You'll find some great Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Films in this edition of the Weekly Update!

I've only found a couple of live events taking place this week.  But if you're in the mood for a movie, this edition of the Weekly Update is full of great first-run and re-released films.  From family classics to more adult fare, you're sure to find something great to watch.

Unfortunately, nothing with props coming at you from the ceiling.

I've been working on updating the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, and I would suggest taking a look when you can.  Some of the events, like a screening in Olympia, WA, of Blade Runner: The Final Cut with Sean Young in attendance for a post-film Q and A, are likely to sell out.  

Well, I have to get back to the day job.  Have a great week, stay safe, and I'll be back next Friday with another Weekly Update from The Shadow Over Portland!

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

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.

Back in Theaters

By Crom, Conan the Barbarian is playing at the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22).

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 21).

The horror film Ganja and Hess, starring Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead) and Marlene Clark (The Beast Must Die), is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, February 20).

The Playing with Dolls series at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, February 20) includes screenings of Phil Tippet's Mad God, and Dollman, starring Tim Thomerson.  Visit the link for showtimes.

The Empirical Theater at OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) will host the 2024 Studio Ghibli Film Festival through Sunday, February 25.  You'll find all the details, including the schedule, at the link.

The Sprocket Society brings back The Saturday Secret Matinee to The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) running through Saturday, March 30.  Every show starts with an episode of the serial Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, followed by a secret classic feature, all in GLORIOUS 16mm.  And yes, you can purchase a series pass.  Check the link for hints of the features to be shown.

First Run Features  

The horror rom/com Lisa Frankenstein opens tonight at the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), the Yelm Cinema (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, Thursday, February 22), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February22), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 21), the Ark Lodge Cinema (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, February 18), and the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22).

Poor Things, based on Alasdair Gray's novel about a young woman who is resurrected after her suicide to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation, is playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, February 21), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, Thursday, February 22), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Monday, February 19), and the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22).

Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, is playing at the Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 22) and the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, February 20).

Please check the links to find out if the dubbed or subtitled version is playing at the theater near you.

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

The Crypticon Seattle Film Festival is taking submissions for horror films.  Visit the link for details.  Deadline for regular submissions is March 1.

The 16th Annual Guignolfest 72 Hour Horror Film Contest is taking applications for 2024 now.  Visit the link for details.

The Northwest Flying Saucer Film Festival returns to McFiler's Chehalis Theater (558 N Market Blvd in Chehalis, WA) this September, and will begin accepting submissions of UFO themed shorts, documentaries, animations or music videos from Northwest filmmakers on January 1.  Deadline is August 18, 2024.

The BoneBat Comedy of Horrors Film Fest 2024, taking place on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) is now accepting submissions through Friday, March 1.  Visit the link for details.

February, 2024

Friday, February 16

Friday Night Frights brings Bride of Chucky to the Blue Mouse Theatre (2603 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors , with a pre-film dream themed DJ set and introduction by Violet Hex, is playing at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR).  Doors open, with the DJ set starting at 6 pm.

PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) offers you a Blind Date Night with Tarot Readings tonight starting at 6 pm.  Get a free tarot reading from Margaret Malone, check out the rules and instructions for the evening, then settle in for a "mystery film."  Oh hell, it's obviously The Love Witch.  Look at the photos on the site, it's pretty obvious. Unless we're being mislead.  Regardless, sounds pretty fun for a Valentine's Day celebration.

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will screen the uncut, 4K restoration of 1981's My Bloody Valentine tonight and tomorrow night at 10 pm.

Saturday, February 17

FanExpo Vancouver takes place through Monday, February 19, at the Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Pl in Vancouver, BC).  Visit the link for a list of guests.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show The Wizard of Oz today at 3 pm.  All proceeds from the screening will go to the Elbow Room and the organization's work supporting intellectually and developmentally disabled artists.

The film is also showing at the Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 21).

Sunday, February 18

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) is showing Jordan Peele's sci fi/horror film NOPE at 3 and 7 pm today.

Fathom Events brings David Lynch's Dune back to theaters nationwide today and tomorrow.  Visit the link to find a theater near you.

HEY YOU GUYS!  The OFS Kids Club is showing The Goonies at 1 pm today at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).  Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE!

Monday, February 19

Cross-Faded Cinema with DJ Nicfit brings a classic fantasy to Here-After (2505 1st Ave in Seattle, WA; enter through the alley) tonight at 7 pm.  Doors open at 6 pm.  This is a 21 and older event.

Tuesday, February 20

The CMNYK SciFi Extravaganza at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) invites you to Panic (AKA Bakterion) tonight at 7 pm.  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm.

Wednesday, February 21

HEY YOU GUYS!  The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing The Goonies tonight at 7 pm.

The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) is showing Killer Nerd, about an awkward man pushed into becoming a vengeful nerd with a homicidal twist, at 7 pm tonight.

Thursday, February 22

The new series Horror and Indigeneity, an exploration of how Indigenous Peoples have been depicted in horror cinema (good, bad and horrible), continues at 7:30 pm tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with Bone Tomahawk.  The series is programmed and introduced by Dr. Kali Simmons, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University.

It's a Psycho Beach Party at PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  

Jordan Peele's Us is playing at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) tonight at 8 pm.  

Friday, February 23

Okay, this sounds too weird not to include on the site.  The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will screen Mike Chelsik and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews (Lake Michigan Monster) latest film, Hundreds of Beavers, tonight at 10 pm.  What's the plot, you might ask.  Well, it's about a drunken applejack salesman becoming a hero during a supernatural winter by trapping hundreds of beavers.  Take a look at the poster and imagine the Looney Tunes possibilities.

The film opens on Saturday, February 24, at the Liberty Theatre (315 NE 4th Ave in Camas, WA; scheduled through Thursday, February 29)  Visit the link for dates and showtimes.

The British animated/live action horror film Stopmotion is playing at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, February 29)

It's time for a double feature at SIFF Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist and Jennifer Kent's The Babadook, starting at 6:30 pm tonight.  That's some awesome nightmare fuel for you!

Jordan Peele's NOPE is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 28).

The cult classic Assault on Precinct 13, from one of Jordan Peele's favorite directors, John Carpenter, is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 28).

Hey you guys!  The Goonies is playing at Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, February 28).

Saturday, February 24

The Oregon Symphony will perform a live score to Jurassic Park at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (740 SW Salmon St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm, and tomorrow at 2 and 7:30 pm.

The SIFF Film Center (167 Republican St in Seattle, WA) brings programmer Dan Doody for a scene-by-scene discussion of the vampire classic Let the Right One In today at 10 am.

Sunday, February 25

Charles Laughton's only directorial feature, the dark fairy tale The Night of the Hunter, will be shown in GLORIOUS 35mm at 6 pm tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  Film historian Foster Hirsch will introduce the screening, and will be signing copies of his new book before and after the film.