movie madness | The Confluence

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE: Requiem for a Video Store

This week we make a literal visit to Sandy to say goodbye to a institution that not only changed our expectation deadlines (kind of establishing the mid-point between the “wait for it…” past and the “I want it now!” present) but also changed the world. Who recalls walking out of a Blockbuster video not just holding a stack of 4 or 5 movies (half of which you’d probably never watch) but also carrying a blue plastic encased VHS player/rental? Those were the days: tuning the TV to channel 2, making a few video tracking adjustments, and then settling in for some hi-impact-lo-resolution images on 1/2″ tape. Continue reading... “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE: Requiem for a Video Store”

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE: The Darkest Corner of Paradise (Henry Weintraub, 2010)

November 10, 2017August 15, 2018 Oregon Film UncategorizedLeave a Comment

This week our intrepid Raider moves us into Noirvember and coins another term for calendar-based genre. Thi

s time we embrace true micro-budget filmmaking and the creative genius of necessity coming out of Eugene. Oregon’s cinematic history is long but its Eugene chapter is deep and varied – Five Easy Pieces, Animal House and, with the Kesey Connection, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Sometimes a Great Notion happening not too far afield.

This time Raider/Contributor Phil Oppenheim takes us into the more opaque nooks and crannies with…. Continue reading... “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE: The Darkest Corner of Paradise (Henry Weintraub, 2010)”

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE : Dr. Giggles (Manny Coto, 1992)

October 19, 2017October 19, 2017 Oregon Film Uncategorized Archive, Dark Horse Entertainment, dr. giggles, Film History, mike richardson, Oregon film history, Raiders of the Lost ArchiveLeave a Comment

This week’s Horrregon Edition of our Raiders of the Lost Archive series rightly celebrates an icon of Oregon’s rich cartoon and comic history: Dark Horse Comics and Mike Richardson. It’s easy to argue that Mike is one of, if not the most successful and lucrative film producers here in the state, and we’re proud of that. Our RotLA post this week takes us back to the very first film Mike produced which twists the proverbial knife into many iconic Portland locations in a fun, unique and ultimately horrific fashion (and you may never look at Franklin High in the same way again). Continue reading... “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE : Dr. Giggles (Manny Coto, 1992)”

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE: Cthulhu (Daniel Gildark, 2007)

October 6, 2017 Oregon Film UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Under the sub-heading of “Hooray for Horregon!” Raider/Contributor Phil Oppenheim descends into the historical depths of the genre and unearths H.P. Lovecraftian tales featuring the haunting and often horrific Oregon Coast where none-other-than Tori Spelling emerges as a seductress from the sea to summon the all-powerful Cthulhu to River Mouth (nee Astoria) shores.

Diminutive armies of rotting zombies, blood-thirsty vampires, Wonder Women, Harley Quinns, Pikachus, and fairy princess are preparing to storm the sidewalks, assault our homes, and demand we relinquish our candy corn and Swedish Fish or suffer the consequences. Continue reading... “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE: Cthulhu (Daniel Gildark, 2007)”

Raiders of the Lost Archive – Metal Messiah: Born Again Sage (Nick Wells, 2010)

September 15, 2017 Oregon Film UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Raiders continues its Back to School theme this week with some much needed Music Appreciation. Whether you launched your appreciation of a certain genre of Energy Music through Heavy Metal Parking Lot, or just hours of stereo volumes pegged to 11 followed by blurry road trips to see Ozzy or Mötley Crüe, or maybe you just liked the wardrobe and appreciate Mark Wahlberg in “Rock Star” – we all have been touched in some way by our own rock n’ roll journey and Raider Contributor Phil Oppenheim takes us down one particular path that starts at Oregon City High School (and, coincidentally or ironically enough, the shooting location for Netflix’s “Everything Sucks” this past summer). Continue reading... “Raiders of the Lost Archive – Metal Messiah: Born Again Sage (Nick Wells, 2010)”

Southern Oregon Comedy Film Festival Adapts To Virtual Streaming

November 19, 2020November 20, 2020 Levi J. Anderson Events, Film Festivals, Independent Films, MoviesLeave a Comment

The 2020 Killer Valley Comedy Film Festival (KVCFF) follows the 13-year legacy of the horror film festival that introduced “Killer Valley” to the Pacific Northwest, and will stream on their official website from Friday, Friday, Nov. 20 – Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020.

