pacific in Kelso, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, April 4).

You can read my review of the movie here.

  

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

Sign of the Beast Burlesque is now taking applications to be part of Metalesque Fest 2023, taking place on October 6 and 7 in Portland, OR.  Applications are open through June 1.

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.

March, 2023

Friday, March 31

The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will show Vampire's Kiss, starring Nicolas Cage, tonight and tomorrow at 10 pm.

The 99W Drive-In (3110 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR) carries over this AWESOME double feature.  Check out Scream VI and Cocaine Bear tonight and tomorrow at dusk.  Box office opens at 6 pm.

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will show Wolf Guy: Enraged Lycanthrope, starring Sonny Chiba, tonight at 10:15 pm.

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will show David Lynch's Mulholland Drive through Monday, April 3.

The Wachowski's live action anime Speed Racer is at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11:30 pm.

SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) will screen Alien and Aliens tonight only.  You can buy tickets individually, or spring to make it a double feature.

Mondo Trash brings the slasher movie musical Slumber Party Massacre II to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.

April, 2023

Saturday, April 1

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 this week's film is Space Epics in Cinemascope. 

The International Mermaid Museum (7 S Arbor Rd in Aberdeen, WA) is holding the 2023 Mermaid Festival through Sunday, April 9.  Visit the link for a list of events, which include book signings, music, and, of course, mermaids!

The Washington State Toy Show takes place until 4 pm today and tomorrow at the Washington State Fair - Gold Gate (110 9th Ave SW in Puyallup, WA.  Early bird admission gets you in at 9 am, general admission (two tiers are available) starts at 10 am.

Death is With Me, a documentary by Seattle area filmmaker Ryan Grulich, will have its Seattle premiere at 7 pm tonight at SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA).  It follows paranormal investigator Amanda D. Paulson, who's looking into the mysterious death of waitress Hallie Illingworth in 1937, and other paranormal occurrences surrounding Lake Crescent in  Port Angeles, WA, and finds more than expected.  Complimentary tickets are available at the link above.  Be sure to get yours before the showing.  

Tommy Wiseau will be at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) for the world (pre) premiere of his new film, Big Shark today and tomorrow at 4 pm.  This event will likely sell out, so get your tickets early.

Stanley Kubrick's classic A Clockwork Orange will be screened today and tomorrow at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) in GLORIOUS 35mm.

The Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) will show Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone tonight at 6 pm.  Admission is FREE, and the first 50 people get a Free Snack Pack!

Sunday, April 2

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show the adult animated film Unicorn Wars tonight at 9:20 pm.  The film is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Monday, April 3

Living with Chucky, a documentary written and directed by Kyra Elise Gardner (daughter of special effects artist and puppeteer Tony Gardner) will be at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 6:30 pm.  Kyra Elise Gardner and Tony Gardner will be on Zoom in the theater for a Q and A after the film.

Tuesday, April 4

The CMNYK Sci-Fi Extravaganza! brings 1961's Battle of the Worlds, starring Claude Rains and directed by Antonio Marguerite, to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight only at 7 pm.  Preshow starts at 6;15 pm.

The Moscow Film Society brings the sci fi classic Aliens to the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) tonight at 7 pm.  Admission is FREE.

The Heroic Trio, starring Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mai and Maggie Cheung, to the big screen at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) tonight at 6 pm.  You don't want to miss this insane mix of martial arts and horror on the big screen!

The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) is also screening Executioners, the sequel to The Heroic Trio, tonight at 8:10 pm.

B-Movie Bingo at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen Alien Private Eye (what more do I need to say) tonight at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, April 5

The Olympia Film Society's Reel Oddities series brings Satoshi Kon's animated psychological thriller Perfect Blue to the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) every Wednesday in April at 7 pm.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen Star Trek: First Contact tonight at 7:30 pm. 

Thursday, April 6

Party on, dudes!  Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Olympia Film Society brings a 4K restoration of The Heroic Trio, starring Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mai and Maggie Cheung, to the big screen at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) tonight at 7 pm, on Sunday, April 9, at 4 pm, and Thursday, April 13, at 7 pm.  You don't want to miss this insane mix of martial arts and horror on the big screen!

The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will show Jacques Demy's version of Charles Perrault's 17th century fairy tale Donkey Skin, starring Catherine Deneuve, tonight at 7:30 pm.

Friday, April 7

The sci fi drama Linoleum, about a failing science show host building a rocket, is playing at the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, April 14).

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, April 12).

The zombie rom/comn Shaun of the Dead is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, April 11).  Be aware, the screening on Monday, April 10, is in Hecklevision.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Terry Gilliam's fantasy Time Bandits tonight at 7:30 pm.

Do you want to party?  Well, it's party time at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) as they screen The Return of the Living Dead tonight at 11:30 pm.

The 5th Avenue Cinema (510 SW Hall St in Portland, OR) will show the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit through Sunday, April 9.

Saturday, April 8

If you've got some money and are looking for a date, head to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) for a screening of Frank Henenlotter's horror/comedy Frankenhooker tonight at 9:30 pm.