It's almost the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, and I'm asking for your help. And feast your eyes on this weekly update, as well as the new Horror Calendar look!!

This post is Batman approved!

Well, we have less than two months before October 1st, and I know a few haunted attractions will be opening during THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.  And I know Northwest Horror Fans will want to know where they can go to celebrate, and that's why I'm asking for your help.  If you are opening a Halloween attraction, having a film screening, hosting a haunted burlesque event, or whatever, please send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com and let me include it on the Horror Calendar and my weekly updates.

Listing your event on The Shadow Over Portland is FREE!  I don't want any payments, comp tickets or anything.  I just want to spread the word of the events happening in the Pacific Northwest (as well as British Columbia and Northern California).  So help me tell my readers about your event.  October is the busiest time on my site, and I'm sure I can help direct people to your event.  And, I will make separate links for Haunted Events, as I have every year, so readers can click on one page to find your event.  You have nothing to lose, as it won't cost you anything.

I'm already starting to find events and will be listing them on the Horror Calendar in the coming weeks.  Do not miss out!

Also, I'm changing up the look of the Horror Calendar, including artwork for the first few weeks.  I hope to expand it as time goes on, giving everyone an easy visual reference to the stuff happening in the coming months.  Please check it out!

With the pitch out of the way, here's the next week's events happening under The Shadow Over Portland!

  
Ongoing

Submissions are being accepted for the PDXtreme Fest, 3 days of horror, crime, gore and more at the the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark) in Portland, OR, December 2 through 4 this year.  You can find more details on how to enter your film at the Facebook Event Page.

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Mental Trap Escape Room Game invites you, and four to ten members, to escape a locked room in one hour.  And yes, it is timed.  Created by the devious minds behind 13th Door Haunted House, Glowing Greens Miniature Golf and Haunted Productions, this offers you the challenge to find the clues keeping you locked in the room and escape within an hour.  But, as the website suggests, it's not as easy as it sounds.  Located at 3855 SW Murray Blvd in Portland, OR, you can challenge your wits (and those of your team mates) to solve the puzzle before time expires.  I don't know what happens if you don't succeed, but that's part of the fun.  For more details, visit the link.

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Bleedingham, a Northwest Horror Short Film Festival, is now excepting submissions.  The chosen films will screen at the Pickford Film Cinema (1318 Bay St) in Bellingham, WA later this year.  More details can be found at the official website.

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You can still have your Lovecraftian film considered for the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon, which happens October 7 to 9 at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  For more details, visit the Official Website.

Oh, and I'll be a guest at this year's event!  Please be sure to say hello if you happen to attend a panel I'm on, or just see me walking about.  You won't miss me, as I'll be the big guy in the Lovecraft tee shirt and black Stumptown Kilt!

Buy it NOW!

Fabio Frizzi, composer for some of Lucio Fulci's horror classics such as Zombie, The Beyond and Gates of Hell, is coming to The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 8 pm on Monday, October 3, to perform tracks from these classic films LIVE with a seven piece orchestra!  Frizzi 2 Fulci starts at 8 pm, with general admission only $25.  But, for $50, you can be part of a meet and greet event at 6 pm.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre official website.  This event WILL sell out, so buy your tickets as soon as possible!

August, 2016

Wednesday, August 10

Another Wednesday, another dose of WEIRD WEDNESDAY craziness at The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) tonight at 9:15 pm.  Tonight's feature is The Curse of Bigfoot!  According to IMDB, the film was originally shot in 1958 as Teenagers Battle the Thing, released theatrically only in director Dave Flocker's hometown.  The film was padded out in 1975, with a sequence featuring the original stars of the films (playing adult versions of their characters) in the opening moments, to unleash the film as a TV movie.  Oh, and the original version dealt with a rampaging mummy, not Bigfoot, but that's a minor detail, I'm sure!  As always admission is free (so spend some extra cash at the snack bar, you can afford it!) and you must be 21 or older to attend.  For more details, visit The Joy Cinema official website.

