Well, here's the Weekly Update

Yeah, that's not a very witty headline, but I can't think of any way to open this edition of the Weekly Update.  Maybe the day job knocked most of my creativity out of my head, or maybe the heat last week wilted my creative brain cells for the time being.  And I just can't do another opening paragraph about the weather, even though that's all coming to mind right now.  Not only is it cooling down a bit, but I've posted enough about that subject this summer. 

Me as I enter The Portal of Stale Ideas for an Opener.

Regardless, you'll still find plenty of great things to do this week in the Weekly Update.  From great movies to live activities and stage performances, you'll likely find something fun happening in your neighborhood.

As for the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, I plan on spending quite a bit of the upcoming week adding more great events.  I start my nine-day (well, eight-and-a-half, as I have to come back for an orientation meeting on Friday) as soon as I clock out, and I plan on getting the calendar up to date, and get back to some personal writing projects that have been on the back burner far too long.

(Just a quick update: I've been off work for about two hours now.  I'm home, in comfy clothes with a drink nearby and am SO HAPPY to be on vacation.)

That's all I've got for now.  Stay safe, have a great week, and I'll be back in about seven days with another Weekly Update from The Shadow Over Portland.

Happening This Week

Live Attractions 

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 cats are out!  Laika Studios commemorates the 15th anniversary of their film Coraline with Coraline's Curious Cat Trail, with 30 six-foot-tall cat sculptures placed throughout downtown Portland.  The cats are hand-painted by local artist and will eventually be auctioned off, with proceeds going to OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital.  The link gets you to the KGW article, which didn't include dates when published.  Here's a link to a recent story from KOIN.

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.

Film Festival and Stage Performance Submission Information 

Frighthouse Station (626 E 25th St in Tacoma, WA) is holding auditions for this year's haunted attraction on Saturday, August 17 and 24.  Visit the link for details (you MUST fill out an intent form before the audition).

ScareGrounds PDX (7805 SE Oaks Park Way in Portland, OR) is hiring for this year's haunted attraction.  Click on the link for details.

Nightmare Factory (which takes place at the Oregon School for the Deaf, located at 999 Locust St NE in Salem, OR) is looking for volunteers for the 2024 season.  Contact the emails on the above poster for volunteer forms.

The Bleedingham Film Festival is taking submissions through September 28.  The festival will take place from Friday, October 25, to Sunday, October 27, at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA).

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 13 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.

August, 2024

Happening This Week

Longlegs, the horror film written and directed by Osgood Perkins (Anthony Perkins eldest son) and starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Metro Cinema (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA; scheduled through Sunday, August 11), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, August 11), and the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15).

The film opens on Friday, August 16, at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA; scheduled through Sunday, August 18).

Repmageddon; Week Three is taking place at CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), with screenings of Jennifer's Body, A Clockwork Orange, and Peacock King, among others.  Visit the link for showtimes.

M. Night Shyamalan's new psychological thriller Trap is playing at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, August 14), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, August 14), and the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, August 15).

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing Damian McCarthy's (Caveat) supernatural film Oddity, about a blind medium uncovering the truth behind his sister's death with the help of a wooden mannequin (oh, I'm sure that will end well), with a final screening on Sunday, August 11, at 4:40 pm.

The film is also playing at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, August 13).

Tilman Singer's (Luz) latest horror film, Cuckoo, is playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, August 18), and the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15).

Ghosts of Summer 3: Nightmare in Portland takes place on Saturday, August 10, at The Redd (831 SE Salmon St in Portland, OR) from 7 pm to midnight.  Tickets for this summertime Halloween festival and market are available online or at the door.  Follow them on Facebook for details on upcoming events.

The Steven Spielberg classic Jaws is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, August 14).

Another Steven Spielberg classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is playing at McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15).

The 1994 Interview with the Vampire is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15).

The Reel Oddities series at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) screens David Lynch's Eraserhead on Wednesday, August 14, 21, and 28, at 7 pm.

Saturday, August 10

SPACE: The Drag Show takes place tonight6 at 6 pm at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 6 pm.  Doors open at 5 pm, with a pre-show outdoor makers fair taking place at 4 pm.

Hundreds of Beavers return to the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) for a fourth encore screening tonight at 8:30 pm.

Sunday, August 11

HEY YOU GUYS!  Tacky Wacky Inc presents Cult of! The Goonies: A Goonies Tribute Drag Show at 7 pm tonight at the Atlantis Lounge (3552 N Mississippi Ave in Portland, OR).  Advance ticket purchases are recommended for this 21 and older show.

