Friday, March 15, 2024

March is roaring in like a lion, and out like a Kiaju!

I didn't expect March to be so busy, but was I wrong.  Not only do I have some great live events to share, but the start of March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian in Seattle, WA, with some GREAT monster flicks playing through the rest of the month, and Wyrd Wars March Into Fantasy series in Portland, OR.  Just scroll down and take a look at all the great things happening this week.  Your eyes will bulge out.

Oh, the Elder Gods have blessed us this week!

Oh, but that's not all.  Head to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar for all the genre screenings at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR, which includes films ranging from George Romero's zombie classic Dawn of the Dead to the low budget favorite (with some AMAZING monster effects) The Deadly Spawn (in GLORIOUS 35mm), and much more.  I also have a link to the Bonebat Comedy of Horrors Film Festival in Seattle, WA, and other great events coming later this year.  You'll want to take a look, as I'm sure some of the events will sell out.

And I've got more to post, like the OMSI Sci Fi Film Fest in Portland, OR (starting at the end of March), so keep checking back to plan out the next few months, if not the rest of the year.

Well, that's what I have for now.  Time to get back to the day job.  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

Abel Ferrara's exploitation classic Ms. 45 is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 21).

Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, The Boy and the Heron, is playing at McMenamin Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 21).  Please check the link to find out when the dubbed or subtitled version is playing.

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.

The Olympia Film Society Kids Club is showing Jim Henson/Frank Oz feature The Dark Crystal at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) on Sunday, March 17, 23, and 31 at 1 pm.  Kids under 12 are admitted FREE. 

First Run Features  


Writer/director Michael Lukk Litwak's feature debut, the sci fi rom/com Molli and Max in the Future is playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, March 19).  I'm not even going to try and sum up this film, just read about it on Wikipedia.  It does sound pretty weird.

Juel Taylor's feature directorial debut, the sci fi/comedy/mystery They Cloned Tyrone, is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 20).

The latest Blumhouse horror film, Imaginary, is playing at the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park ST SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 21), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 21), the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, March 21), and Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Sunday, March 17 (as of this post)).

Okay, this sounds too weird not to include on the site.  Mike Chelsik and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews (Lake Michigan Monster) latest film, Hundreds of Beavers, 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), is playing at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Monday, March 18), and the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 21).  The film will also play at 9:15 pm on Thursday, March 21, at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) and at the PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) on Saturday, March 23, at 4 pm (doors open at 3:30 pm), with musician Jet Black Pearl performing a live looped accordion set.

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 the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 21), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, March 20), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 21) and McMenamin Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 21).

Film Festival 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 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.

March, 2024

Friday, March 15

Wyrd War kicks off the March Into Fantasy tonight with a screening of Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR), featuring special guest Jon Mikl Thor at 7:30 pm.  On Saturday, March 16, Thor will be performing at the Coffin Club (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR) starting at 8 pm (this is a 21 and older event).  On Thursday, March 21, it's back to the Coffin Club for Dungeon Synth DJ Night starting at 9 pm (this is a 21 and older event).  On Friday, March 22, Australia's fantasy synth purveyor Quest Master will perform the first time in Portland at the Hollywood Theatre, followed by a screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, featuring the world premiere of Cold Sanctum's original live score.  The march wraps up on Saturday, March 23 at Wyrd War Gallery (3505 NE Broadway in Portland, OR) for a showing and meeting with fantasy artist Richard Hescox from 4 to 7 pm.  Then, the Hollywood Theatre will screen French multimedia artist Erang's Another World, Another Time, followed by Charles Band's The Dungeonmaster in GLORIOUS 35mm.  Festival passes are available now.  Ticket for individual events will be on sale soon.

UPDATE: Individual tickets for the screenings at the Hollywood Theatre are available now.

Raqs Apocalypse, a metal-themed belly dance show presented by Tacoma Dance Studios, takes place tonight at The New Frontier Lounge (310 E 25th St in Tacoma, WA).  Doors open at 7 pm, show starts at 8 pm.

LADIES vs SHARKS: An Evening of Shark Clip Commentary and Roasting has been rescheduled to 7:30 pm this evening at Lustre Pearl Portland (3932 N Mississippi Ave in Portland, OR).

Speaking of shark movies, Tommy Wiseau's Big Shark is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) tonight at 9 pm.

Friday Night Frights brings Maniac Cop, starring Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Richard Roundtree and Robert Z'Dar, to the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

March Monster Madness opens at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) opens with screenings of the 1954 kiaju classic Godzilla tonight,  and on Monday and Thursday, March 25 and 28.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with Jordan Peele's NOPE playing tonight, and on Friday and Wednesday, March 22 and 27.

Mad Max: Fury Road-Black and Chrome Edition is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Sam Raimi's horror/comedy (in a gross way) Drag Me to Hell is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight and tomorrow night at 9:30 pm. 