Thursday, August 11

Aliens attack London, and only a gang of street youths can save the day.  Attack the Block pits a bunch of young criminals against an invasion from space, and you can catch it at the Hotel DeLuxe Parking Garage (777 SW 15th Ave) in Portland, OR, tonight at dusk.  Part of the Northwest Film Center's outdoor theater, the film is proceeded by the short Wild Bichons, about a surreal encounter in a Pacific Northwest forest.  The film is presented in DVD version.  Doors open at 7 pm, music starts at 8 pm, and the screening starts at dusk.  For more details, and advance ticket sales, visit the official website.

Friday, August 12

Finding the Skyway Outdoor Cinema screening of Labyrinth could be as interesting as wandering the the Goblin King's lair.  The festivities begin at 8 pm behind the Skyway 7-Eleven on Renton Ave South in Seattle, WA, in the US Bank parking lot, and the movie starts at 9 pm.  Bring a comfy chair and some cash for the concession stand!  And good luck on your quest!!  For more details, visit the Skyway Outdoor Cinema official website.

SPOILER!!!!  The Facebook Event Page contains the address, if you need it.  And the mural is REALLY COOL!

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Look, up in the sky!  It's a bird,.... No it's a flock of them and THEY'RE ATTACKING!!!!  Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds opens tonight, for one week only, at The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR).  As with most features, admission is only $5, or save some cash for the snack bar by attending on Monday, when admission is only $1!  Please, do not bring outside food or drinks with you, lest you incur the wrath of a murder of blood thirsty crows!  Instead, spend the money at The Joy's concession stand and help support a local theater bringing great movies to the Northwest at a reasonable price!!  No showtimes have been announced, so check back later for more details or visit The Joy Cinema official website later in the week.

Saturday, August 13

Hot August Frights returns to the 7th St Theatre (313 7th St) in Hoqiuam, WA, with a Creepy Crawly Marathon featuring Ellory Elkayem's goofy (in a GREAT WAY) giant spider classic, Eight Legged Freaks.  Visit the 7th St Theatre website for more details, and be sure to check out the lineup of films below!

8:00 am Spider Baby 1967
9:30 am The Bat 1959
11:00 am Tarantula 1955
1:00 pm Killer Shrews 1959
2:30 pm Kingdom of the Spiders 1977
4:30 pm Deadly Mantis 1957
6:30 pm 8 Legged Freaks 2002
8:30 pm Bucket of Blood 1959
10:00 pm Lost World 1960

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"Never give up.  Never surrender!"  Seattle Center Movies at the Mural (305 Harrison St in Seattle, WA) presents a free screening of one of the greatest Star Trek spoofs ever made, 1999's Galaxy Quest.  The showing is all ages, but remember, seating on the Mural Amphitheatre lawn is first-come, first-served and limited to the lawn capacity, so get there early (the movie starts at dusk).  For more details, and a list of park rules, visit the Seattle Center Movies at the Mural official website.

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Oh, this will be all shades of AWESOME!  Tonight at 7:30 pm, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will present a screening of David Cronenberg's Scanners in GLORIOUS 35mm.  Okay, that's enough for a geek out moment, but Michael Ironside will be in attendance, with a Q and A after the show!!!  Unfortunately, the is sold out, but I'll be sure to post if more tickets become available.

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Sorry for the short notice, but this slipped by me.  The Northwest ComicFest 2016 takes place this weekend at The Salem Convention Center (200 Commercial St SE in Salem, OR).  For a list of guests and ticket sales, visit the official website.

But, for any horror fans attending the fest, be sure to catch the Oregon Premiere of local horror film director Joe Sherlock's latest flick, Beyond the Wall of Fear tonight at 6 pm.  You must have a festival ticket to attend.

Thursday, August 18

Queer Horror, The Hollywood Theatre's (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) bimonthly program hosted by "Portland's premier drag clown" Carla Rossi, presents a screening of the cult classic, The Craft, tonight at 9:30 pm.  And the festivities start with a pre-show starting Portland's fiercest drag coven!  For more details and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the theater's official website.

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Movies in the Park presents the granddaddy of the summer blockbuster (and a DAMN SCARY film to boot), Steven Spielberg's Jaws at Elizabeth Caruthers Park (3508 SW MoodyAve in Portland, OR).  Festivities start at 6:30 pm with the band Jellyroll Society, FREE POPCORN and admission is free as well!  The film starts around dusk.  Remember to bring some warm clothes, as nights in the Northwest can get chilly.  And be sure to follow the park rules: No alcohol at this event, all dogs MUST be leashed and NO smoking or other tobacco products (I'm going to assume that includes vaping, but you can call and find out).  For more details, visit the Portland Parks official website.  Also, please be aware that the event can be cancelled if the weather doesn't cooperate (but I'd say the chances of a rainout in August are slim).

