Wow, am I late this week.

Yeah, it's Sunday, and I'm FINALLY getting the Weekly Update out.  Sorry for being so late, but my vacation started Friday afternoon and I spent the past few days reconnecting with friends I haven't seen for a while (due to my changed schedule), and visiting shops that are usually closed on my days off.  I bought some books, found a copy of Dead End Drive-In, and just enjoyed myself.

I really had a good ti-I-ime!

I really needed this two-ish day break, as the past year at the day job has been quite trying.  And while the rest of my vacation plans involves plenty of R and R, I'm also going to be working on the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, and various other projects.  It's all part of a long overdue plan to make my down time from the day job work better with the things that matter most to me.  We'll see how it goes.

Anyway, that's what I have for this week.  Be safe and I'll be back next week with another update from 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

Book of the Dead: The Evil Dead Saga Returns to CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) through Thursday, May 16.  All five films will be playing, with The Evil Dead and Army of Darkness being shown in GLORIOUS 35mm!  Visit the link for the schedule and advance ticket sales.

The folk horror classic The Wicker Man (no bees in this one) is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

Hundreds of Beavers invade the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

The restoration of George Romero's zombie classic Dawn of the Dead is playing at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 12).

John McNaughton's horror crime film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Monday, May 13).

Animay at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) continues tonight with the dubbed version of the sci fi/psychological thriller Paprika, playing through Thursday, May 16.

The original Child's Play is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, May 14).

Steven Spielberg's classic Jurassic Park  is playing at McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

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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 Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; schedule through Thursday, May 16), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

The 99W Drive-In (3110 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR) is showing Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace after Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes through Sunday, May 12.

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 Thursday, May 16).  Please check the link to find out when the dubbed or subtitled version is playing.

First Run Features  

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 Thursday, May 16).  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.

The new horror film Tarot is playing at Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, May 15), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 15), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

Okay, I've stopped mentioning superhero movies on the site, but I'll make an exception for this one.  Vera Drew's parody The People's Joker, featuring a transgender Joker and being somewhat autobiographical of the filmmaker's journey, is playing at the Capitol Theater (205 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Sunday, May 12), and the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).  The film faced legal challenges from DC for using characters from the Batman Universe, but seems to be coming to theaters now.  Guess the power of parody compels it... to be released.

The film is playing at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) on Thursday, May 16 at 8:30 pm, and at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) on Tuesday, May 14, at 9:30 pm. 

Sasquatch Sunset, which follow a family of Sasquatches for a year as they struggle with the changing world around them, opens tonight at the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16), the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, May 14) and the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

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 Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 16), and The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 16).

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is playing at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 16), and the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, May 15).

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 10

The Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) is showing Tron: Legacy tonight at 7 pm.  

Saturday, May 11

Market for the Strange: Punk's Not Dead invades the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center (2330 17th St NE in Salem, OR) from 11 am to 6 pm today.  Stop by for a day of art, music, food, dancing, and browse a marked of 100 unusual vendors.  General admission is $5.

The Inland NW Toy Show Classic takes place today at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center-Bay 3 (at the corner of Broadway and Havana in Spokane, WA).  Early Bird admission, from 9 to 10 am, is $10.  General admission from 10 am to 4 pm is $5.  Kids 12 and under are admitted free.

By Crom, Conan the Barbarian is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The Wachowski's live action version of Speed Racer is playing at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Sunday, May 12

The Animayhem OVA Festival takes place at 7 pm tonight at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  Expect some deep cut anime masterpieces on the big screen and a mini anime convention!

DEEP CUTS: Night of the Comet, a live recording of the DEEP CUTS podcast following a screening of the cult sci fi classic, takes place at The Rendezvous Seattle (2318 2nd Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight.  Doors open at 5 pm, with the screening taking place at 5:30 pm, and the discussion, lead by Evan J. Peterson and Morgue Anne, taking place at 7:30 pm.  This might be a 21 and older event.

The Japanese nunsploitation film School of the Holy Beast is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  The film is in Japanese with English subtitles, and due to graphic scenes, viewer discretion is advised.

The conclusion to Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness, is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) today at 2 pm, and on Wednesday, May 15, at 6 pm.

Tuesday, May 14

Burlynomicon - A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue returns to The Coffin Club (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR) for another evening of diabolic delights.  Doors open at 7 pm, show starts at 8 pm, and there is a two drink minimum.  Obviously, this is a 21 and older event.

The adaptation of a classic French fairy tale, Donkey Skin, is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  The film stars Catherine Deneuve, and is presented in French with English subtitles.

Wednesday, May 15

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing Back to the Future Part II tonight at 7 pm.

Church of Film brings the psychological thriller The Doll to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm. 

Thursday, May 16

It's a night of spooky jokes and killer comedy when Gorey Giggles haunts the Overkill Lounge (5214 S Tacoma Way in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 8 pm.

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, opens today 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), and the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

The film opens on Friday, May 17, at the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing Late Night with the Devil tonight at 8:45 pm, and on Thursday, May 16, at 6:45 pm.

Benjamin Christensen's silent classic Häxan is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm. 

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).

Well, if you're interested, The Strangers: Chapter 1 (yep, it's a prequel and the first of a new trilogy) opens tonight at the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Monday, May 20), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 23).

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 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.

Hundreds of Beavers invade the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled through Saturday, May 18).

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.

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. 

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.