I don't know if blockbuster fatigue is a real thing, but it seems most of the high profile summer movies thus far haven't done well at the box office. And even the hot weather doesn't appear to be driving people into a dark, air conditioned theater.
I love having the theater to myself, but I wish the movie wasn't so familiar.
But for Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans, plenty of other options exist. And this edition of the Weekly Update is full of great films and live events to get you out of the heat and away from the multiplex.
If you want to make summer plans for later in the month, or check out what's coming in the next 6 months, head to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar. It's full of events taking place in the rest of 2023, and beyond!
Well, time to get back to the day job. Stay safe and I'll be back with more great things taking place under The Shadow Over Portland.
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Happening This Week
Live Attractions
The Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR) will host Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio through September 17. If you've seen the film (and even if you haven't yet, but what are you waiting for?), you don't want to miss this exhibit into the making of a stop-motion classic.
Stranger Things: The Experience comes to a capacious warehouse at 1750 Occidental Ave S in Seattle, WA, through Sunday, August 6. Children under 5 years of age will not be admitted due to content, and anyone under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult. You have to expect some real scares when you enter the Upside Down.
Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA is open 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.
Back in Theaters
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It must be Shark Week at the McMenamin Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR), with screenings of Deep Blue Sea, The Shallows, and, of course, Jaws through Thursday, July 13.
The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) will show The Road Warrior in GLORIOUS 35mm through Thursday, July 13.
Well, this one seems timely. The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) is showing the 1977 Jaws-inspired Orca: The Killer Whale through Tuesday, July 11.
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The Silver Screen Society continues showing Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) through Thursday, July 13. Not all films play everyday, so visit the link for showtimes.
The 1995 fantasy film Jumanji is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd; scheduled through Thursday, July 13)
First Run Features
Insidious: The Red Door opens tonight at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd; scheduled through Wednesday, July 12), and the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13).
The sci fi buddy comedy Biosphere is playing at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), and SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 13). Post-film Q and A with director Mel Eslyn at the 7:30 pm screening on July 10).
Wes Anderson's sci fi romantic comedy/drama Asteroid City is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Salem Cinema (1227 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Living Room Theatres (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, July 9), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Monday, July 10), the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13) the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 13), and the Kenworthy Preforming Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled through Sunday, July 16).
Film Festival Submission Information
Time to start assembling your filmmaking friends for The 15th Annual Guignolfest: 3-Day Horror Film Contest. For more details, visit the event's Facebook page or website.
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.
July, 2023
Friday, July 7
The Midnight Movie at the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Portland, OR) is the 1931 Universal Monster classic Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff.
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VHS Night at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Frank Henenlotter's horror comedy classic Brain Damage in GLORIOUS VHS tonight at 10 pm. Vintage VHS trailers open the show at 9:30 pm.
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The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is showing Tobe Hooper's horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre through Sunday, July 9.
Brian DePalma's Body Double plays at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 10 pm.
Violet Hex presents the cult musical fantasy Xanadu at 8 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR). Doors open a 7 pm, with a pre-film drag show starting the event.
Saturday, July 8
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Summer Movies at Oregon State Parks brings the "kind of" family friendly horror film Poltergeist to Rooster Rock State Park in Corbett, OR, tonight at dusk.
The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will show the cult sci fi film The Hidden tonight at 7 pm.
Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) will show David Lynch's Mulholland Drive today and tomorrow.
Sunday, July 9
Fathom Events brings Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind to the big screen nationwide today and Tuesday, July 11, as part of the Studio Ghibli Fest 2023. Visit the link to find a theater near you.
Monday, June 10
#MonsterMonday at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen the sci fi/horror/action classic Aliens tonight any 9 pm.
The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will show the 1972 Soviet Union sci fi classic Solaris tonight at 7 pm.
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Fathom Events brings Castle in the Sky to the big screen nationwide today and Wednesday, July 12, as part of the Studio Ghibli Fest 2023. Visit the link to find a theater near you.
Tuesday, July 11
Burlynomicon, a darkly decadent burlesque revue, returns to The Coffin Club (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR) tonight at 8 pm. You can buy tickets in advance, or arrive when the doors open at 7 pm for a change at snagging a general admission seat.
Wednesday, July 12
BECU Outdoor Movies at Marymoor Park (6064 West Lake Sammomish Pkwy NE in Redmond, WA) brings the multiple Oscar winning Everything Everywhere All at Once to the outdoor screen tonight at dusk. "Doors" open at 7:30 pm, with live music by Mike Hopkins starting at 8 pm.
Thursday, July 13
Wyrd War presents the animated classic Wizards in GLORIOUS 35mm at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.
Friday, July 14
The Cinema of Horrors Haunted House (1301 Grade St in Kelso, WA) invites you to try and live through the Zombie Outbreak: Survive the Outbreak, Battle the Undead through Sunday, July 16. This immersive laser tag experience allows you to face off against hordes of zombies. The "weapons" will look and feel like the real thing, with weighty metal construction and realistic recoil. Hope you're up for it, though you might want to bring some friends! The event runs from 6 pm to midnight.
The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will present a 50th anniversary screening of the sci fi animated classic Fantastic Planet tonight at 11 pm.
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The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show the 1973 folk horror classic The Wicker Man through Monday, July 17. No bees in this one!
Saturday, July 17
VHS Uber Alles brings another only available on VHS film to The Grand Illusion (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) tonight at 9:30 pm in, of course, GLORIOUS VHS. The untitled feature involves a "total dork" watching self-help videos to help him pick up women. And while those don't work for him, a book that teaches him to harness the power of the mind for influence and control sure does, though with some unintended (but totally expected) consequences.
The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will screen the sci fi animated classic Fantastic Planet tonight at 7 pm.
Sunday, July 16
Wyrd War's Dungeon Double Feature takes over the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) ends their final day of The Dungeon is Alive! with an abbreviated edit of the 1922 Dutch classic Hasan, with a live, original score by Cold Sanctum, followed by a surprise satanic panic feature film from the early 80s (oh, that should be fun). The film starts at 7 pm, but arrive early and wander a dungeon festival market in the upstairs lobby.
The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will show a 50th anniversary screening of 1973's The Wicker Man tonight at 6:45 pm.