THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR is getting closer!

The sun is rising later in the morning, the rain is coming back, temperatures are cooling off and the leaves are starting to turn brown.  So you know THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR is just around the corner, and things are picking up at The Shadow Over Portland office.

No more hanging around, buddy.

It's time to posting details on corn mazes!

But if you're looking for some spooky fun before October 1, check out this edition of the Weekly Update.  It's loaded with some creepy films and a Halloween Swamp Meet, as well as some great sci fi and fantasy films, details on the Rose City Comic Con and MUCH MORE!

After looking at this upcoming week, head to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar for more great events coming this year.  And don't forget the Halloween Calendar of Events for updates on the haunted attractions and corn mazes.  And stay tuned as I start looking into the events happening in Halloweentown!

If you want your event listed on the site, all you need to do is email me at shadowoverportland@live.com with the details and promotional art, and I'll take care of the rest!  Best of all, posting your event on the site is FREE!

From Ashland, OR, to Vancouver, BC, The Shadow Over Portland has you covered!

Now Showing 

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is screening the new horror/comedy Ready or Not through Thursday, September 12.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Tigers are not Afraid, a horror fairy tale set against the backdrop of Mexico's drug wars, opens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  The film is currently schedule to run until Thursday, September 19.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Looking for Monsters

The Beneath is gearing up for its second year under the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR, and is looking for volunteers to play monsters!  If you're interested, visit The Beneath website and click on the Monsters Needed button.

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Tryouts for the 2019 Clark County ScareGrounds take place on Saturday, September 14 and September 21, at 8315 NE 119th St in Vancouver, WA.  For details on what to expect and some helpful tips, visit the Clark County ScareGrounds website.

Film Festival Submissions

The 11th Annual GuignolFest: 3-Day Horror Movie Contest is signing up teams now!  For more details, visit the Facebook Page or the GuignolFest website.

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The PNW Film Festival 2019 is now accepting submissions for short (up to 30 minutes) sci-fi/fantasy/action/horror films for the two day festival starting on Monday, October 21.  Submission deadline is Saturday, October 5.  For all the details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

September, 2019

Wednesday, September 11

The Gentlemen Hecklers return to the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) take on an Arnold Schwarzenegger 80s classic, Predator, tonight at 9:30 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Weird Wednesday at The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) is the Owner's Surprise!  Jeff Punk Rock Martin will choose something wild, exploitative, monstrous, wacky or tacky, or possible all of the above!!  The show starts at 9:15 pm and admission is FREE, but you must be 18 or older to attend.  Don't forget to stop at the concession stand for some tasty treats and beverages before the show!  For more details, visit The Joy Cinema website.

Thursday, September 12

The Nocturnal Emissions series at the Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave in Seattle, WA) kicks off with the Fred Dekker's classic Night of the Creeps.  Enchantress of the Undead Isabella L. Price will be your host for this evening of games, a "horrors of college" video montage, burlesque and, of course, a kick ass film!  The fun starts at 7:30 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Witch Walk - McMinnville takes place at 6 pm today in Galen Macbe Airport Park (375 SE Armory Way in McMinnville, OR).  The event is sponsored by the Wild Witches of The Willamette.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Friday, September 13

Rose City Comic Con returns to the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Marin Luther King Jr Blvd in Portland, OR) this weekend.  Bonnie Wright (the Harry Potter series), Tim Curry (It, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and MUCH MORE), Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) are scheduled to appear.  Keep up to date with all the details at the Rose City Comic Con website or the Facebook Event Page.

UPDATE: Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw) and Robert Englund (the original Freddy Kruger!)  are scheduled to appear.