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If you are disappointed that the Fathom Events showing of 1968's Planet of the Apes didn't make it to a Portland cinema, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) has you covered.  Tonight at 6:45 pm, Frak! Theater presents a digital restoration of this classic sci fi film.  Admission is $9.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre official website.

Friday, August 19

The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) takes its Summer Sizzle series down a dark and gory path with a screening of the 1980 slasher classic Friday the 13th.  Yeah, don't need to say anything else, except it will be showing on the BIG SCREEN!  No showtimes have been announced, so check back later, or visit the theater's official website, closer to the opening date.

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Central Cinema (1411 21 Ave in Seattle, WA) is screening one of the filmed-in-the-Northwest classics, The Goonies, through Tuesday, August 23.  For more details and showtimes, visit the theater's official website.

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Three Dollar Bill Outdoor Cinema: The Fierce Awakens presents a free screening of Barbarella at Cal Anderson Park (1711 12th Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight at 8 pm.  You can visit the Three Dollar Bill Facebook Event Page for more information on the screening, and visit the Cal Anderson Park official website for details on the park, as well as park rules.  Be aware, all Seattle parks are smoke-free.

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Okay, it's my blog and I'm including Summer Nights in the North Plaza at CenturyLink Field (800 Occidental Ave S in Seattle, WA) screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark because it's one of the best action movies ever made and the ending is PRETTY CREEPY!  I can't think of many horror fans objecting to a film where, in less than a minute, we get a head being desiccated, another melting and a third blown to bloody bits!  No word on ticket prices or when the festivities start, so check back here, or visit the CenturyLink Field official website for more details as August approaches.

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Well, more events are coming, but if you can't wait, visit the Horror Calendar for events into the next year!

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

Here's your Horror Update through July, Northwest Horror Fans. But fear not, lots of great events are happening next month!

Okay, the end of this month might seem a bit slow, but things are picking up in August and I've even found my first October event.  Oh, you know as the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR grows closer, more will be added to the Weekly Update.  But if you can't wait, be sure to click on the Horror Calendar in August for all the events that I can find.

But for now, here's the events for this week!

Ongoing

Submissions are being accepted for the PDXtreme Fest, 3 days of horror, crime, gore and more at the the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark) in Portland, OR, December 2 through 4 this year.  You can find more details on how to enter your film at the Facebook Event Page.

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Mental Trap Escape Room Game invites you, and four to ten members, to escape a locked room in one hour.  And yes, it is timed.  Created by the devious minds behind 13th Door Haunted House, Glowing Greens Miniature Golf and Haunted Productions, this offers you the challenge to find the clues keeping you locked in the room and escape within an hour.  But, as the website suggests, it's not as easy as it sounds.  Located at 3855 SW Murray Blvd in Portland, OR, you can challenge your wits (and those of your team mates) to solve the puzzle before time expires.  I don't know what happens if you don't succeed, but that's part of the fun.  For more details, visit the link.

------------

Bleedingham, a Northwest Horror Short Film Festival, is now excepting submissions.  The chosen films will screen at the Pickford Film Cinema (1318 Bay St) in Bellingham, WA later this year.  More details can be found at the official website.

------------

You can still have your Lovecraftian film considered for the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon, which happens October 7 to 9 at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  For more details, visit the Official Website.

Buy it NOW!

On Friday and Saturday, August 5 and 6, at 9:30pm, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR, will screen a digital restoration of A Cat in the Brain, directed by, and starring, Lucio Fulci.  This meta take on creating horror films has Fulci playing a director tormented by the gore he's released on the screen, only to have reality take a twisted turn as a serial killer is committing murders that mirror the onscreen mayhem he created.  It's trippy, it's gory fun and I'm sure it will sell out, so buy your advance tickets at The Hollywood Theatre official website.  

July, 2016


Wednesday, July 27

Okay, Portland area Horror Fans and lovers of WEIRD WEDNESDAY, you have plenty of time to head to The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) for a screening of Santo...

