Well, times they are a changing for local theaters.

I've noticed an interesting trend with local movie theaters over the past few weeks.  With major studios releasing fewer films (due to the recent strikes), and major releases underperforming (like The Fall Guy), theaters are falling back on showing older classics.  And we need to support this trend.  I'm fine with a blockbuster playing at local theaters, but I'm enjoying the release of classic films, like the remastered version of Dawn of the Dead (which was amazing!), and the multiple re-releases you'll find below.  These classic films, from all genres, deserve to be seen on the big screen.

 I'm here to chew bubble gum and watch a classic and/or weird flick.  And I'm buying more bubble gum at the concession stand to support this theater.

I love going to theaters showing older films on the big screen.  It was so much fun watching Dawn of the Dead on the big screen, and hearing the gasps from people during the gruesome moments.  And, watching films on the big screen allows you to notice nuances in an actor's performance that might be missed on your TV.  

I know the summer movie season is coming, and plenty of theaters will be screening the latest blockbusters.  And I'm fine with that.  You'll notice I'm mentioning Furiosa in this update, because I wanted to (and it's my blog), and because I hope you'll check the film out at a local theater, rather than some multiplex.  We need to keep them open, and the only way to do that is to spend your money there.  

However, I'd love to see them showing more independent films, which don't have the distributors to get them into multiplexes.  It's not as if the theaters would have to screen such films for a full week.  One or two screenings could draw enough of a crowd that would generate a nice profit (at least I assume that's the case, as I have no idea the details involved in running a movie theater).  Still, it could build a wider audience for independent filmmakers, and tap into an audience hungry for such fare.

Okay, enough of that.  Let's get to the Weekly Update, which is full of great Pacific Northwest genre events that will Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans busy for the next week.

Should you want to delve deeper into the upcoming year, the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar is updated at this time.  Just remember, I keep adding to it weekly, so keep checking back.

That's what I have for now.  Have a great week, stay safe, and I'll be back next Friday with more great things happening under The Shadow Over Portland!

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

Saw the Musical, an unauthorized parody of the film, is coming from New York to the Alberta Abbey (126 NE Alberta St in Portland, OR) through June 9.  As you might guess, the Abbey is issuing a parental advisory for explicit content.  Oh, and there is a "splash zone!"  Visit the link above for tickets.

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

George Romero's zombie classic Dawn of the Dead is playing at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled through Saturday, May 18).

The 99W Drive-In (3110 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR) is showing the sci fi/horror classic Alien after Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes through Sunday, May 19.

Hundreds of Beavers invade the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled through Saturday, May 18), and the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

The folk horror film Eyes of Fire is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

Animay at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) continues tonight with the dubbed version of the sci fi Ghost in the Shell, playing through Thursday, May 23.

The anime sci fi psychological thriller Paprika is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 22).  The film is in Japanese with English subtitles.

The Oscar winning Everything Everywhere All at Once is playing at The Grand Cinema (6067 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

The Films of Denis Villeneuve series at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, May 22) includes his doppelgänger psychological thriller Enemy (with writer Javier Gullon in attendance for a Q and A after the film), the sci fi film Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049.  Visit the link for dates and showtimes.

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The OMSI Sci-Fi Film Festival opens today in the OMSI Empirical Theater (1945 SE Water Ave in Portland, OR) and runs through (checks the site) holy Cthulhu, Thursday, May 23!  Nope, not listing everything, but I will say the selections are pretty strong.  '78's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, three films from John Carpenter, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, '53's The War of the Worlds,  and the festival ends with a screening of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga!  All on the Empirical Theater's four-story screen!!  Visit the link for all the details.

Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace is playing at the Skyline Drive-In (182 SE Brewer Rd in Shelton, WA), after Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, through Sunday, May 19.

Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, is playing at the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 19).  Please check the link to find out when the dubbed or subtitled version is playing.

First Run Features  

I Saw the TV Glow, about a boy introduced to a mysterious late-night TV show, only to find his view of reality begin to crack, is playing at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23), the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 23), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23), and The Grand Cinema (6067 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

The film opens on Friday, May 24, at SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 30).

Aggro Dr1ft, about an assassin on a mission to kill a demonic crime lord, is playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Saturday, May 18).  This experimental film is presented entirely in infrared photography.

The film is also showing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) on Thursday, May 16, at 9 pm, and on Sunday, May 19, at 7:30 pm, and on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).

Well, if you're interested, The Strangers: Chapter 1 (yep, it's a prequel and the first of a new trilogy, with the second being releasing this year!) is playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 23), and Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

Sasquatch Sunset, which follow a family of Sasquatches for a year as they struggle with the changing world around them, is playing at the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 23) and the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 19).

The film is also playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) on Wednesday, May 15, at 8:45 pm.

The Beast, a sci fi romantic drama loosely based on Henry James' The Beast in the Jungle, is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, May 21).  It opens on Thursday, May 30, the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Thursday, June 6).

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is playing at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

Film Festival and Stage Performance Submission Information 

The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon is accepting submissions for the 2024 festival in Portland, OR.  Visit the link above for all the details, as there are multiple deadlines (the final one is on August 1 for limited films).

The 16th Annual Guignolfest 72 Hour Horror Film Contest is taking applications for 2024 now.  You can also watch the trailer on YouTube.

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.

May, 2024

Friday, May 17

Paranormal Cirque II invites you to face your fears as they invade the Tacoma Mall (4502 S Steele St in Tacoma, WA) through Monday, May 20.  Please note, no one under 13 years of age will be admitted.  Those 13 to 17 years of age must by accompanied by an adult.