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The Denton Delinquents return to the 99W Drive In (3110 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR) to shadow cast The Rocky Horror Picture Show, followed by a screening of It 2.  It all starts around 8 pm tonight and tomorrow.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The 7th annual FREE outdoor movie night at Stalker Farms Haunted Attraction (8705 Marsh Rd in Snohomish, WA)  is 1955's Daughter of Horror.  You are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and food, but no pets, alcohol or drugs (legal or otherwise).  The show starts around 7:30 pm with screenings of horror trailers before the main movie around 8 pm.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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In association with Northwest Trek Week, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen Star Trek III: The Search for Spock tonight at 7 and 9:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Saturday, September 14

The MoPOP (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) will screen Bram Stoker's Dracula at 7 pm tonight in the JBL Theater.  A pre-show featuring three Seattle drag queens (Eucalipstick, Irene Dobois and Juan Keyai) will preform a Dracula-inspired show, and Heather Bartels, host of the Shriek film series, will talk about the film's place in queer culture.  You must be 21 or older to attend.  For all the details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the MoPOP website.

Sunday, September 15

Fathom Events brings Star Trek: The Motion Picture back to the big screen nationwide for its 40th anniversary today at 1 and 4 pm, and at 4 and 7 pm on Wednesday, September 18.  For the location of a theater near you showing the film and advance ticket sales, visit the Fathom Events website.

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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents a 40th anniversary screening of Rock 'n Roll High School today at 7:15 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents at 4K Remastered screening of The Dark Crystal tonight at 9:30 pm.  For all the details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Halloween Swamp Meet takes place from noon to 7 pm today at The Oaks Amusement Park (7805 SE Oaks Park Way in Portland, OR).  Pro Portland haunters will set up displays, while local artist and vendor will have unique items from horror masks to theme cakes and one of a kind artwork available.  Admission to the Swamp Meet is FREE.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Monday, September 16

Fathom Events brings the unrated version of Rob Zombie's 3 from Hell to theaters nationwide for the next three days.  Each day features unique special content.  For all the details, including the locations of theaters showing the film and the special events happening each day, as well as advance ticket sales, visit the Fathom Events website.

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Northwest Ghost Tours brings historian and paranormal investigator Rocky Smith to The White Eagle (836 N Russell St in Portland, OR) to talk about Haunted Schools.  Tickets are $10 for the presentation, which begins at 7 pm.  Or spend $20 and arrive 90 minutes early for a tour of the White Eagle Saloon and reserved seating for the talk.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Tuesday, September 17

Tacky Wacky brings Cult of! Catwoman: A Meow Mix of Drag to Crush Bar (1400 SE Morrison St in Portland, OR) tonight.  Doors open at 8:30 pm for this celebration of Batman's fabulous feline foe/ex-fiancee.  You must be 21 or older to attend.  For more details and a list of performers, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the Japanese zombie comedy One Cut of the Dead tonight only at 9:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Tonight's Sci-Fi Extravaganza #31 at the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) is 1967's post nuclear apocalypse film In the Year 2889.  A man and his daughter hole up on their rural property after a nuclear war devastates most of the world.  While they have plenty of provisions for themselves, other survivors start to appear, followed by mutants.  You'll have to head to the Darkside Cinema to find out what happens next!  The evening starts at 6 pm with trailers, cartoons and other treats, followed by the film at 7 pm.  Admission is $5, which includes credit towards food items.  Be aware, heckling is encouraged.  For more details, visit the Darkside Cinema Facebook Event Page.

Thursday, September 19

The 2019 Lovecraft Under the Gun 72 Hour Film Contest begins tonight with team registration at The Nerd Out (3308 SE Belmont St in Portland, OR) starting at 7 pm.  Your team will have 72 hours to create a Lovecraftian short film, and turn it in by 9 pm on Sunday, September 22.  All qualifying films will be shown at the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival during the weekend of October 4 to 6.  You'll find more details at the Facebook Event Page.

