I know this week's update is long, but what can I say/

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!  So you had to expect this week's update would be a massive tome.  And I've probably missed a few events, which I'll add throughout the week in separate updates.

And if you think this one's long, next week is shaping up to be just as long.....

So, let's get thing rolling!

Continuing

If you have an idea for a short horror film, consider submitting it Queer Horror: Nocturnal Submissions.  The bi-monthly horror film festival, with your hostess with the grossest, Carla Rossi, is looking to fill The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, with films that are gritty, gory, gay, sexy, scary and stupid.  In other words, almost anything goes.

There are some rules.  Nothing X-Rated (Hard R at the most) and no real-life blood or violence (animal and/or human).  Other than that, let your imagination take you to places you can photograph by camera or smart phone!

The entries may be submitted via Dropbox, Google Drive, or an e-mail attachment to thecarlarossi@gmail.com.  Submissions remain under the ownership of the respective filmmakers/copyright holders, and are screened for this engagement only.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 23, and the films chosen will be screened at The Hollywood Theatre on Thursday, October 29, at 9:30 pm.  Tickets are $8.

You can find more information about submissions, advanced ticket sales, and more at The Hollywood Theatre link.

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Halloweentown is open for business!  St. Helens. OR, celebrates the filming of the Disney Channel Original Movie with a month long celebration, including a Haunted Hot Rod/Hearse contest and an appearance of Halloweentown actress Kimberly J. Brown (Marnie) for October 10th Pumpkin Lighting Ceremony at 7 pm.  Click on the link to the Facebook Event Page for more details about this month long celebration.

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Open Gallery (323 NW 6th Ave) in Portland, OR, presents Every Day is Halloween, an art show presented by Pork Magazine and Goblinko.  The show features original drawings by Sean Äaberg and denim vests by Katie Äaberg, a Goblinko Megamall Pop-Up Shop and more!  The show runs through November 1, and you can find more details at the Facebook Event Page.

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The Shining continues at The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St) in Portland, OR.  I guess The Rose City has yet to get enough of Jack being a dull boy/axe murderer.  Showtimes are 4:20 and 9:30 pm through Thursday, October 22.  Visit The Academy Theater website for more details.

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The subtitled German horror film, Good Night Mommy, continues to screen at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave) in Portland, OR.  As a pair of twin brothers greet their mother after cosmetic surgery, they begin to doubt the woman is actually their parent.  And, as expected, things go bad from there.  Showtimes are 4, 6:45 and 9 pm through Thursday, October 22, with a matinee screening at 1:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18.  Visit the Cinema 21 website for more details.

The film also opens Friday, October 16, at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St) in Bellingham, WA.  Shows of Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 8:45 pm, with a Sunday showing at 7:45 pm.  Get more details at the Pickford Film Center website.

Friday, October 16

Evil Dead The Musical hits the stage at The Wildish Theater (128 NE Russet Street in Springfield, OR) for two shows, at 7 pm and 9:15 pm tonight only.  And yes, there will be a SPLATTER ZONE!  And should you splattered with blood, no crying out "D'UH!"  Find more information at the Evil Dead The Musical website.

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I have an exclusive report (well, it was when I added it to the Horror Calendar) from Friday Night Frights in Tacoma, WA.  Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses will screen at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2411 N. Proctor St) tonight at 10 pm.  Tickets for the screening are only $5, a steal during the Halloween season.  Find out more at the Facebook Event Page.

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Mel Brooks' classic homage/spoof of the Universal Horror Movies, Young Frankenstein, opens tonight at The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St) in Vancouver, WA.  You know the movie, you've memorized the best lines, now see it on the big screen.  Showtimes are 6:30 pm on Friday, October 16, 4 pm on Saturday, October 17, 5:30 pm on Sunday, October 18, 8:30 pm on Monday, October 19 and 5;15 pm on Tuesday, October 20.  Visit The Kiggins Theatre website for more information.

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Okay, despite any issues you might have with Roman Polanski, the person, Rosemary's Baby is a masterpiece of horror.  The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St) in Portland, OR, will screen the film through October 22 and you might not find another chance to watch this true horror classic on the big screen again.  Showtimes are 11:40 am and 6:45 pm through Thursday, October 22.  Visit The Academy Theater website for more details.

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JOIN US!  At The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, at 9:45 pm for a screening of Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn in glorious 35mm!!  Presented in partnership with the Living Dead Horror Convention (November 13 at the Oregon Convention Center) and Sinful Audio, I don't think I need to say anything more about why you MUST SEE THIS FILM ON THE BIG SCREEN!  Tickets are $8, or you can spend a bit more and buy an advanced ticket (and be sure you can get into the theater) by clicking on The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, opens tonight at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.

Tonight, get ready for disco, Jamie Lee Curtis and a masked killer in the 1980 slasher classic, Prom Night.  And I bet you're waiting for Leslie Nielsen to crack a joke every time he's onscreen (his career changing performance in comedy classic Airplane was in theaters two weeks before Prom Night).

The show starts tonight at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend.  You'll find more information at The Laurelhurst Theater website.

Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, presents the strangest cinematic offering I can think.  The American Genre Film Archive and Something Weird Video present Smut Without Smut, a fundraiser for their kickstarter campaign.  The double feature presents two hardcore genre films, The Mad Love Life of a Hot Vampire and The Haunted P___y (I'll let you fill in the blanks and no, you shouldn't need to buy a vowel), WITH THE HARDCORE SEX SCENES REMOVED!  Do either of these films have a plot, or will it be the shortest double feature in the history of cinema?  One things for sure, it should be fun!  The show starts at 8 pm on October 16 only.  Visit The Grand Illusion website for more details and plot summaries for both features.