Oh, sorry, the American title is Samson vs. the Vampire Women.  But seriously, it's SANTO, the silver masked luchador taking on a horde of vampire women.  Oh, you know you have to see it if you can.

According to The Joy Cinema Facebook page, should this film be unavailable, it will be replaced with another movie with just as much SANTO!  And, let's be honest, you can't get enough Santo in your life.

The film starts at 9:15 pm and ADMISSION IS FREE!  That should liberate a few extra dollars to spend at the concession stand, with is stocked with soda, tasty popcorn and beer!   Spend the extra cash, and help support The Joy Cinema and Pub as they continue to keep Wednesdays WEIRD in the Portland area.

Oh, you must be 21 or older to get in.  Visit The Joy Cinema official website for more details.


Thursday, July 28

Moonlight Cinema at Redhook Brewery (14300 NE 145th St in Woodinville, WA) presents a screening of Labyrinth tonight at dusk  Festivities start at 6 pm with a Bowie tribute with Oddmall Emporium of the Weird.  Admission is $5.  The Redhook Brewery official website isn't very helpful (click and good luck to you, as all I got was a limited calendar and a pop-up with details about the films and advance ticket sales).  Hope the website is updated later by now.

Friday, July 29

Projekt Records and Movies in the Dark present the David Cronenberg thriller, The Dead Zone, tonight at 9:30 pm at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR.  Based on the Stephen King novel, the film deals with a man (Christopher Walken) who awakes from a coma with the ability to see the future of those he touches.  And, as you might guess, things don't go well.  For more details, and advance ticket sales, visit the link.

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Okay, it's my blog and I'm going to include The Hollywood Theatre's (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark this weekend, because it's one of the best action movies ever made and the ending is PRETTY CREEPY!  I can't think of many horror fans objecting to a film where, in less than a minute, we get a head being desiccated, another melting and a third blown to bloody bits!  Especially a 50-FOOT BIG SCREEN!!  IN GLORIOUS 35mm!!!!  Visit the theater's official website for showtimes and advance ticket sales.  I suspect this will sell out, so buy your tickets early.

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VHS Uber Alles returns to the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 SE 50th St in Seattle, WA) with a screening of Kamillions in GLORIOUS VHS.  All right, all right, I've never heard of the movie either, but the plot involves two ugly shapeshifting aliens crashing a party.  Cheesy gags and practical effects ensue, and this is one of those movies you'll only see if you come across a VHS copy on eBay.  Admission is $2 and if I was in Seattle area, I'd be checking this one out!!  Visit the Facebook Event Page for more details (and the event's special thanks to Scarecrow Video).

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Philip Kaufman's terrific remake of the Don Siegel classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, screens at The Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR) through Thursday, August 4.  The film stars Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright and Leonard Nimoy, as well as cameos by Siegel and Kevin McCarthy.  No showtimes have been announced, so check back here, or visit the theater's official website, later in the month.

Saturday, July 30

Seattle Outdoor Cinema, now relocated to the South Lake Union Discovery Center (101 Westlake Ave N in Seattle, WA), presents a 21 and older screening of one of the greatest action films of the decade, Mad Max: Fury Road.  The new location features a larger screen (35 by 55 feet), along with improved sound and projection for one of the best outdoor movie experiences available.  Oh, and there will be food trucks, a beer garden and pre-show entertainment.  You can get more details, as well as the rest of the schedule and links for advance ticket sales, at the official website.

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As I mentioned, October is just over TWO MONTHS AWAY, and I know lots of stuff will be happening.  So, if you want your film festival, pumpkin patch, haunted house or other creepy offerings listed on The Shadow Over Portland, send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com.  October is my busiest month, with lots of Northwest Horror Fans checking out the Weekly Updates, and the Horror Calendar, for all the cool stuff happening in the area.  And I will have extra pages listed on the main site, so fans can find what they want with ease.

Oh, and I should mention that listing your event on The Shadow Over Portland is 100 percent FREE!  I don't expect any compensation, but an email will ensure I list your event.  I can't scour every Internet listing, so make sure your site is listed by letting me know about it!