Friday, September 20

Friday Night Frights presents the uncensored director's cut of Dario Argento's Deep Red at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA) tonight at 10 pm.  As always, expect prizes to be won before the film.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Mondo Trasho series at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents Paul Verhoeven's gory bug hunt, and antiracist satire, Starship Troopers in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 9:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Saturday, September 21

Keep watching the skies around the Lewis County Historical Museum (599 NW Front Way in Chehalis, WA) during The Chehalis Flying Saucer Party, as you might see some unexpected guests!  The event takes place from 9 am to midnight, and celebrates the 1947 sighting of nine "flying disks" by Idaho businessman Kenneth Arnold, after his plane left the Chehalis airport.  The event will feature speakers, vendors, live music, exhibits and MORE!  Check the Facebook Event Page later for more details.

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The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents the first in the Halloween Horror Silent Film Series, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, today at 2 pm.  The film will feature a special score created by Dean Lemire and performed on the Beverly Ruth Nelson memorial organ.  Tickets are not on sale yet, but you can get more information on the Facebook Event Page.

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Uwajimaya Beaverton (10500 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway in Beaverton, OR) hosts Uwajicon 2019 today from 11 am to 6 pm.  This anime and Japanese pop culture event is FREE to attend.  And you are invited to come dressed in your best cosplay attire.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Rocket Sci Fi series at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will screen The Invisible Boy, starring Robby the Robot, today at noon.  Admission is just $3.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Pickford Film Center website.

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In honor of Stephen King's 72nd birthday, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents the Stephen King Road Rage Double Feature!  First up is the creepy Christine, followed by the campy Maximum Overdrive, both in GLORIOUS 35mm!!  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Tonight will be most excellent as Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 S Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) presents a 30th anniversary screening of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure tonight at 11 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, September 22

Market Obscura will open Market Obscura IV: Mabon, celebrating the Fall Equinox and Mabon, at The Lovecraft Bar (421 SE Grand in Portland, OR) today from 1 to 7 pm.  This is a market for those 21 and older only.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The SIFF Film Center (305 Harrison St in Seattle, WA) presents Cinema DNA: Get Out today at 2 pm.  Nicole Pouchet, screenwriter and novelist, will focus on the mechanics of the film and how horror can illustrate social issues.  For more detail and link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The animated Mexican feature Ana Y Bruno, the adventure of a young girl seeing her father to save her troubled mother, screens at 2 pm today at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Ready or Not (2019)

A good horror comedy must be hard to make right.  Many play with the troupes of a horror film, playing off the audience's knowledge of the genre, poking fun at the conventions of the genre.  But if the comedy is too broad, you veer into the Scary Movie realm.  Worse yet, if the characters are too stupid, you risk insulting the audience with a collection of clods that shouldn't be the heroes of the movie.

Ready or Not, the new horror comedy from Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (both directed segments of V/H/S and Southbound) takes a different approach.  The comedy comes from the characters, as they react to the situation in ways both very human and very funny, and makes the film a solid watch.

The film follows Grace (Samara Weaving, Mayhem) on her wedding day.  Her soon-to-be husband, Alex Le Domas (Mark O'Brien), is an heir to the Le Domas game fortune, but Grace is more anxious to be part of a family, having lived in foster homes most of her life.

The family welcomes her into their fold, but inform her she has to play a game at midnight, a family tradition.  The game is picked by a mysterious wooden box, and other spouses who married into the family tell her the games can range from something as complicated as chess to a game of checkers.

Grace draws Hide and Seek, which seems to upset the family, especially Alex.  Grace is informed she's to try and hide until dawn, and she heads out to find a place to lay low in the spacious manor.  But the game is more serious than she suspects, as the family members, with the exception of Alex, arm themselves with antique weapons intent on hunting her down.

We're locked, loaded and ready to go.

Let the wedding party begin!

Alex uses one of the manor's hidden passageways (I guess all manors have them) to find Grace just as one of the maids is shot in the face by someone thinking it was the bride.  And no, that's not a spoiler, it's in the trailer.  Anyway, Alex tells Grace that his family will hunt her down and sacrifice her before dawn to satisfy the deal his great grandfather made with a man named Mr. Le Bail (translates to lease in English; I checked), which helped establish the La Domas fortune.  If the family fails, it's believed that bad things will happen to them.