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If you're looking for something other than the standard candy you'll get trick or treating, head to Choktoberfest, at Old Portland, Hardware and Architectural (700 NE 22 Ave) in Portland, OR, for artisan chocolates, traditional German fare and beer!  Tickets are $20 during pre-sale, via the link on the Facebook Event Page.

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The Funhouse Lounge (2432 SE 11th Ave) in Portland, OR, brings back a Halloween favorite with Murder Mystery Machine.  The Funhouse Lounge Improv Company craft a bloody murder mystery from audience suggestions, and the sleuths of Mystery Inc. are there to investigate.

ZOINKS!  Yep, Scooby Doo and his human friends will puzzle over clues, chase monsters, unmask the villain (one assumes) and treat themselves to Scooby snacks.

Of course, this ISN'T going to be like the Saturday morning cartoon, and the Funhouse Lounge considers the events to be "Rated R" for themes and simulated violence, so you might think twice before bringing the kids.

Shows are at 7 pm Thursdays through Saturdays through November 7.  Tickets are available in advance for $12, and at the door for $16.  Thursday night's performances are "pay what you want," as long as tickets are available.

For more details, and advance ticket sales, visit the Funhouse Lounge website.

Saturday, October 17

Evil Dead The Musical returns to The Wonder Ballroom stage (630 East Main in Portland, OR) for one show only at.....

UPDATE!

 Oh, we now have THREE shows, at 6 pm and 9:15 pm tonight (October 17), and 2 pm on Sunday, October 18th.  Yes, you can find splatter zone tickets for all shows, and why would you miss that opportunity in an Evil Dead musical?  Find more information at the Evil Dead The Musical website.

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The Rocket Sci-Fi Matinee brings another beastly babe to the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay Street) in Bellingham, WA, with a noon screening of The She Creature! An evil hypnotist (is there any other kind?) discovers his lovely assistant's prehistoric ancestors were monstrous aquatic beings, and he uses her to, say it with me now, commit murders.  Yes, that's a shocker, but the creature design looks great and it should be a lot of fun on the big screen.  Admission is only $2, and you'll find advance ticket sales and more details at the link.

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Goobie Gobble, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) is presenting at 35mm screening of the still controversial Tod Browning's Freaks.  Using deformed actors who performed in circus sideshows, Freaks was considered too shocking to be screened, and was banned in Great Britain, and other countries, for over 30 years.  Yet, it's an interesting study in who the real monsters are, as a beautiful trapeze artist marries a midget performer for his money, only to have her (and her lover, the strongman of the circus) meet their comeuppance at the family of "freaks."  

Let's be honest, the normal people in this film are the villains.  Yet, as the freaks exact justice in the only option available to them, most audiences will be disturbed by the visual images of the "freaks" crawl through the rain to extract their revenge.  It's unsettling, as we "see" those that don't look "right" act as monsters, even as their cause is just.  And our reaction to the final few moments of the film if we (the audience) relieved we wouldn't react the same way to Stallone and the rest of The Expendables acting in the same fashion.

And the film's message resonates today, as we are besieged by politicians wanting to erect a wall against those who look and act different than "us," painting them as monsters without questioning our motivations for excluding them from our society or their inner humanity.  A thinking film for Northwest horror fans, Freaks screens today and Sunday, October 18, at 3 pm.  For more details, and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.  

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More zombie mayhem hits Portland, OR, tonight, as Stumptown Zombie Con 2015 travels about our fair city.  The event starts at The Dixie Tavern (32 NW 3 Ave) at 2 pm, should you need help from Makeup Artists to help you find your inner zombie (the event will list prices and strongly suggests tipping the people applying your makeup).  Be sure to make an appointment!

At 4 pm, the event starts up at The Dixie Tavern, then makes its way to Jones Bar at 5:15 pm, Waterfront Park at 6:30 pm, Kells Irish Pub at 7 pm, then ends at Ankeny Alley from 8:30 to 10 pm.

As the event is bar oriented, you must be 21 or older to attend.  Also, the site suggests paying your tab with cash.  Prizes will be awarded for best costume, and a Zombie, Monster or Halloween Themed costume is required.  Tips for winning a best costume prize, as well as more information about the event, is available at the Facebook Event Page.  Oh, and the event is free (except for your bar tab)!

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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, is screening A Nightmare on Elm Street and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, both in GLORIOUS 35mm!  Okay, the first one is a classic and the sequel, well, it does stray from the typical NOES scenario, as Freddy is trying to posse a young man and re-emerge into our world.  But the homoerotic overtones give the script more of a punch than your average sequel, and it's amazing New Line Cinema let director Jack Solder and writer David Chaskin veer so far from the source material, and into the realm of a high school student questioning his sexual identity.

ANOES plays at 7 pm on Saturday, October 17 and 8 pm on Monday, October 19.  Freddy's Revenge plays at 9 pm on Saturday, October 17 and Tuesday, October 20 at 8 pm.  Visit The Grand Illusion website for more details.

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If four hours of "spooky Horror and Halloween shopping fun" sounds like a great way to spend your Saturday, head to The Jack London Bar (529 SW 4th Ave) in Portland, OR, for the Ghoulie's Graveyard Sale, starting at 4 pm.  You can pick up that special decoration to make your Halloween Home complete, while enjoying Spook Music, Spooky Raffles and DRINKING!