For 10 years, the horror film festival had been a one-night affair, hosted live in Ashland, OR. By its eleventh year (2018) the contributions from filmmakers from around the globe had grown into two nights worth of content, and the team split the program so that one night held all the satire, spoofs, and “so-bad-it’s-funny” movies, while the other night showcased the creepy, spooky, and truly scary films of the horror genre. Continue reading... “Southern Oregon Comedy Film Festival Adapts To Virtual Streaming”

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVE: Snowtime Serenade (1949; originally released as Jingle Belles, 1941)

December 22, 2017December 22, 2017 Oregon Film #OregonMade, History archive film, Christmas, Grinch, Mt. Hood, Raiders of the Lost Archive, The Shining, Timberline LodgeLeave a Comment

It’s not often The Shining meets Tony the Tiger meets The Grinch meets hipster drum solos, but this week, they all do meet up for a delicious hot cocoa and a rockin’ sing-along around the fire at a 1940’s Timberline Lodge.

And, that, my friends, is where Raider/Contributor Phil Oppenheim takes over…

Picture the Timberline Lodge in December, with its famous drifting snowbank reaching up to the second story windows.

Raiders of the Lost Archive “Eclipse Clips”
THE POSTMAN (1997)

August 18, 2017August 23, 2017 Oregon Film UncategorizedLeave a Comment

This week our cinematic history starts to criss-cross itself with a film that was made 20 years ago but set only 4 years ago in a world that echoes…well, you can take from it what you will…

A great deal of post-apocalyptic beauty was found in Central Oregon for this 90’s blockbuster which winds its way from Elvis to St. Rose, Oregon, and Phil Oppenheim argues that it is worth a 3 hour re-look – especially in the (lack) of light along the Path of Totality. Continue reading... “Raiders of the Lost Archive “Eclipse Clips”
THE POSTMAN (1997)”

Horror Icon Bill Oberst Jr. Joins the Cast of “Cell Count 2: Blood Count”

February 7, 2013February 7, 2013 Todd E. Freeman Acting, Economic Impact, Film and Media Industry, Independent Films, Movies, News, Oregon Film, Portland, TalentLeave a Comment

Bill Oberst Jr. joins the cast of the film Cell Count II: Blood Count

PORTLAND, Oregon (February 7th, 2013) The feature film “Cell Count” went to film festivals all over the world in 2012 and is now available on all leading digital VOD stores including iTunes. It is now the Freeman Brothers’ profound pleasure to announce that horror icon Bill Oberst Jr. will be coming onboard for the upcoming sequel entitled “Cell Count II: Blood Count.”

“Blood Count” starts where the first film left off and takes our survivors on a high speed journey filled with monsters and fugitives. Continue reading... “Horror Icon Bill Oberst Jr. Joins the Cast of “Cell Count 2: Blood Count””

Todd Haynes presents two films at the Hollywood Theatre!

October 5, 2011October 5, 2011 hollywoodtheatre Movies, Oregon FilmLeave a Comment

Acclaimed director Todd Haynes presents two films of his choosing at the Hollywood Theatre on 10/15

(Portland, OR) September 27, 2011 – Acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes invites you into his subversive and surprising cinematic universe for one night only with back to back screenings of “Vertigo” and “Performance” – two movies guaranteed to twist your cinematic sensibilities into knots presented on glorious, increasingly rare 35mm. This evening with Haynes kicks off En Route, the Hollywood Theatre’s new series featuring artists at the height of their craft presenting films that have influenced them. Continue reading... “Todd Haynes presents two films at the Hollywood Theatre!”