Alex has a plan to get her out of the house, which has been locked down by the security system.  Of course, things don't go as planned, and, as you might guess, mayhem ensues.

The Bride has a gun,

everyone better run!

The script by Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy, is smart to spend most of the first half hour of the film allowing Grace to interact with the family before the game begins.  Everyone seems to like her, especially Alex's mother Becky (Andie McDowell), and most of them do seem sorry when the game is declared.  And, a big source of the comedy in the film, most are rather uncomfortable with the weapons they are given.  One of the spouses ends up with a crossbow and has to spend some time on YouTube for a tutorial on how to use it.  Alex's aunt Helene, however, is the one person who doesn't take a shining to Grace and is more than happy to arm herself with a battle axe in order to take her out.

That brings up the only problem I have with the script.  The film opens on the game being played out in a flashback, where Alex and his brother Daniel witness Helene's groom losing the game of Hide and Seek.  It sets up the premise, and gives Helene some motivation for her actions before and during the hunt, but it seems unnecessary.  If you've seen the trailer, you know what's coming and the scene ends up feeling like padding.  And if you walked into the theater without any spoilers, well, I think having events unfold without the early flashback would be a wonderful surprise.  And, as Helene is given a moment to explain her actions (while displaying a wonderful willingness to use the axe), I think the flashback would have been better integrated into that moment.

The script is smart enought to explain why Alex didn't mention the game to Grace.  After all, as most of the other spouses drew standard board games, he didn't expect Hide and Seek to turn up.  And the conditions of the deal with Le Bail wouldn't have allowed the couple to elope without invoking some punishment that no one can define.

The cast is solid.  Weaving is perfect as the bewildered Grace, who manages to foil most of the family's attempts on her life.  Her performance made me forget her gleeful killer in Mayhem, and really shows her range as an actor.  I just hope she stays in the horror genre, but I think suspect more mainstream roles are in her future.  Too bad, as I'll now watch any horror film she turns up in.

O'Brien's performance seems a bit weak at times, but his attempts to help Grace are quite earnest, and his conflict between family duty and his love for Grace are well played.  Adam Brody, as Alex's brother Daniel, is perfect as the wild card in the bunch.  His lines are delivered perfectly and he sells his character arc well, torn between his feelings towards his family, particularly his wife and two children, his feeling towards Grace (hinted at early in the movie) and his feelings towards the family tradition.

And Henry Czerny, as the head of the family, manages to maintain the charm established early in the movie.  He's earnest as he wishes Grace good luck at the start of the game, yet he pulls out all the stops to kill her.  But, thanks to the script and the actor, his character never feels truly evil, just someone committing a reprehensible act for his family's benefit.

The action is brutal and bloody, without being overly graphic.  At least until the end, which I'm not giving away.  I'll just say, during the middle of the film, the scene with the exposed nail made me flinch, even though I knew what was coming.

As for the humor, most of it is confined to the second act, as the hunt begins.  It's dark, nasty at times, and will make you laugh.  It's not playing off of the troupes of a horror film, but more based on the character's reactions to the mayhem they must unleash and the unintentional results of it.  The entire cast plays their parts as normal people suddenly called upon to be vicious killers.  It's easy to feel they'd be fine with just sacrificing Grace, but most are grossly unprepared to hunt down a human being, and it shows in their performances.  And Grace's reactions to the continual barriers placed against her survival are just perfectly delivered.  Though the climax isn't as humorous, I still left the theater with a grin.

Ready or Not is a solid way to end the summer, a funny, well written horror film peppered with brilliant bits of comedy delivered by a cast that resists going campy and plays it straight. The ending feels natural, not forced, and, if you're like me, you hope the filmmakers don't try to force a sequel.  The film is a joy and you'll be happy to re-watch it again, rather than risk a watered down followup.  