Okay, I should not need to mention this event is for those 21 or older.

And, after the sale, you can stick around for the "classic industrial night Tyranny" starting at 10 pm!

Get more information at the Facebook Event Page.

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If you happen to be north of the Columbia River, the zombies are coming! Doomsday Brewing Company (421 C St Unit 1B) in Washougal, WA, is hosting a Zombie Brewfest from 3 to 10 pm, featuring over 25 local craft beers amongst the zombie fun, as well as live music by Guillotine Necktie and food by Foody Blues BBQ and the full Doomsday Brewing menu.  General Admission is $15, with presale tickets available now with two extra beer tokens!  Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details and a link to advanced ticket sales.

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The EMP (325 5th Ave N) in Seattle, WA, is hosting a Fashionable Undead Prom: '90s Nightmare dance for all Horror Fans.  Sure, the site has suggestions on what to wear, but seriously, do true Horror Fans need them?  Tickets to the Prom include admission to Can't Look Away, the EMP's horror museum and, I have to say (based on my visit several years ago), it's worth the cost.  Tickets are $25 ($18 for EMP members) and you'll find more information at the link.

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Halloween gets an early start in Tigard, OR, as The Joy Cinema  (11959 SW Pacific Highway)
presents Scare-a-Thon, 12 hours of great old and new horror films.  It all starts at 1 pm with the greatest horror comedy ever made, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, followed by The Bride of Frankenstein at 3 pm.

Next, for the first time in the Portland area for 60 years, the Vincent Price thriller, The Mad Magician, will be shown in GLORIOUS 3D at 5 pm, along with the 3D Three Stooges short, Spooks.  Hell, that's better than ANY 3D feature offered in the giant multiplexes.

The scares continue with The Abominable Dr. Phibes at 7 pm, Return of the Living Dead at 9 pm and Charlton Heston laying the groundwork for his NRA leadership role in the post-apocalyptic The Omega Man at 11 pm.  Admission is $5 for regular features, $6 for the 3D feature, or buy a full day pass for just $19!

So Pick and Choose, or spend all day at The Joy Cinema.  Hey, the forecast says it will rain on Saturday, a great excuse for spending 12 hours in the comfort of a theater, watching some great horror classics!

Visit The Joy Cinema website for more details.

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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.

Tonight, the deadly effects of cheap booze hits home in 1987's Street Trash.  Hobos are melting thanks to the drink Viper, while two brothers find different ways to deal with homelessness, while a cop is looking into the liquifying homeless population.

The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend.  Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.

Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Sunday, October 18

Sure, it's a sci fi/action film, but Robocop has some amazing, nightmare inducing makeup effects by Rob Bottin that I can't not include it.  Cartopia (1201 SE Hawthorne Blvd) in Portland, OR, will screen this classic, followed by an episode of Twin Peaks (note: episodes have screening since May, so you will be a bit behind) tonight after the sun is down.  Get there early and partake in some of the food served at Cartopia!  Check out the Facebook Event Page for more details.

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The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, Washington, presents Rampaging Mutant 35mm Triple Feature Pizza Party at 3 pm on Sunday, October 18.  As the program describes mutants as "rarely happy and usually on some sort of a rampage," I assume this film will not contain turtles turning into ninja.  But, you never know, as the films are not listed!   Visit The Grand Illusion website for more details.

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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.

"Wanna date?!?"

Yes, Frankenhooker is tonight's film, and this is a doozy.  After a experimental lawnmower accident kills his fiancee, Jeffrey Franken sets out to bring her back to life, using the body parts from various prostitutes.  But his reanimated bride to be is more interested in earning a living, and killing her clients, than being with him.

The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend.  Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.

Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Monday, October 19

Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.  

A young man finds a special high thanks to a parasitic worm named Aylmer in Frank Henenlotter's dark comedy Brain Damage.  Aylmer secretes a highly addictive hallucinogenic, and all young Brian to maintain a steady supply is kill people for Aylmer, who eats brains.  Yeah, nothing can go wrong with that arrangement.

The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend.  Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.

Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Tuesday, October 20

Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.

A returning Vietnam vet finds his attempts to rebuild his life put on hold in Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except (AKA Stryker's War).  When a murderous cult (led by Sam Raimi!) tortures his old girlfriend and the local cops, Stryker and his friends arm up and aim to take the cultists down.  Oh, and according to The Evil Dead Companion, keep an eye open for an uncredited cameo by Bruce Campbell as a video newscaster.

The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend.  Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.

Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Wednesday, October 21

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA,  screens Science Crazed at 8 pm tonight only.  I can't do justice to the plot synopsis offered by The Grand Illusion, but I will say it involved experimentation at the Shelley Institute, an woman giving birth to a full grown mutant/man that starts rampaging through the institute, with only....  Oh hell, you probably know the rest.  If not, visit The Grand Illusion website for more details.

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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.  

Demons 2, directed by Lamberto Bava and produced by Dario Argento (both worked on the script as well) takes place in a modern high rise, where a television show about the demon attack in the first film being aired.  As a young girl watches, a demon emerges through the television and attacks, turning her into a demon.  And, as I always say, mayhem ensues.

Keep your eyes open for Asia Argento, who was 10 years old at the time, making her screen debut.  And, as expected, lots of gory demon attacks.

The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend.  Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.

Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Thursday, October 22

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, presents a Bigfoot double feature!  Local filmmaker John Portanova's award-winning Valley of the Sasquatch is paired with one of his favorite 70s Bigfoot films, Creature from Black Lake.  And Portanova will be in attendance!  The show starts at 7 pm tonight only.  Visit The Grand Illusion website for more details.

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Tonight only, at The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St) in Vancouver, WA, is screening the classic silent film, The Golem, with musical accompaniment by local composer and pianist Beth Karp of an original score she wrote for the film.  Showtime is 7 pm.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.  You can get more information on the screening, and find a link to purchase advance tickets, at The Kiggins Theatre website.  

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Grind This!, a two week celebration of Grindhouse Horror, continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside) in Portland, OR.  

It's a bit out of order, but Demons, directed by Lamberto Bava and produced by Dario Argento (both worked on the script as well), plays tonight.  If you saw the sequel and thought it didn't make much sense, well, the first one is just a confusion at times.

A mysterious masked figure is handing out tickets to a special midnight screening at a local cinema.  As the moviegoers settle into their chairs, one is turned into a demon and some spectacular mayhem ensues.  The ending is just bonkers, as the two survivors ride a motorcycle through the theater, attacking demons with a sword and avoiding a helicopter that falls through the ceiling!  Yeah, it gets that crazy.

The film was one of the many horror films in the 80s released into American theaters unrated, as the violence would have earned it an X-rating from the MPAA.  Of course, that would have been the kiss of death, as that rating was associated with pornography and would have limited theaters willing to show, and advertise, the film.

The film starts at 9:45 pm and you must be 21 or older to attend.  Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.

Grind This! is sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

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Told you it was going to be a long one tonight.  And I expect next week's post to be just as long, so brace yourselves, Horror Fans, we're in the thick of it now. 

If you have an event I missed, please email me at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll get it on the site.  If you emailed me and you don't see your event, I might have missed it in the deluge of information that's hit me in the past two weeks.  Please email me again and I'll set things right.

And remember, should you attend any of these events, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!

The Joy Cinema is adding to your Halloween season with a great Weird Wednesday offering and Scare-a-Thon this Saturday!

Leave it to The Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway) in Tigard, OR, to kick off the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR into high gear this week.  First up is a great Weird Wednesday offering, Bride of the Gorilla!

Raymond Burr (in an un-Perry Mason role) plays a South American plantation manager who kills his employer to get with his wife (Barbara Payton).  However, a local witch curses Burr, who finds himself turning into a gorilla at night.  Through Lon Chaney Jr. into the mix, shake well, and you have a great concoction for October sipping.

Okay, it's never spelled out if Burr turns into a gorilla, or is under the witch's hypnotic spell, but the movie is a lot of fun.  And with a script by Curt Siodmak (1941's The Wolf Man), you know you'll get a few hints of the beast within the man peppered throughout the story.

As always, admission is free, but you must be 21 or older to get in.  And be sure to spend the money you save on the ticket price at the snack bar to help keep Wednesday WEIRD at The Joy.  The film starts at 9:15 pm.

Oh, but The Joy Cinema has more coming this week,  On Saturday, the Scare-a-Thon starts at 1 pm, with a great collection of old and new horror films.  It all begins with the greatest horror comedy ever made, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, followed by The Bride of Frankenstein at 3 pm.  
Next, for the first time in the Portland area for 60 years, the Vincent Price thriller, The Mad Magician, will be shown in GLORIOUS 3D at 5 pm, along with the 3D Three Stooges short, Spooks.  Hell, that's better than ANY 3D feature offered in the giant multiplexes.

The scares continue with The Abominable Dr. Phibes at 7 pm, Return of the Living Dead at 9 pm and Charlton Heston laying the groundwork for his NRA leadership role in the post-apocalyptic The Omega Man at 11 pm.  Admission is $5 for regular features, $6 for the 3D feature, or buy a full day pass for just $19!

So Pick and Choose, or spend all day at The Joy Cinema.  Hey, the forecast says it will rain on Saturday, a great excuse for spending 12 hours in the comfort of a theater, watching some great horror classics!

Visit The Joy Cinema website for more details.

Julie Adams to appear at The Living Dead Horror Convention in Portland, OR!

I was a horror fan since the age of three, when I saw Invaders from Mars in the basement TV room of my grandmother's home in New York.  My parents didn't know I was watching, but I was enthralled by the film.  And had nightmares for a few nights.  Despite my parents best efforts to shield me from the cinematic offerings of thing all dark and scary, the obsession never died.

I'm not about to debate my parents decision to keep me from watching horror films as a young child.  They did what they thought was best, and I love them for it.  And, they allowed me to watch horror films (as well as Connery era Bond films) once they were edited for network television.  This was decades before cable, but they would let me stay up long after my bedtime to watch what they wouldn't take me to the movies to see.  They also let me read novelizations of the movies I was forbidden to see, such as The Omen, as they felt not seeing visual decapitations, but reading about them, was safer for my adolescent development.

Again, I'm not criticizing their choice to shelter me from such films.  But, when we moved into the Pacific Northwest back in early 70s, they allowed me to purchase a small black and white TV with money I earned picking strawberries (yes, that was a thing) and I got to watch the horror films on KPTV.  My family has an affinity for sports that I never understood, the same as they didn't understand my love for all things scary and fantastic.

Which leads me to the first time I saw Creature from the Black Lagoon.  It wasn't on the family viewing schedule, as was Singing in the Rain (which I love), so I was in my room, watching on my small TV screen.