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

Wolfcop (2014)

I was very lucky to have turned 18 years old back in 1979.  Before that time, I was watching horror films on broadcast television (thankfully, some were uncut, even on Saturday afternoon, so I got to see some of the mayhem major networks would censor).  My folks weren't fans of the genre, so I could never get them to drive me to a theater to see the latest horror film, let along go with me to the R-rated ones.

Okay, before I go further, this is not a rant against my parents.  They didn't like the genre I was enamored with and wouldn't have sat through the stuff I wanted to see.  And, in their minds, a child shouldn't be exposed to the horrors shown on the big screen.  But they had no problem letting me read books like The Exorcist, or the novelization of The Omen, to name a few.  And they accept my love of all things gory, spooky and macabre, and fill their DVR with films I can't see on cable (as I don't have cable) whenever I visit them now.  They accept me as the weird one out of their three sons and are happy to indulge my strange tastes, and I love them for it.

Hey, they kept Sharknado 3 on their DVR for over eight months so I could see it.

And they drove me to Silver Springs so I could visit the Black Lagoon.

But that's a tale for next month.

Where I am going with this is, once I could drive myself to the local triplex, I was able to see a lot of low budget cult classics that would show up for a one week run at the local triplex.  Zombie, Humanoids from the Deep and other such "low brow" offerings would show up to fill space between the more mainstream films, and I attended a lot of them.  Also, it was a time where theaters could screen Unrated films without the MPAA cracking down on them.

It was a wonderful time, and I'm sure, had it been made back then, I'd have seen Wolfcop at the now demolished Hazel Dell Tri-Cinema back in the 80s.  A glorious exploitation film from Canada, Wolfcop is everything that was right about 80s horror.  It was an original idea (not another Freddie or Jason film), with lots of gore, a bit of nudity, and enough goofy humor to make me long for those days sitting in the theater with a bunch of friends, not knowing what we were going to see, but knowing it would be something really weird.

Yes, it's a Wolfcop with a machine gun.

You know you have to see this movie now.

The story takes place in the small community of Woodhaven, which hosts a yearly Drink and Shoot, has a radio station sponsored by Liquor Donuts (seriously, Portland, why is this not a thing?) and has a police force of two officers, Sergeant Tina (Amy Matysio), officer of the month for what appears to be years, and the chief.

Oh, there is a third officer, Lou Garou (Leo Farfard), but he's a severe alcoholic and barely hanging onto his job. Oh, and yeah, if you didn't guess who the Wolfcop is by his name, you're probably reading the wrong blog.

Seriously, that's how he gets his exercise.

Flask curls.

Sent to investigate occult activity in the area reported by the local gun store owner, Willie (Jonathan Cherry), Garou dismisses it as some heavy metal fans.  But, ordered to follow up on a second disturbance, he finds the current mayoral challenger strung up on a tree.  He's knocked unconscious and wakes up the next morning with bizarre flashbacks to the previous night, heightened senses and a pentagram carved into his torso.

Garou also has a sudden interest in police work, after the body of the upstart candidate is found dead of a possible drug overdose, with animal bites on his neck.  This leads the current mayor to cancel the upcoming Drink and Shoot, but Garou discovers the event has been cancelled during every Lunar Eclipse.

Oh, and the next one is just days away.

After a day of surprisingly productive police work, he heads to the local bar.  Jessica (Sarah Lind) suddenly shuts her establishment down for the night, while offering Garou a few free drinks and the promise of a bit more intimate time after she's done cleaning.  But Garou has to make a hasty retreat to the men's room, where he finds himself transforming and fending off a group of attackers.

Well, if this was your bartender,

who wouldn't be a bit distracted?

Garou awakens chained to a bed at Willie's house, with the gun shop owner telling him he turned into a wolf.  Garou agrees to be restrained in a jail cell that evening, where he again transforms.  But, as a call comes in concerning a robbery by a gang wearing pig masks, Garou answers the call, despite Willie's protest that, "You're a Wolf."

"Cop," Garou replies and the movie kicks into full, furry fury.  And it is gory and SO MUCH FUN!

I'm stopping here, and will admit I've left a few plot point out of this summation, as viewers should really check it out and enjoy the ride as the mystery unfolds.  And it's a glorious ride, with practical effects, a sweet Wolfcop upgrade to a standard police car and a few twists along the way.  And, given it's a 79 minute film, the script is so smart and so rounded out, you'll wonder why Hollywood blockbusters take over two hours to tell a story.