So much for wearing white on my wedding day.

The Halloween Season onslaught has begun! Here's a sneak preview of things to come!!

Well, the inbox is filling with notices, my web searches are always turning up something new, and my Facebook cruising always finds more great stuff heading the the Pacific Northwest during THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!  And you'll find it all on The Shadow Over Portland!!

At this point, I'm usually telling you about all the great things you'll find to do in this edition of the Weekly Update.  But the big news is the additions to the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar.  You really want to check October, and to show you why, here's a look at what you'll find on the calendar.

So you want a preview of the coming events in October?

All you have to do is open the book and

JOIN US!

The month starts with the first installment of Homegrown Horrors at the Darkside Cinema in Corvallis, OR.  Every Tuesday in October, a feature from local horror filmmaker Joe Sherlock will be screened, with a Q and A following the movie.  If you haven't seen any of the movies from Skullface Astronaut, don't miss the chance to see one on the big screen!

The first weekend in October kicks off with both Metalesque Fest 2019, held in various locations in Portland, OR, and the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and Cthulhu Con, also in Portland.  The festival features guests Victoria Price, Roger Corman (Yep, THE Roger Corman) and Richard Stanley.  Films include The Haunted Palace and the regional premiere of Stanley's Color Out of Space, starring Nicolas Cage!  What a choice, heavy metal burlesque or cosmic insanity!!

Towards the middle of the month, the Idaho Horror Film Festival infects the town of Boise for three days of horror and dread.  You can also find Evil Dead: The Musical possessing the stage in Portland, OR, and Renton, Wa.  And Friday Night Frights brings a horror movie with balls to Tacoma, WA, with a screening of Phantasm.

The weekend of the 19th sees a few markets selling Halloween Goodies, a reading of Lovecraftian stories at The Lovecraft Bar in Portland, OR, and The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR, presenting The Evil Dead with a re-imagined score by original composer Joseph LoDuca!

Than things really pick up.  Messer Chups and The Delstroyers take the stage in Seattle and Portland,  The Hollywood Theatre in Portland starts bringing several classic horror films, and a seldom seen slasher film, to the screen.  And don't forget the Jet City Comic Show in Tacoma!

And that's just a sample of what you'll find on the calendar!  But expect it to fill up pretty quick with more great events, as you know I'll be updating the site as it takes to keep Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans informed on all the great ways to celebrate THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!

Don't forget to check out the Halloween Calendar of Events page, with details on corn mazes and haunted attractions.  It's not very full now, but that's going to change over the next few weeks!

If you want your event added to The Shadow Over Portland, all you need to do is email me at shadowoverportland@live.com with the details and promotional artwork, and I'll do all the rest.  Best of all, it's FREE!

From Ashland, OR, to Vancouver, BC, The Shadow Over Portland has you covered!

Now Showing 

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is screening the new horror/comedy Ready or Not through Thursday, September 12.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Looking for Monsters

The Beneath is gearing up for its second year under the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR, and is looking for volunteers to play monsters!  If you're interested, visit The Beneath website and click on the Monsters Needed button.

Film Festival Submissions

The 11th Annual GuignolFest: 3-Day Horror Movie Contest is signing up teams now!  For more details, visit the Facebook Page or the GuignolFest website.

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The PNW Film Festival 2019 is now accepting submissions for short (up to 30 minutes) sci-fi/fantasy/action/horror films for the two day festival starting on Monday, October 21.  Submission deadline is Saturday, October 5.  For all the details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Fundraiser

The Kickstarter campaign for the 2019 H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and Cthulhucon is now live and runs through 9 pm PST on Sunday, September 8.  Check out the Kickstarter Page for the rewards.  Even if you can't attend the festival, you can still pick up some cool clothes and other great items.

As with any fundraiser listed on the site, it is one I supported.