It was a great film, full of thrills and scares and a wonderful woman named Kay.  But then, she decided to swim in the Black Lagoon and reveled her WONDERFUL white swimsuit.

Okay, it's a one piece and looks tame by today's standards.  And I can not explain how it burned into my brain.  But it did, even before the underwater ballet scene.  I was in love with a cinematic icon, the same way I fell for Caroline Munro in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.  It was a moment that not only cemented my love for films scary and fantastic, but also for the women who acted in them.

I still have my crushes for women in horror films, even to this day.  But Ms. Adams was my first, and strongest.  She was smart, sexy and pined for by a monster I felt myself to be.  I was always the gangly kid who'd rather read and watch horror and sci fi that participate in any normal school activities like sports.  And I would always identify with the Gillman, even now, as the outsider pining for the love of a beautiful woman, but without the social graces to make his amorous intentions known.

Okay, lesson one.

Not how to act on ANY date!

Yes, I know, the Gillman went about it the wrong way, but much like Kong, his heart was in the right place.  And I always thought, had I been him, I could have made things work out better.  An adolescent fantasy, to be sure, but one that kept hope alive through my teenage years.  And I feel I'm better for it, by knowing how NOT to approach a woman.  The Gillman and Kong got it wrong and I learned from their mistakes, saving me much embarrassment.  I like to think I've had much stronger relationships with the women in my life, thanks to learning from the monster's mistakes.

Which is why I look forward to finally meeting Ms. Adams at The Living Dead Horror Convention, this November at The Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR.  The first reason is to finally meet the woman I've had a cinematic crush on for years (yeah, my heart still drops as she drops her robe and revels her one piece, even after all these years), but also to thank her for cementing in my mind that brute strength and force won't win a woman's heart.  It takes the heartfelt appreciation of her, as exemplified by Richard Carlson (as Dr. David Reed) to win her heart.  It's a lesson well learned.

And let's not talk about Mark Williams.  We all know how that ended up....

It's pretty obvious who gets to live.

Stupid jock.

No, I'm not bitter at all.

Kickstart Your Weekend!

I'm starting a new tradition at The Shadow Over Portland, where I'll feature a different crowdfunding event that might interest Horror Fans everywhere.  And I'm going with Manos Returns as my first Kickstart Your Weekend post.

Yeah, it's a pretty bad movie, but no matter how easy it is to lampoon it, but Manos: The Hand of Fate is one of those movies that could have been better than it was.  From what I've found on the Internet (and we all now everything on the Web is true), Harold P. Warren shot the film as the result of a bet that he could make a movie.  I suspect the script was written on a few cocktail napkins at the same bar he made the bet, and he discovered he didn't have enough to make a movie, or the budget to flesh out his idea of a polygamous cult traveling though dimensions to worship a god the script refuses to elaborate upon.  So he took a bunch of community theater actors and demanded they stretch things out to achieve a feature length running time.

Of course, having women wrestling in their nighties 

fills up some time.

So, we are left with so many questions.  Who, or what, is Manos?  Why does The Master need so many wives?  And what is the ultimate goal of Manos and his cult?

And the chance to have those questions answered is why I'm featuring this crowdfunding event.  Manos Returns, created by Jackey Neyman Jones (Debbie in the original film) will be directed by Seattle, WA, filmmaker Tonjia Atomic (Plain Devil, Hobo with a Trashcan) and the script by Steve Foley (Plain Devil, Cemetery Tales) might revel the questions lingering from the original film.

So, what do you get from this?  Well, a cool frigging tee shirt.

Yeah, who wouldn't want to wear this shirt?  I've ordered mine, because who doesn't want the Master on their chest.  Okay, that sounded creepy, but still, it's a cool shirt.

The film will bring back Tom Neyman as The Master, and the funding will assure him payment for his participation.  And seriously, if The Master finally gets some money from this property, I'm fine with that.  And I'm sure some of my readers are willing to kick in $27 to $30 to help The Master get his due.  Click on the link to order the tee shirt, and be quick about it.  You have until October 15.  Visit the Facebook Event Page to order your shirt.  And you know you want one!

The Master commands you to fund this film.

A quick update of stuff I didn't get to last week, because...

Yes, I had a few events to add to the Horror Calendar, but decided to head to the festival right after work on Friday instead.  It's been over a year since my last dose of Cosmic Horror, and I needed my fix as soon as possible.

And I had a GREAT TIME!  I'll be posting more about it tomorrow, but for right now, I want to thank Brian and Gwen Callahan for the wonderful three day festival, and for allowing me to be a panelist on Sunday night.  THAT was a thrill I will never forget!

Yes, that's me!

My first ever moment as a Convention panelist!  

And at the Twentieth Anniversary Celebration, no less!!

So yes, I was a bit anxious to get there.  As mentioned above,  I'll post more about the event tomorrow.  But for now, let's get to the updates!

First, if you like your Wednesdays on the WEIRD side, head to The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway) in Tigard, OR, on October 7 for a screening of Frankenstein '80.  The management of The Joy asked me to warn you that this feature is not for the faint of heart.  It is considered one of the sleaziest, goriest update on the classic tale ever filmed, which is why it's this week's Weird Wednesday offering!  The show starts at 9:15 pm and admission is FREE, so spend some of that extra money at the snack bar.  Oh, and The Joy serves beer, so drink up while being responsible.  As with all Weird Wednesday, you must be 21 or older to attend.  Check out The Joy Cinema website for more details.  