Let alone fail to deliver so much GORY FUN!

For example, the script is chocked full of Big Bad Wolf references.  But even better is that screenwriter/director Lowell Dean delivers both Tina and Garou's motivation without a massive exposition dump.  The script explains who the main characters are, and why they are behaving as they do, without slowing down the story.  It's a beautiful example of how to explain why a character acts as they do without stopping for a lengthy scene to spell things out to the audience.

And it's nice that Garou's nature doesn't change with his transformation.  It's hinted that booze is to him what spinach is to Popeye, and that's all that we need to know.  No over explanation, no over theorizing, just a quick couple lines which allows the audience to just go with the reality the script has set up.

Seriously, the script is that smart.  And Wolfcop shows how a low budget film can deliver, without a ton of money and numerous rewrites trying to make sure the audience "gets it."  Dean just tells his story and trust the audience will follow along, a nice change from many screenplays that pound into the audience's head what's happening.

Okay, if you don't get the fairy tale reference at this point,

you're watching the wrong movie.

My only complaint with the film is we don't get enough Wolfcop.  But, as it's an origin story, things need to be set up.  I'm hoping the proposed sequel remedies that problem, because a Wolfcop is an awesome idea.  And the mythology is set up in the first film that can take the characters in many different directions.  The hints of a bigger baddie (or group of them) is enticing enough to keep me panting for the sequel.

Seriously, check this one out before the upcoming sequel.  You'll be glad you did.

Hey, here's the events genre fans in the Northwest are craving to hear about!

Well, I was working on the Horror Calendar update tonight, with some cool screenings from the Rocket Sci-Fi Matinee at The Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, WA, and an exciting screening at The Hollywood Theatre in August,  but I realized it's Weird Wednesday, and you shouldn't miss watching local podcast legend Derek M. Koch (of Monster Kid Radio) introducing the Paul Naschey film, Horror Rises from the Tomb tonight at The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard, OR).  The show starts at 9:15 pm, and you must be 21 or older to attend.  Admission is FREE, so be sure to spend a few extra buck at the snack bar and help The Joy keep WEDNESDAYS WEIRD!

Be sure to check the Ongoing and Buy It Now section of the update, for films that I suspect will sell out, and opportunities to submit your genre film to local festivals.

And check out the Horror Calendar, for events such as Hot August Frights at the 7th St Theatre in Hoqium, WA, for a creep crawly good time, genre movies in the park, and SO MUCH MORE!   And I will update the Rocket Sci-Fi offerings later this week.

And I would like to thank everyone who checked out my review of the new Ghostbusters movie.  I know some of you didn't agree with my feelings towards the film, but you made it the most viewed moment in The Shadow Over Portland history.  So, I thank you.  And I welcome your comments and viewpoints.  Nothing will be blocked or censored, unless you're just being a jerk.

But now, onto the upcoming events!

Ongoing

Submissions are being accepted for the PDXtreme Fest, 3 days of horror, crime, gore and more at the the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark) in Portland, OR, December 2 through 4 this year.  You can find more details on how to enter your film at the Facebook Event Page.

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Mental Trap Escape Room Game invites you, and four to ten members, to escape a locked room in one hour.  And yes, it is timed.  Created by the devious minds behind 13th Door Haunted House, Glowing Greens Miniature Golf and Haunted Productions, this offers you the challenge to find the clues keeping you locked in the room and escape within an hour.  But, as the website suggests, it's not as easy as it sounds.  Located at 3855 SW Murray Blvd in Portland, OR, you can challenge your wits (and those of your team mates) to solve the puzzle before time expires.  I don't know what happens if you don't succeed, but that's part of the fun.  For more details, visit the link.

------------

Bleedingham, a Northwest Horror Short Film Festival, is now excepting submissions.  The chosen films will screen at the Pickford Film Cinema (1318 Bay St) in Bellingham, WA later this year.  More details can be found at the official website.

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You can still have your Lovecraftian film considered for the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and CthulhuCon, which happens October 7 to 9 at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR).  For more details, visit the Official Website.  Oh, and I'm a guest at the fest, so hope to see you there!

Buy it NOW!