September, 2019

Friday, September 6

Tigers are not Afraid, a horror fairy tale set against the backdrop of Mexico's drug wars, opens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  The film is currently schedule to run until Thursday, September 12.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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The Friday Late Night Movie at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is Jim Jarmusch's zombie film The Dead Don't Die.  The film starts at 11:15 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The 99W Drive In (3110 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR) will show It 2, followed by the ghost with the most, Beetlejuice.  It all starts around 6 pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the director's cut of Midsommar tonight at 9:35 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.


Saturday, September 7

The Artists Repertory Theatre's Stage Meets Screen series, in conjunction with their new production of George Orwell's 1984, brings the dystopia masterpiece Brazil to The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) in GLORIOUS 35mm!  And you can bring your movie ticket to the Artists Repertory Theatre box office for a discount on their production of 1984.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 S Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will screen the 80s cult classic Chopping Mall tonight at 11 pm.  Featuring some spectacular mayhem and a host of 80s genre actors (including Kelli Maroney, Barbara Crampton, Dick Miller, Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov), this is one not to miss on the big screen!  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Daikaiju, Roselit Bone and King Ghidora perform at Dante's (350 W Burnside St in Portland, OR).  The show starts .  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The 7th Street Theatre (313 7th St in Hoquiam, WA) presents the 1959 version of Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth, starring James Mason and Pat Boone, tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow at 2 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, September 8

The Hollywood Theatre presents Beast Wishes, a film tribute to Sci Fi/Horror movie memorabilia legends Bob and Kathy Burns, tonight at 7 pm.  The event is hosted by Portland film curator Greg Hamilton, and includes Oscar-winning FX artist Chris Walas (The Fly, Gremlins) and director Frank Dietz.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Monday, September 9

The Resistance Series Fundraiser at the  Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) presents Rock 'n Roll High School today at 7 pm.  the nonprofit partner for the screening is Friends of Noise, a non-profit working to provide safer and productive spaces for all-ages concerts.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Tuesday, September 10

The Burlynomicon 8 Year Anniversary takes place at 8:30 pm tonight at The Lovecraft Bar (421 SE Grand in Portland, OR).  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales (highly recommended), visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The Portland Horror Trivia Massacre takes place at 7:30 pm tonight at Home, A Bar (719 SE Morrison St in Portland, OR).  Gather you team in an attempt to show off your horror trivia knowledge and possibly win one of two Home, A Bar gift certificates.  And you might walk off with a cool horror themed raffle prize.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Wednesday, September 11

The Gentlemen Hecklers return to the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) take on an Arnold Schwarzenegger 80s classic, Predator, tonight at 9:30 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Thursday, September 12

The Nocturnal Emissions series at the Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave in Seattle, WA) kicks off with the Fred Dekker's classic Night of the Creeps.  Enchantress of the Undead Isabella L. Price will be your host for this evening of games, a "horrors of college" video montage, burlesque and, of course, a kick ass film!  The fun starts at 7:30 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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Witch Walk - McMinnville takes place at 6 pm today in Galen Macbe Airport Park (375 SE Armory Way in McMinnville, OR).  The event is sponsored by the Wild Witches of The Willamette.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Friday, September 13

Rose City Comic Con returns to the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Marin Luther King Jr Blvd in Portland, OR) this weekend.  Bonnie Wright (the Harry Potter series), Tim Curry (It, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and MUCH MORE), Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) are scheduled to appear.  Keep up to date with all the details at the Rose City Comic Con website or the Facebook Event Page.

UPDATE: Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw) and Robert Englund (the original Freddy Kruger!)  are scheduled to appear.

