Portland At The Movies

For our discussion of Zombie Cats from Mars, Mark once again surprises us with a mid-show phone call from one of the actors (and definite cast highlight) from this 2015 sci-fi/horror movie. Is there enough holy water to cleanse us after watching this movie? Find out on this month's episode.

The internet has dubbed this movie the "Christian 'Saw,'" and while that's not really accurate (or the filmmakers intentions), this faith-based film does share some of its premise with that movie. It's also the last film role of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Can God save this movie, or should the filmmakers repent? Find out in this month's episode.

50 years after it was made, and 30 years since Mystery Science Theater 3000 catapulted it into so-bad-it's-good movie legend, we have a sequel to the 1966 cult classic "Manos: The Hands of Fate," starring several of the original actors, and inexplicably filmed in River Falls, Oregon. Was it worth the half century it took to bring this movie back, or does it find new and interesting ways to fail outside of how its predecessor did?

We got to perform at Portland's FanExpo 2023, and we each ran down our Bests and Worsts, as well as gave out very special achievement awards as we look back on the 60+ movies we've covered on Portland at the Movies.

This month we return to larger, more mainstream studio movies with our review of "Zero Effect," about a wacky, quirky, zany private detective (played by the opposite of wacky, quirky, and zany: the human cardboard cutout known as Bill Pullman) and his assistant, Ben Stiller, who dive into a mysterious case of blackmail and murder.

The first "Trainmaster" movie was a surprise and a delight when we reviewed it two years ago. So does the sequel deliver the same great production work, directing, and wholesome wonderfulness the first one did? Find out in this month's episode.

This month we dissect this fascinating anthology film, featuring 6 different segments centered around, sadly, "spunk." And yes, the kind of "spunk" you're thinking of. But is it the straight garbage we anticipated based on the title and premise, or is there some real movie-making happening here? Or, inexplicably, both? Find out on this month's episode.

This month we look at a truly evil 2014 movie called "Exorcist: The Fallen," and if you think you've seen it all when it comes to exorcist movies.....you have. There is zero new things in this movie except some really wild hand-drawn, rotoscoped animation that makes no sense. It's free on YouTube, so check it out. For real, the rotoscoping is among the weirdest choices I've ever seen in filmmaking.

Despite the best effort of Catherine Hicks, this tepid spy thriller, which centers around a man getting a new face, doesn't seem to rise above it's inherent blandness. This month we dive into Spy, as well as the other made-for-TV movies in our history and ask, "Is it the movie, or the genre?" Bonus appearance by Ned Beatty!

After technical difficulties rendered the first 40 minutes of one of our best shows corrupted and lost forever to time, we still managed to salvage the show by having an equally hilarious second half of the show, which was recorded. All in service of the most forgettable and dull movie we've watched so far for the show -- and that's saying something. I mean, the title alone was too lazy to even have a question mark, so why take the effort in making the movie?

Always two, there are: a Child of Darkness, and a Child of Light. Or something. Things get kind of convoluted in this 1991 made-for-USA-television thriller starring Sela Ward and a very young Josh Lucas. And for a literal "blink and you'll miss it" moment, we bring you the very first appearance of Brenden Fraser on film - years before returning to Portland for "Extraordinary Measures." For literally a second-and-a-half in the background. We've all got to start somewhere.

TV's Patrick Duffy and William Devane star in this made-for-TV movie about a cop in search of a killer who commits serial murders and then starts blackmailing the families of the deceased, threatening to frame them for the murders he committed. Can TV's Patrick Duffy save the day? Or will his secret past catch up to him? Find out on this month's episode, with special guest host Michael Gibson from Video Is The Future.You can find more of Michael on Instagra @videoisthefuture, on FB @videofuture, or on the web at videoisthefuture.com

Portland at the Movies is at its best when the movies are at their worst. And nothing is worse than this vile, juvenile, offensive, horrifying, putrid -- and, worst of all, pathetically and unrelentingly unfunny -- "movie" filmed in Vancouver, Washington. The good news is that our episode discussing "Slapped! The Movie" is one of best, so at least some good came out of watching it.

Marlee Matlin returns Portland in this - her third! - movie filmed in Portland. Murder, scandal, affairs, politics, and lies take the front seat in the made-for-Lifetime movie co-starring Regina King and the guy who played Johnny Cage in the Mortal Kombat movie. Who could ask for anything more? Did we like it? Find out where the truth lies in this month's episode.

This month we take a look at 2017's "I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore," a wonderful-yet-hard-to-categorize movie starring Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey.

Was this the worst thing to happen in 2001? Probably not, but it's certainly not good. Aaron Durán from Geek in the City joins us to tell some behind-the-scenes stories from his time working on this film, which stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchette. Find out what went wrong on this month's episode.

Join us as we flee for our lives while discussing this 1991 made-for USA-network movie "Deadly Game," based partially on the classic short story "The Most Dangerous Game," where a group of people are taken to an island and hunted by a mysterious stranger. Starring Roddy McDowall and Marc Singer of "V" and "Beastmaster" fame.

Who's ready for all their favorite Christmas characters? We have Santa, Poofer, Dermie, Dusty, Thooner... You know, everyone's favorites! Join us as we dive into the holiday season with "Best Christmas Ever!," the holiday entry in one of the most successful media exports Portland has ever had: The Wee Sing children's video series.

This film, starring Bruce Campbell and Lori Loughlin, tells the true-life crime story of a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. It also features more shots of Portland than any movie we've done -- but ironically the movie is set in Chicago. Strap on your fake beards!

It's telling that this supposedly sexy thriller is just bland enough that we kept referring to the star as "William Hurt" instead of the actual star Timothy Hutton. In any case, "The Temp" was released in the wake of the Basic Instinct and several other grabs at the erotic mystery such as Body of Evidence, Sliver, and Disclosure. So will "The Temp" earn a permanent spot in our list of good movies made in Portland, or will it see itself through the door once we're done with it?