The only thing that could make Halloween any better is a film about LUCHADORS battling Dracula, the Wolfman and their minions.  Yep, you know you have to see Santo y Blue Demon contra Dracula y el Hombre Lobo, which screens at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, on Saturday, October 24, at 4 pm.  This is an all ages screening (this version is dubbed) of pure, cheesy greatness.  The party starts in the upstairs lobby of The Hollywood Theatre before the screening, with local vendors and a face painter.  And yes, you can bring your luchador mask!  Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details.  

Before there was Sam, the 80s brought us Sammi Curr, dead rock star about to be reborn thanks to a bullied metal fan, in Trick or Treat.  This fun little supernatural slasher flick, with lots of cool kills, a great soundtrack and cameos by Ozzy Ozbourne and Gene Simmons, screens at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, in GLORIOUS 35mm on October 14 at 7:30 pm.  Presented by TIMEWARRIOR-Molten Metal Merchandise, you won't want to miss this hard to find film.  Visit The Hollywood Theatre website for more details and advance ticket sales.

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But that's not all.  I'll be updating the Horror Calendar all week (I have the times for Blade and A Nightmare on Elm Street up now), with more ghoulish delights as we bask in the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!  So keep checking back!!

And remember, if you want to promote your horror/sci fi/fantasy event, send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll include it on the Horror Calendar and future updates.

Oh my, what a big update I have....

Seriously, I feel like Bigby Wolf, able to rip you apart with all the horror offerings I have, but knowing I need to temper things down....

But don't worry, that has yet to happen.

Unless you attack Portland with an army of wooden soldiers, then

WATCH OUT!

But for now, I have some cool stuff to announce...

Continuing

If you have an idea for a short horror film, consider submitting it Queer Horror: Nocturnal Submissions.  The bi-monthly horror film festival, with your hostess with the grossest, Carla Rossi, is looking to fill The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, with films that are gritty, gory, gay, sexy, scary and stupid.  In other words, almost anything goes.

There are some rules.  Nothing X-Rated (Hard R at the most) and no real-life blood or violence (animal and/or human).  Other than that, let your imagination take you to places you can photograph by camera or smart phone!

The entries may be submitted via Dropbox, Google Drive, or an e-mail attachment to thecarlarossi@gmail.com.  Submissions remain under the ownership of the respective filmmakers/copyright holders, and are screened for this engagement only.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 23, and the films chosen will be screened at The Hollywood Theatre on Thursday, October 29, at 9:30 pm.  Tickets are $8.

You can find more information about submissions, advanced ticket sales, and more at The Hollywood Theatre link.

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Halloweentown is open for business!  St. Helens. OR, celebrates the filming of the Disney Channel Original Movie with a month long celebration, including a Haunted Hot Rod/Hearse contest and an appearance of Halloweentown actress Kimberly J. Brown (Marnie) for October 10th Pumpkin Lighting Ceremony at 7 pm.  Click on the link to the Facebook Event Page for more details about this month long celebration.

Friday, October 2

The H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and Cthulhu con returns to The Hollywood Theatre for a 20^th Anniversary bash!  Yes, the stars will be ALIGNED!!!  The festival runs through October 4 and will be full of events that will test your sanity.  Guests include Herbert West himself, Jeffrey Combs, Guest of Honor author Charles Stross (The Laundry File series), author Richard A. Lupoff, author Molly Tanzer, and many more!  Check out the official website for more details and ticket information.

Oh, and I have to mention that I'll be a panelist at the event!  Stop by at 9:30 pm Sunday night for the Tainted Bloodlines panel!!  It will give you the chance to hear me gush about The Rats in the Wall, my first exposure to Lovecraft!

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Sure, this may be pushing the horror envelope, but Attack on Titan looks so many shades of AWESOME, I have to include it.  Seriously, giant monsters attacking the last strongholds of humanity has me all in, which might include you if you watch the trailer.  The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main Street) in Vancouver, WA will start screening Part One tonight.  The film plays at various times through October 5, so visit The Kiggins Theatre website for more details and show times.

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Say his name three times, and there might be wacky hell to pay.  Beetlejuice will play at The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St) in Portland, OR, through October 8.  Yeah, we know the sequel is coming, but I doubt it will match the dark humor and gothic sensibilities of the original, so be sure to catch this on the big screen when you can.  The film plays multiple times throughout the week, so visit The Academy Theater website for more details and showtimes.

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And, if that's not enough horrific fun for you, head to The Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave. SE) in Olympia, WA for the first of three Olympia Film Society Fright Club screenings of Rosemary's Baby.  Okay, you might have issues with Roman Polanski, but this movie is a classic of horror and worth checking out.  The show starts at 9 pm, and you can get more information, and find a link for advanced ticket sales, at the link.

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The subtitled German horror film, Good Night Mommy, opens at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave) in Portland, OR tonight.  As a pair of twin brothers greet their mother after cosmetic surgery, they begin to doubt the woman is actually their parent.  And, as expected, things go bad from there.  No showtimes are listed, so check back here, or at the Cinema 21 website, closer to October.

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Oh, thank you, Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St) in Portland, OR, for kicking off your Fright Film Month with a screening of 1985's classic, Fright Night.  This film is an amazing roller coaster ride, as young Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) finds out his next door neighbor (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire, with eyes on Charley's girlfriend (Amanda Bearse).  The film starts out real slow and creepy, as Charley's suspicions about his neighbor are turn out to be true, while friends turn to a washed out horror actor (WONDERFULLY played by Roddy McDowall) to help prove Charley wrong.  