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The Denton Delinquents return to the 99W Drive In (3110 Portland Rd in Newberg, OR) to shadow cast The Rocky Horror Picture Show, followed by a screening of It 2.  It all starts around 8 pm tonight and tomorrow.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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The 7th annual FREE outdoor movie night at Stalker Farms Haunted Attraction (8705 Marsh Rd in Snohomish, WA)  is 1955's Daughter of Horror.  You are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and food, but no pets, alcohol or drugs (legal or otherwise).  The show starts around 7:30 pm with screenings of horror trailers before the main movie around 8 pm.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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In association with Northwest Trek Week, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen Star Trek III: The Search for Spock tonight at 7 and 9:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Sunday, September 15

Fathom Events brings Star Trek: The Motion Picture back to the big screen nationwide for its 40th anniversary today at 1 and 4 pm, and at 4 and 7 pm on Wednesday, September 18.  For the location of a theater near you showing the film and advance ticket sales, visit the Fathom Events website.

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The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) presents a 40th anniversary screening of Rock 'n Roll High School today at 7:15 pm.  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

Okay, I'm going to say it.  Horror films CAN be rated PG-13 and still be effective.  Sure, the rating limits the use of gory effects, but if the atmosphere is right and the story is strong enough, the movie will work.  And Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark does work.  It's creepy, dark and very entertaining.  And it's a great gateway film for young horror fans.

Just a quick word of warning.  Don't go in expecting a Guillermo del Toro film.  While his name is attached to the film, it's not his movie.  He produced the film, and does share a story credit with two others, but as with 2010's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, he found a director who shares his sensibilities in André Øvredal (Trollhunter, The Autopsy of Jane Doe), who delivers a creepy, dark tale dealing about facing one's fears.  At least, that's the sense I got from the conclusion, but it doesn't really work.  More on that later.

Although facing this damn thing is going to be hard for anyone,

even a horror fan.

The film takes place on Halloween night in a small Pennsylvania town in 1968.  Amateur horror writer Stella (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and her friends Auggie (Gabriel Rush) and Chuck (Austin Zajur)  incur the wrath of local bully Tommy (Austin Abrams).  But his plans against the group are thwarted by Ramon (Micheal Garza), who just drove into town.

The four head to a local haunted house, which is a GREAT idea on Halloween night.  Of course, they find a book of scary stories owned by Sarah Bellows, the family daughter who's been removed from all the family photos.  Tommy follows them and locks them in the room along with his girlfriend, Chuck's sister Ruth (Natalie Ganzhorn).  Some unseen presence released them and the group leaves, with the freaking book!  For being a horror writer, Stella seems to have missed the point that one never leaves a haunted location with ANYTHING.

Dammit, Stella, you should know better.
Don't EVER take something out of a haunted house!
It NEVER ends well!!

Later that night, Stella discovers a new story being written in Sarah's book, with Tommy as the main character.  And soon, Tommy is attacked by a scarecrow and is reported missing the next day.  Stella and Ramon head to Tommy's home, only to find his clothes on a new scarecrow in the cornfield.

Okay, I get it.  Scarecrows in a dark cornfield are scary, but probably not to someone living on a corn farm.

Unless the scarecrow looks like it was made by Ed Gein.

And, as expected, mayhem ensues as new stories are written by Sarah, and Stella's friends become targets.

Okay, I have to confess that I have not read the books this movie is based upon.  Published in the 80s, I was already devouring the glut of adult horror books flooding the market and wasn't aware these books existed.  But I am aware of the controversies these books continue to generate, as author Alvin Schwartz didn't shy away from some violent content, and the illustrations by Stephen Gammell are pretty horrific.  But not reading the source material won't hamper your enjoyment of these dark tales.

However, it does bring up one small problem.  As the stories appear in Sarah's book, the film cuts to the mayhem occurring to the character written into the tale.  For those who haven't read Schwartz's books, we get no history of the creature, why they exists, and why a particular character is being hunted by it.  As many of the stories in the books are based on folklore tales and urban legends, the monsters probably exist to impart a moral to the reader.  But the film moves too fast in introducing the creatures to their victims, without explaining why the attack is happening to a character.

Okay, I know I'm being attacked by a very scary creature.

But I just have to ask, why me?  And why this big, doughy thing?