The Grindhouse Film Festival presents a rare 35mm screening of Lucio Fulci's gutmunching classic, Zombie, at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) on Tuesday, July 26, at 7:30 pm.  Grindhouse Film Festival screens often sell out, so buy your tickets early!!  More information and a link to advance ticket sales, are available at the theater's official website.

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Oh, this will be all shades of AWESOME!  Tonight at 7:30 pm, The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will present a screening of David Cronenberg's Scanners in GLORIOUS 35mm.  Okay, that's enough for a geek out moment, but Michael Ironside will be in attendance, with a Q and A after the show!!!  OH HELL YES!!!!!!!  Tickets are $9. and I advise you to buy them EARLY!  Unfortunately, the website is saying online sales are closed, so check back later, or head to The Hollywood Theatre to purchase advance tickets now.  

July, 2016

Wednesday, July 20

Horror Rises from the Tomb at  The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard, OR).  This Paul Naschy deals with a warlock and his wife being beheaded, only to come back centuries later to possess the living to make them perform human sacrifices and search for the rest of their bodies.  And Portland podcasting legend (and Rondo Hatton winner) Derek M. Koch (of Monster Kid Radio) will be introducing the film!  The 9:15 pm screening will be free of charge, so do you part to keep Wednesdays WEIRD in Tigard by taking the money you saved on admission and buying some tasty snacks and a beer (or soda) at the concession stand.  You must be at least 21 years of age to attend.  For more details, visit The Joy Cinema website.

Thursday, July 21

Get ready to be hungry for Twinkies and set your sights on Zombie Kill of the Day!  Moonlight Cinema at Redhook Brewery (14300 NE 145th St in Woodinville, WA) presents a screening of Zombieland.  Festivities start at 6 pm with a Zombie Burlesque Show.   Admission is $5 and you must be 21 or older to attend.  The Redhook Brewery official website isn't very helpful (click and good luck to you, as all I got was a limited calendar and a pop-up with details about the films and advance ticket sales).  Hope the website is updated later by now.

Friday, July 22

Northwest outdoor cinema favorite, The Goonies, plays tonight at Westlake Park (401 Pine St in Seattle, WA) as part of the Movies in the Park series.  The movie starts at dusk and admission is free.  If you want more details, good luck, as the websites aren't too helpful.  Visit the Westlake Park Calendar, the Official Seattle Parks and Rec website or the Westlake Park Facebook Page.

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If you're more in the mood for a dark fairy tale, head to Jefferson Park (3801 Beacon Ave S in Seattle, WA) as Outdoor Movies in Jefferson Park presents Labyrinth.  Festivities start at 7 pm with open mic, and the movie starts at dusk.  If you want more details, visit the Beacon Arts official website.  And the site has a link for you to email the organizers if you want to perform during the open mic session.

Sunday, July 24

The 1968 sci-fi classic, Planet of the Apes, is headed back to the big screen, courtesy of Fathom Events.  Playing on Sunday, July 24, and Wednesday, July 27, at 2 and 7 pm both days.  Catching this sci fi classic on the big screen is an event most genre fans won't want to miss.  Click on the links to find locations for the July 24 and July 27 screenings.

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Another dystopian vision of the future screens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd) in Portland, OR, as Frak! Theater presents a digital restoration of John Carpenter's Escape from New York at 7 pm.  I don't think I need to say anymore than Snake Plsskin on THE BIG SCREEN!!  Part of a Harry Dean Stanton series, in honor of his 90th birthday, you can find more details and advance tickets at the link.

Tuesday, July 26

They are going to EAT YOU!  The Grindhouse Film Festival presents a rare 35mm screening of Lucio Fulci's gutmunching classic, Zombie, at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight at 7:30 pm.  Yes, the film with the classic shark verse zombie battle, as well as the most infamous moment of eyeball trauma in a Fulci film (and he's filmed A LOT of eyeball trauma)!  I saw this film when I was 18 years old on it's initial release and man, it was hard not to look away at times.  If you've never seen it on the big screen, don't miss this opportunity!  Don't forget, the GFF screens often sell out, so buy your tickets early!!  More information and a link to advance ticket sales are available at the theater's official website.

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Well, that's what I have for now, Northwest Genre Fans.  Should I have missed anything, email me at shadowoverportland@live.com and I'll be sure to include it.  

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