Well, it wouldn't be a classic in my mind if Charley was disproven, and the final half hour of the film contains melting bodies, giant bats, vampires turning into wolves, and a serious barrage of GREAT practical effects that should have you squealing with delight.  Oh, and Sarandon is one of the SEXIEST vampires since Lugosi, Lee and Deneuve.  The film screens at 9:30 pm, and only those 21 years of age or older will be admitted.  Visit The Laurelhurst Theater website for more details.

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The Kennedy School (5736 NE 33 Ave) in Portland, OR, kicks off THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR with a screening of John Carpenter's The Thing at 9:40 pm through Sunday, October 4.  If you need more details, visit the Kennedy School Movie Page.  

Saturday, October 3

The Gill Man emerges from Grays Harbor to visit the 7th Street Theater (313 7th St) in Hoquiam, WA, for a screening of Creature from the Black Lagoon today at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 4 at 2 pm.  Tickets are only $5 for all ages, so don't miss catching this classic Universal Monster Movie on the big screen, Grays Harbor Horror Fans!  Advance tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets, Harbor Drug, City Drug, and at the door a half hour before each screening.  But seriously, why risk missing out on this classic?  Visit the 7th Street Theater website  or the Facebook Event Page for more details and information on advance ticket sales through Brown Paper Tickets.

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VHS Uber Alles and Grand Illusion Cinema (1409 NE 50th St) in Seattle, WA, start off the most wonderful time of the year right with the slasher film Hide and Go Shriek.  A group of kids try to learn from the past and hang out in a furniture store after graduation.  And they figure this will keep a homicidal maniac from hunting them down.  RIGHT!  The film starts at 9 pm, admission is only $2 and the film is presented in GLORIOUS VHS!  For more information, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Monday, October 5

Cannon Films released an amazing amount of B-Movies in the 80s, including the Missing In Action series, Masters of the Universe and Lifeforce.  The story of Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus is chronicled in Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films, playing at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR.  Playing through Thursday, October 8, the film includes interviews with Robert Forster, Tobe Hooper, Sybil Danning, Dolph Lundgren, Franco Nero and others.  No showtime is announced, but tickets are $8, and you can purchase advanced tickets (and find more information about the film) at The Hollywood Theatre website.

Wednesday, October 7



The Halloween season is even better at The Hollywood Theatre (4211 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, as Movies in Black and White presents Blade, starring Wesley Snipes.  A half vampire, half human, supernatural being, Blade protects humanity from those that feast upon them.  After the film, join a discussion about race in the film.  You'll find more details about the panelists, and a link for advance ticket sales, at The Hollywood Theatre website.

Friday, October 9

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, pays tribute to the late Wes Craven with a digitally restored version of A Nightmare on Elm Street though Monday, October 12.  I wish it was a 35mm print (seems more fitting), but seeing this film on the big screen will be a treat for any horror fan.  No word on show time, but the screening will set you back $8.  Visit The Hollywood Theatre website closer to the screening date for more details, or check back at The Shadow Over Portland closer to October, as I'll post showtimes when they are available.

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Well, The Shining is playing again in Portland, OR, this time at The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St).  I guess Portland has yet to get enough of Jack being a dull boy/axe murderer.  And if you can't, check back later, or visit The Academy Theater website, in early October for showtimes.

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The Olympia Film Society Fright Club continues to screen Rosemary's Baby at The Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave. SE) in Olympia, WA.  Okay, you might have issues with Roman Polanski, but this movie is a classic of horror and worth checking out.  The film starts at 9 pm, and you can get more information, and find a link for advanced ticket sales, at the link.

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Fright Film Month continues at The Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E. Burnside St) in Portland, OR, as the original Friday the 13th screens through Thursday, October 15.  Influenced by giallo films, FX master Tom Savini introduced extreme gore into the American slasher genre (after the tamer, but more chilling Halloween), and 80s horror was never the same.  Check back for showtimes, or visit The Laurelhurst Theater website closer to opening night for more details.

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That's all I have for this week, but you'll find more events at the Horror Calendar and The 2015 Haunted Attraction Page.  But, those will be updated as often as I can, so keep checking back for more CREEPY STUFF happening in the Pacific Northwest.

As always, should you know of, or be hosting, an event that will interest my readers (and, if you've been following this blog, you know who you are), send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll including as soon as I can.

Also, should you attend any of the events I've listed above, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!

The Giant Behemoth (1959)

It’s sad that Willis H. O’Brien’s last giant monster movie was The Giant Behemoth, rather than 1957’s The Black Scorpion.  Both his, and Pete Peterson's work (Peterson worked with O’Brien on Mighty Joe Young and did most of the animation in both Scorpion and Behemoth) suffer greatly under budget constraints in both films, but their final film sees most of the work coming after the hour mark of this 80 minute feature, and contains several instances of the same scene reused, but cropped in order to give the impression of a different shot.  The Black Scorpion would have been a much better send off than this dull, lifeless film.

Yeah, you'll see this scene a lot in the last 20 minutes of the film.

The story is pretty basic giant monster stuff.  American scientist Steve Karnes (Gene Evans), delivering a speech in England on the dangers of radioactivity to ocean life, learns of a fishing village where thousands of fish washed ashore dead.  Oh, and a local fisherman died of mysterious circumstances, after describing a behemoth coming from the sea.

Convincing Professor James Bickford (André Morell) to allow him to visit the village, the two discover another fisherman suffering what they suspect are radiation burns, after he touched a strange glowing mass where the first fisherman was found. 

