Okay, I know I missed last week, but I had my reasons.

I don't remember the last time I missed a Weekly Update, but I did last week.  And I know I'm late with this one, but I wasn't about to miss posting twice in a row.  

The problems started with my last update.  To start, Facebook flagged my posts on various sites, claiming I was violating community standards by... well, trying to get likes and clicks in some "illegal" manner.  I appealed this as best I could, as the responses I could choose were very limited, and was told I'd be contacted later with a decision.  It's been two weeks, and I haven't heard back for them, so I have no idea what's happening.  Nor do I know why I've become targeted, as I've been posting Weekly Updates on other sites for years now without any issue.

Anyway, if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm in Facebook jail for sharing my posts.  I'm already looking into ways to keep that from happening, but don't know if I'll be successful.  I've noticed several sites have started posting "Link in the comments," so I'm going to try that approach.  We'll see if that works.   

The other issue was, when I took a look at the site, I noticed Blogger isn't handling copy and paste (at least with links inside the text) very well.  Either the text disappears, or becomes strangely colored and unreadable, which means I now have to type a theater's information and re-link it every time I mention it on the site, which is pretty time consuming. 

This will change how the site looks.  Sections like Back in Theaters and First Run Features will cease to exist at some point (Back in Theaters is already gone), as I don't have the time to retype an entire section of text and re-link it.  Hey, I've got to deal with work, laundry, dishes and the like, so I have to change the way the site looks for now.  I will be looking into ways to return to that format, but it will take a bit of experimentation and time.

Also, this means I won't be posting about any major blockbuster films.  Sure, I'm listing MaXXXine, but A Quite Place: Day One isn't getting listed until it hits second run theaters.  I need to spend my time elsewhere.

Getting back to why I missed last week's update, the past two weeks at the day job have been brutal for everyone.  I've had to help out in multiple ways, which limited the time I could clandestinely work on the site.  As most of that time was copying and pasting sections, re-writing everything was just overwhelming.  And, on my last two days off, I just couldn't summon the energy to finish the update, and I was just too far behind to make it happen.

I'm sure this is how everyone at my day job felt by the end of this week.

I'm hoping this week is a bit calmer, so I can get the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar updated and correct any issues caused by the C and P issues with Blogger.  If you notice any issues with the calendar, please let me know so I can correct it.

Well, have to get to those dishes and things.  Stay safe, and I'll be back next weekend (depending on if I can stay out of Facebook jail) 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 close after Sunday, August 11.

First Run Features  

Daina O. Pusic's directorial debut, Tuesday, a fantasy/drama about a mother and her terminally ill daughter confronting Death in the form of a talking bird, opens tonight at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), and the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, July 3).

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 Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 27), The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, June 27), SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, June 20), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, June 27), the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, July 2), and Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4).

The film opens on Saturday, June 15, at Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Sunday, June 23), and on Friday, June 21, at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) at 9 pm, on Sunday, June 23, at 9:15 pm, and on Tuesday, July 2, at 9:30 pm.

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, and follow the event on Facebook.

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.

June, 2024

Happening This Week

The revenge film Thelma, which opens tonight at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR: scheduled through Thursday, July 4), and the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, July 3), is the story of a elderly woman conned by a phone scammer and heads out to take revenge.  The film features the final performance of Richard Roundtree (Shaft), and Oscar nominee June Squibb in her first feature role.  According to Cinema 21, she performed most of her own stunts at 94 years old.  How could I not list this film, as it doesn't matter how difficult the stunts were, she damn well did them when she was 94 FREAKING YEARS OLD!  Good for you, June!!  The Shadow Over Portland salutes you.

The film is also playing at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Sunday, June 30), the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, July 2), the Granada 3 Theatre (1311 Adams Ave in La Grande, OR; scheduled through Tuesday, July 2), the Darkside Cinema (215 SE 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday,July 4), the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), and SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 4).

The film opens on Friday, July 5 at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID; scheduled through Sunday, July 7).

The animated French/Spanish hand drawn animated film Robot Dreams is playing at the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, July 3).

The film opens on Thursday, July 4, at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 11). 

The 1980 slasher classic, Friday the 13th, is playing at the North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd N in North Bend, WA; scheduled through Sunday, June 30).

Paranormal Cirque II will pitch its big top at Spokane Valley Mall (14700 E Indiana Ave in Spokane Valley, WA) through Monday, July 1.  Please note that no one under 13 years of age will be admitted, and those 13 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

In tribute to the late Donald Sutherland, the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) is showing 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers through Sunday, June 30.

The slasher classic Sleepaway Camp is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4).  And DO NOT spoil the ending for any first time viewers!  Allow them the WTF moment all of us experienced when we first saw this film.

Edgar Wright's live action version of the graphic novel Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, July 2).

Whoa!  The Matrix is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, July 2).

Yorgos Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness, a triptych fable starring Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, opens on Thursday, July 27, at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled Wednesday, July 3), Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, July 3), the Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), and the SIFF Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 4).