The 7th St Theatre (313 7th St in Hoquiam, WA) is showing the sci fi spoof Galaxy Quest tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, March 16

The legendary Pam Grier will be at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) for a post-film Q and A after screenings of Coffy (film starts at 4 pm) and Friday Foster (film starts at 8 pm.  And you can get a double feature discount!

CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Chuck Russell's 1988 remake of The Blob, with SFX artist Nick Benson (The BlobNight of the Demons) in attendance for a Q and A after the film, tonight at 7:30 pm.

Frankenstein's Comicbook Swap!  Out of the Shadows... takes place today at Lloyd Center Mall (1028 Lloyd Ctr in Portland, OR; in the old H and M location southwest of the ice rink).  Early bird admission, starting at 11 am, is $5.  General admission at noon is $1.  Admission is free to youth and elders.  You'll also find details at the Facebook Event Page.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with the found footage monster movie Cloverfield tonight, and on Monday and Friday, March 18 and 29.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with Joe Dante's comedy/homage to the late William Castle, Matinee, today, and on Wednesday, March 20.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with David Cronenberg's The Fly tonight, and on Wednesday and Tuesday, March 20 and 26.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with the 1990 monster classic Tremors today, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 19 and 27. 

The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) is screening David Lynch's Dune today at 4 pm.  Get there around 3:30 pm and you can create some Sand Art!

The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) is screening adults-only animated feature Unicorn Wars tonight at 7 pm.  Oh, and it's BYO-Teddy Bear.

Mad Max: Fury Road is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

Tommy Wiseau will be at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in  Portland, OR) for a screening of Big Shark tonight at 9:30 pm.

Sunday, March 17

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a screening of the 1993 horror/comedy Leprechaun at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) today at 4 pm.  It also will be screened on Wednesday, March 20, at 6 pm.

Fathom Events brings Jim Henson's Labyrinth back to theaters nationwide tonight.  Visit the link to find a theater near you.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with the 1954 Universal monster classic Creature from the Black Lagoon today and on Thursday, March 21.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with the South Korean monster movie The Host tonight, and on Thursday and Saturday, March 21 and 30.

Monday, March 18

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with Peter Jackson's King Kong tonight, and on Saturday, March 23.

Tuesday, March 19

The Cosmic Unicorn Art Carnival's Blasphemy Show takes place tonight at Escape Bar and Grill (9004 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  Admission is FREE (donations are accepted), and this is a 21 and older event.  Doors open at 7 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm.

The South Korean eco-horror/monster film The Host will screen at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

March Monster Madness continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian (805 E Pine St in Seattle, WA) with Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim tonight, and on Friday and Tuesday, March 22 and 26.

Wednesday, March 20

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen John Carpenter's adaptation of Stephen King's Christine (as part of a double feature with Michael Mann's Ferrari) tonight at 9:15 pm.  You can buy single film tickets, if you want.

Church of Film brings Video Witches: A Collection of Peculiar Feminist Work, a collection of short films interrogating the margins of horror, fairy tales, noir and more, to the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Thursday, March 21

Squatchcon 2024, the Olympic Peninsula cosplay, comic, gaming and fan culture event, takes place through Sunday, March 24, at the Vern Burton Community Center (308 E 4th St in Port Angeles, WA).  I'll post more details as I get them.

The Make Believe Seattle Film Festival takes place through Tuesday, March 26 at three different locations.  Visit the Facebook Page or the link above for more details.  Passes are on sale now.

Baron Von Terror brings M3gan  to Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight at 8 pm.  You might want to be ready to run at some point.  Just saying.

The psychological horror film Immaculate opens tonight at the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, March 28).

Friday, March 22

The Oregon Ghost Conference takes place through Sunday at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center (415 First Ave in Seaside, OR).  Events include a screening of A Flash of Beauty: Paranormal Bigfoot  at the Times Theatre and Public House (Tickets are $18).  Visit the link for more details.

The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) will screen the found footage horror film Late Night with The Devil (at least that's what their Facebook page says; could it be a trick by the Devil?).  I'll post more details when available.  

The film is also opening at The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Thursday, March 28).

The British animated/live action horror film Stopmotion is playing at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC), tonight at 9 pm.

The sci fi dystopian film Children of Men is playing  is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight and tomorrow night at 7 pm, and at 4:30 pm on Monday and Wednesday, March 25 and 27.

Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise  is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight and tomorrow night at 9:30 pm.

The fantasy rom/com Splash is playing tonight at 7 pm, and tomorrow at 2 pm, at the Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR).

Saturday, March 23

The Denton Delinquents brings The Rocky "Horror Icons" Show to the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) tonight, with doors opening at 9 pm.  It's a shadow cast of the cult classic, but each performer will be dressed as a well-known Icon of Horror.

The cult classic Tank Girl is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.