The Deep Cuts podcast, hosted by Evan J. Peterson and Morgue Anne, will screen the cult classic Killer Klowns from Outer Space, followed by a live discussion at The Rendezvous Seattle (2318 2nd Ave in Seattle, WA).  Doors open at 5 pm, screening starts at 5:30 pm, and the discussion starts at 7:30 pm.  All proceeds will be donated to Scarecrow Video.

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) is showing Steven Spielberg's classic Jaws today at 3 pm (with English subtitles) and 7 pm. 

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is presenting a 35th anniversary screening of Kiki's Delivery Service, dubbed in English, today at noon.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing The Terminator tonight at 7 pm, followed by Terminator 2: Judgement Day at 9:15 pm.  And of course, you can see both for one sweet price!

The Terminator will be shown again on Tuesday, August 13, at 9:15 pm. 

Animayhem returns to the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with a screening of the sci fi film Crusher Joe, in Japanese with English subtitles, tonight at 7 pm.

Tuesday, August 13

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

Burlynomicon-A Darkly Decadent Burlesque Revue takes place at 8 pm (doors open at 7 pm) tonight at The Coffin Club (421 SE Grand Ave in Portland, OR).  Advance tickets are recommended.

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will show the documentary/horror film hybrid The Hellstrom Chronicle tonight at 7 pm.

The Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE in Salem, OR) will show the sci fi animated classic The Iron Giant today at 7 pm.

Wednesday, August 14

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) will show the 2006 South Korean monster movie The Host tonight at 7 pm.

The Steven Spielberg classic Jaws is playing at the Whiteside Theatre (361 SW Madison Ave in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Trek Nights at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) brings Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country back to the big screen tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Odyssey Film Club brings the fantasy/comedy Being John Malkovich to the North Bend Theatre (125 Bendigo Blvd N in North Bend, WA) tonight at 7 pm.

My Neighbor Totoro is playing at the Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA; scheduled through Friday, August 16).

Thursday, August 15

2024's Dune: Part Two is playing at the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight at 8 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents a final screening of the 4K restoration of Rene Laloux animated sci fi film The Time Masters (in French with English subtitles) tonight at 6:45 pm.

Fathom Events is bringing Laika's Coraline, the first animated feature to be conceived and photographed in true, stereoscopic 3D, back to theaters nationwide in Remastered 3D.  The film will play through Thursday, August 22.  Visit the link to find a theater near you.

The sci fi/horror film Alien: Romulus opens tonight at the St Johns Twin Cinema (8704 N Lombard St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Wednesday, August 22), the Kelso Theater Pub (2145 S Pacific in Kelso, WA; schedule TBA), Studio One (3945 SE Powell Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 22), the Yelm Cinemas  (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, August 22), SIFF Cinema Downtown (21009 4th Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, September 4), the Sandy Cinemas (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 22), Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 22), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Sunday, August 18), and the Metro Cinemas (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 22).

The film opens on Friday, August 16, at the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 22).

Friday, August 16

Friday Night Frights presents Wes Craven's under appreciated horror film The People Under the Stairs at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

The 1999 action/horror classic The Mummy is playing at the Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA; scheduled through Sunday, August 18).

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen the Signature Edition of the animated sci fi classic The Iron Giant today at 3:20 pm.

The Australian horror film Roadgames, starring Stacey Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis, is playing at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) tonight and tomorrow, August 17, at 9:30 pm.

The subtitled version of Rene Laloux's animated sci fi classic, Fantastic Planet, is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.

The Sense of Wonder series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) brings the sci fi/romantic drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind back to the big screen in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen Blade Runner: The Final Cut tonight at 11:30 pm

We go from classic vampires to sparkly ones, as Twilight is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, August 15).

Saturday, August 17

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) is showing the Alfred Hitchcock classic The Birds tonight at 7 pm.

VHS Uber Alles brings a 1993 post nuclear war film that has never been released on DVD to the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) tonight at 9:30 pm in GLORIOUS VHS.  Check out the summary at the link and see if you can guess the name (it's got me stumped).

The 4K restoration of Rene Laloux's animated sci fi film, The Time Masters, is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.  The film is subtitled.

Fleischer Spooky and Surreal Cartoons, a 60 minute selection of creepy Max Fleischer shorts, is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 6 pm.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is showing Stanley Kubrick's The Shining in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:45 pm, and on Sunday, August 18, at 9:30 pm.

Jurassic Park is playing at the Garland Theater (924 W Garland Ave in Spokane, WA) today and on Sunday, August 18.

Sunday, August 18

The Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St in Portland, OR) presents The NeverEnding Story Reading Party, hosted by Books with Pictures.  Doors open at 3 pm, with socializing until 3:30 pm, followed by 30 minutes of silent reading.  Starting at 4 pm, everyone is invited to chat about what they were reading.  The movie starts at 4:30 pm.

The Australian monster movie Razorback is playing at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen the classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? tonight at 5:45 pm.