The film opens on Tuesday, July 2, at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 4), on Wednesday, July 3, at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11), on Thursday, July 4, at the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, July 7), and on Friday, July 5, at the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 9).

I Saw the TV Glow is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) on Tuesday, July 2, at 9:30 pm.

The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) is screening Ti West's X, starring Mia Goth, on Sunday, June 30, at 8:25 pm.

Sunday, June 30

Sasquatch Sunset is playing at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) today at 4 pm. 

July, 2024

Monday, July 1

It Came From Japan! brings about ninety minutes of Takusatsu madness to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) to the big screen in GLORIOUS 16mm tonight at 7 pm.  And I'm sorry, I can't get the poster for this to link onto the site.  Just take a look at the link.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence today starting at 7:30 pm.  And yes, you can make it a double feature!

Tuesday, July 2

The CMNYK Sci Fi Extravaganza brings Blood Tide, a 1982 horror film starring James Earl Jones, to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Preshow starts at 6:15 pm.

Burlynomnicon-A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue returns to The Coffin Club (421 SE Grand in Portland, OR) tonight at 8 pm.  Doors open at 7 pm for this 21 and older event.  A two drink minimum is required.

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

Wednesday, July 3

Area 51 Encounter, an interactive event exploring the history of non-human visitors, opens today at the Fox Tower (710 SW Yamhill St in Portland, OR).  The exhibit is open through Monday, September 2.

The conclusion to Ti West's X trilogy, MaXXXine, starring Mia Goth, opens tonight at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11), the SIFF Cinema Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 11), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11), the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11 in GLORIOUS 35mm), CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthrone Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 18), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11), and the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11).

The film opens on Friday, July 5, at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11).

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) celebrates the day the Uneeda Medical Supply company unleashed The Return of the Living Dead, with a screening of the classic zombie film, preceded by a performance by the Northwest's premiere Cramps tribute act, the Turkey Necks.  It all starts at 8:30 pm.

The Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) is showing the sci holiday classic Independence Day tonight at 7 pm.

The film is also playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) at 4 pm, with a Hecklevision version playing at 7 pm.

Thursday, July 4

Get ready to "Celebrate our Independence Day!," as the sci fi film Independence Day plays at The Grand Cinema (6067 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) through Saturday, July 6.

The French/Spanish animated "tragicomedy" Robot Dreams is playing at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Thursday, July 11).

"The beaches are open and people are having a wonderful time," as the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) screens the holiday classic Jaws today at 1:30 pm.

The film is also playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9 pm.

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight at 7:30 pm.

Friday, July 5

LeakyCon, a con for fans of magical worlds, takes place through Sunday, July 7, at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Portland, OR).  Guests include Bonnie Wright, Stanislav Yanevski, and Chris Rankin from Harry Potter, Isaac Hempstead Wright from Game of Thrones, and Catherine Tate from Doctor Who.  You can follow the event on Facebook.

The Centralia Fantasy Festival takes place this weekend at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds (1909 S Gold St in Centralia, WA).  Follow the event on Facebook.

HEY YOU GUYS!  The Blockbuster Weekend at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) opens tonight at 7 pm with The Goonies, preceded by a round of blockbuster trivia.  And yes, there are prizes. 

The film is also showing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11).

Well, it's a day late, but you can still celebrate the Fourth of July by catching Jaws at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, July 11).

The 1999 classic The Mummy is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, July 10).

Takashi Miike's 1999 horror classic Audition is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, July 10).

The anime feature Belle, inspired by the French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, is playing at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Once again, Hundreds of Beavers invade the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Saturday, July 6

The Blockbuster Weekend at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) continues today at 4 pm with Jaws, preceded by a round of blockbuster trivia.  And yes, there are prizes. 

The Blockbuster Weekend at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) continues tonight at 7:30 pm with Twilight, preceded by a round of blockbuster trivia.  And yes, there are prizes. 

HEY YOU GUYS!  The Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema opens its 2024 series tonight with a screening of The Goonies.  The movie begins at sunset, with live music from Bayou Opossums starting 90 minutes before the film.  Tickets available on-site.

Whoa!  The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) is showing The Matrix tonight at 7 pm.

The Canadian slasher film In a Violent Nature is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 7:30 pm.

Sunday, July 7

The Blockbuster Weekend at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) continues today at 4 pm with Jurassic Park, preceded by a round of blockbuster trivia.  And yes, there are prizes. 

Well, it's not something I'd usually add to the site, but I've listed all the others, so why not.  And, if you think about it, the ending is an absolute fantasy!  The Blockbuster Weekend at the Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) concludes tonight at 7:30 pm with Twister, preceded by a round of blockbuster trivia.  And yes, there are prizes.

The OFS Kids Club is showing the animated film The Iron Giant at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) at 1 pm today, and on Sunday, July 14, 21, and 28.  Admission is FREE for kids 12 and under.

Fathom Events brings Steven Spielberg's sci fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind back to theaters nationwide today, and on Wednesday, July 10.  Visit the link to find a theater near you.