The young cast does a good job, though we don't get enough time with them before things go crazy to develop their characters in any way.  Øvredal isn't afraid to keep things in the shadow, which is quite effective.  But I suspect it was also used to ensure the film received a PG-13 rating, as some scenes might have crossed into R rated territory if not hidden in shadows.

And, thankfully, the film isn't over-reliant on jump scares.  Sure, like all horror films, it has a few, but once they appear on the screen, the creatures tend to stay out in the open, rather than lurking in the shadows waiting to leap out of the darkness.  And it's nice to see some characters react to the monsters in a very human fashion.  Seriously, who among us, if we were armed, wouldn't unload a pistol into a dismembered, living human head?  Sure, the results aren't as effective as the character would hope, but it's a very human reaction and a nice touch.

As Jack Burton would say,

you never know until you try!

In fact, the most horrific moment of the film isn't visual.  As Stella tries to stop her friends from being attacked by the monsters written into the book, she finds a recording of Sarah's electroshock therapy performed by her brother to keep her from telling the truth about the Bellow's mill, which is poisoning the town.  It's basically a torture scene and the audio is powerful, more terrifying than the monsters Sarah now creates.  And without any visual cues, the audience is allowed to imagine the scene, which ends up being more horrific than any filmed depiction of the procedure.

Okay, I said earlier that the film is about facing one's fears, and the ending does deal with it somewhat.  Ramon is shown facing his fear, which is portrayed in the monster he faces earlier.  But Stella's friends simply meet with terrifying monsters that have no connection with their limited character development.  And, as one character recovers from their ordeal without showing any sign that they faced their obvious fear, the conclusion to Ramon's story is lessened.  Rather than being a morality tale, which is common with most folktales, the stories/attacks are simply little more than an excuse to bring the book's monsters to life, and the film's conclusion suffers from it.

Okay, it's an obvious fear for teens to have that a massive zit will pop up at the worst time possible.

Too bad it's the 60s, or she might have been able to faced that fear on YouTube.

Of course, the film ends on a somewhat happy note, which, as expected, sets up a sequel.  I don't know how the filmmakers could pull that off, as the story with Sarah has reached its conclusion.  But I'd be happy to see More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark show up at my local cinema at some point.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will please fans who read the books when they were young, as the monsters on the screen are good representations of Gammell's illustrations.  And for adults who missed out on the books, the film will make you want to check out Schwartz's work to see what you missed.  As for the kids, it's a perfect gateway film for budding horror fans, terrifying without being overly gory.  You just might want to abandon the suggesting in the title and leave a light on for the younger ones.

And maybe for a few hours afterwards.

Just saying.

I've found a few things I missed, so it's time for a Special Report!

Well, I try to catch everything before sending out the Weekly Update, but sometimes things fly under my radar.

Kind of like The Giant Claw.

I just didn't see it until it was right on top of me.

Seriously, I got details on two of these films yesterday, and found the other while I was working on the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar this morning.  I'm sure some of you might be interested in them, so it's time for a Special Report!

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First up, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) is screening the new horror/comedy Ready or Not through Thursday, September 5.  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

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Across the Columbia River in Washington, The Nightingale, the latest film from writer/director Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) plays through Thursday, September 5, at the Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA).  This tale of a woman's quest for vengeance in 1825 Australia caused some controversy when it premiered at The Sydney Film Festival for its extreme depictions of rape and murder, with some 30 people walking out of the screening.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Kiggins Theatre website. 

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Last but not least, the Darkside Cinema (215 SE 4th St in Corvallis, OR)  presents the Sci Fi Extravaganza #30, Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, tonight at 7pm.  Doors open at 6 pm for an hour of cartoons, newsreels, trailers and MORE!  Admission is $5, which can be used as credit towards food purchases.   And be advised, heckling is encouraged.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

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I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and I'll be back on Wednesday with a new Weekly Update!

From Ashland, OR, to Vancouver, BC, The Shadow Over Portland has you covered!