The McMinnville Sci-Fi Film Festival takes place tonight and tomorrow at various locations in McMinnville, OR.  Visit the link for details.

The surreal slasher flick The Last Slumber Party is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 9:30 pm.  Be aware, the Saturday screening has SOLD OUT.

Friday Night Frights brings Dario Argento's Opera to the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Whoa!  The Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) is showing the sci fi classic The Matrix tonight at 8 pm.

The cult classic Mad Max is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 11 pm.

Saturday, May 18

The Portland EcoFilm Festival at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the ecological, musical Afrofuturism film Neptune Frost today at 2 pm.

The folk horror classic The Wicker Man (no bees in this one) is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm. 

The Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) is showing Mel Brooks' classic Young Frankenstein, with Portland comedianne Clancy Kramer performing a short comedy set before the film.  The show starts at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:30 pm.

Sunday, May 19

The dark fantasy horror film Valerie and Her Week of Wonders is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm. 

Stanley Kubrick's sci fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey is playing at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) tonight, and Thursday and Friday, May 23 and 24, at 7 pm.

The J. J. Abrams 2009 reboot of Star Trek is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) today at 2 pm, and on Wednesday, May 22, at 6 pm.

Fathom Events Studio Ghibli Fest 2024 kicks off with a dubbed version of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind today, and the subtitled version on Tuesday, May 21.  Visit the link to find a theater near you.

Monday, May 20

Fathom Events Studio Ghibli Fest 2024 continues with a dubbed version of Castle in the Sky today, and the subtitled version on Wednesday, May 22.  Visit the link to find a theater near you

Tuesday, May 21

The Portland Horror Trivia Massacre returns to Home, A Bar (719 SE Morrison St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.

The CMNYK Science Fiction Extravaganza brings 1972's The Doomsday Machine to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm, and be advised, heckling is encouraged.

The Repressed Cinema series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen a rare print of Andy Milligan's film The Body Beneath in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

Hundreds of Beavers invade The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 7 pm. 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing Late Night with the Devil tonight at 6:45 pm.

Sasquatch Sunset, which follow a family of Sasquatches for a year as they struggle with the changing world around them, is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9 pm.

Wednesday, May 22

V: The Final Battle Parts 1 and 2 screens at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight starting at 6:30 pm.  If you're wondering about Part 3, scroll down to Wednesday, May 29!

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing the Jim Henson fantasy Labyrinth tonight at 7 pm.

Thursday, May 23

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen David Lynch's Blue Velvet, with the Black Lodge Burlesque presenting a preshow cabaret inspired by Lynch's works.  The show starts at 7:30 pm.

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing Godzilla vs Space Godzilla tonight at 7 pm.

The found footage horror classic The Blair Witch Project is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Producer Gregg Hale will be in attendance for a Q and A. 

Baron Von Terror brings the cult classic Re-Animator to the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight at 8 pm.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opens tonight at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 6, with an extra loud showing of the film on Friday, May 24, at 9:30 pm), the Kelso Theater Pub (214 S Pacific in Kelso, WA; scheduled times TBA), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), The Grand Cinema (6067 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 26), the North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd N in North Bend, WA; scheduled through Sunday, June 2), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, June 6), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), and the following McMenamins theaters: the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, June 5) and the St. Johns Theater (8203 N Ivanhoe St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, June 5).

The film opens on Friday, May 24, at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, 30), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30), and the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR; scheduled through Thursday, 30).

Friday, May 24

Paranormal Cirque II invites you to face your fears as they invade the The Outlet Collection Seattle (1101 Outlet Collection Way in Auburn, WA) through Monday, May 27.  Please note, no one under 13 years of age will be admitted.  Those 13 to 17 years of age must by accompanied by an adult.

Cinema of Horrors Haunted House (1301 Grade St in Kelso, WA) invites you to battle the undead during the Zombie Outbreak-Live Action Horror Laser Experience.  The event runs from 7 to 10 pm tonight and tomorrow.  Buy advance tickets at the link above.

The animated French neo-noir sci fi film Mars Express is playing at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 29).

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This, a found-footage horror film the filmmakers claim will never be released online, is showing at 8:30 pm tonight at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA).  A live Zoom Q and A with the filmmakers will take place after the screening.

The People's Joker has encore screenings at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) on Friday and Sunday, May 24 and 26, at 4 pm.

Kiki's Delivery Service, in both subtitled and dubbed formats, is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 29).

My Neighbor Totoro is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30) in both dubbed and subtitled versions.  Visit the link for showtimes.

The action classic Raiders of the Lost Ark is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30).

The cult classic Donnie Darko is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 30).

Dario Argento's classic Suspiria is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 29).

A new restoration of Steven Spielberg's classic TV move Duel screens at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at tonight at 7:30 pm, and tomorrow at 3 pm.  See if you can catch the reference to his feature film Jaws during the final act! 

The horror cult classic Re-Animator is playing at 11:30 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).

Saturday, May 25

Dario Argento's giallo Deep Red, with a live score by The Bavarians, is playing at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) tonight at 8 pm.

I'm going to say it, one of the greatest sequels ever, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 6:30 pm, and tomorrow at 7:30 pm.

The Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA) will screen Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi today at 4 pm.

Sunday, May 26

HEY YOU GUYS!  The Goonies is playing at the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR) tonight at 6:30 pm.