Though no evidence of radiation, or the behemoth, is found in the village, a family is found severely burned (okay, more char broiled), along with a giant footprint miles away.  Searching the ocean in the area of the attack, Karnes catches a glimpse of the monster, only to be called back to shore by the local Coast Guard to help with the investigation of a grounded ship.

Finding evidence the behemoth rammed into the ship, Karnes and Bickford contact a local paleontologist (Jack MacGowran), who identifies the creature and discloses that, like an electric eel, it can discharge a shock to stun its prey.  Karnes theorizes this allows the creature, which has absorbed a massive dose of radiation, to discharge radiation, resulting in the burned remains at the site of the most recent attack.  

And the images in the film are very harrowing, 

especially for British citizens with memories of The Blitz.

The paleontologist mentions that, back when these creatures roamed the Earth, they swam up the Thames River to spawn or die.  Of course, that means when the creature reaches land, the military’s first option, blowing it to bits, isn't an option, as it would spread radioactive behemoth bits over a wide part of London. 

Oh, at this point, we’ve only seen the puppet head of the behemoth once.  In place of monster attacks, the script tries to create tension with scenes of people talking seriously about destroying a monster no one, including the audience, as seen for more than a couple of seconds.  But fear not, the puppet head rears up again at about the 50-minute mark, to sink a ferry on the Thames and barbecue the passengers.  It's unfortunate that the script follows the attack up with another ten minutes of people talking about the threat before the stop motion creature emerges in London.

Oh, scary.

Alas, the effects become underwhelming in a short time.  The initial scene, with the behemoth emerging from the Thames and wreaking several large cranes, is really nice.  And a later sequence, as the monster stomps down several power lines, looks great as well.  But it’s pretty obvious O’Brien and Peterson weren’t given much money for their work, as the creature’s seams are pretty visible (and at times, open on the screen).  And directors Eugène Lourié and Douglas Hickox squeeze every second they can from the stop motion mayhem, resulting in repeated shots that are cropped in an attempt to pass them off as different shots.

Oh, you have the monster attacking the same building within five minutes.

SCARY!

And it feels, with this feature, the pupil had become the master.  Ray Harryhausen's work on The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (an inspiration for this film I'll get to in the next paragraph), as well as It Came from Beneath the Sea, 20 Million Miles to Earth and The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (all released before Behemoth) showed stop motion creatures with a sense of personality.  Most acted more like actors, rather than stomping beasts, and (with the exception of the "octopus" in It Came from Beneath the Sea), Harryhausen's creatures died in such a fashion that invoked sympathy from the audience.  His creatures were beings, actors sharing the screen with their human counterparts.  O'Brien's behemoth, on the other hand, shared more in common with his much earlier work on The Lost World, rather than his amazing animation on King Kong.

The fault could be contributed to script,  Originally envisioned to be more a Quatermass-style film, with the mysterious radioactive blob seen early in the film being the main “monster," the distributors insisted on a more Beast from 20,000 Fathoms feel (echoed in several drawings of the behemoth before it’s seen on screen), but one suspects no additional money was added to the film’s budget to compensate for the new direction.

What, this looks like The Creature from 20,000 Fathoms?

I don't see the similarity at all.

I will credit the script for taking a different direction than most creature features of the time, at least when it came to a potential love interest.  Early on, we’re introduced to the daughter of the behemoth’s first victim (played by Leigh Madison).  This fisherman’s daughter is easy on the eyes, and though she has an admirer in the town, one could see the dashing American scientist finding a flimsy reason for bringing her on his quest for the monster, and eventually romancing her.  Yet, the script forgoes this cliché and she’s gone once Karnes leaves the village.  It’s a bit of a surprise, yet the script seems intent on not letting romance get in the way of endless scenes of talking scientists and military men. 

Though a few extra scenes of her and Karnes getting to know each other

would have been more interesting than endless discussions about killing the monster.

While the underwater scenes of the monster are nice, one has to wonder if Karnes’ idea of using a torpedo to implant more radiation into the behemoth to accelerate its death (as he believes the creature is dying from it’s exposure to radiation) is really a good idea.  Blowing it up on land is considered bad, but spreading its irradiated carcass in the Thames becomes the best opinion.  Sure, one can point to the public’s naivety concerning radiation, given the time and misinformation spread by the government (duck and cover, my ass), but the bullet used in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms seems a more logical response.  But, as the audience has been lulled to sleep by the countless times the movie has talked about the monster, rather than seen it, I suspect such a dramatic conclusion was needed.

O’Brien would work on one more giant monster movie, the Irwin Allen version of The Lost World.  This could have been the capping mark of his career, working on stop-motion dinosaurs in a remake of the film that catapulted him to fame and lead to his most famous creation, King Kong.  But, trying to compensate for the over-budgeted Cleopatra, 20^th Century Fox slashed the budget of numerous other films, leading to the use of lizards with fins in The Lost World, rather than the work O’Brien had sketched out for the production. 

If you're a completist, seek out The Giant Behemoth.  But, if you'd rather watch a fitting finale to the work of a great effects artist, stick with The Black Scorpion.  Despite its faults, that film has more of O'Brien and Peterson's work on the screen, a more fitting tribute than the endless montage of cropped sequences in this feature.  

I don't think the cropping fooled audiences in the 50s, 
any more than it would now.  

NOTE: An early version of this review incorrectly identified Pete Peterson as "Pete Patterson."  My apologies for the error, and my thanks to Steve Sullivan for pointing it out.