Portland Movie Club

1. Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet. You don't have to watch it to join us, but it'll likely be more fun if you do.
2. We won’t discourage you from taking notes to help remember the most interesting parts, or your most inspired observations. But this is a social event where everyone gets to speak their mind and have fun, and not a college lecture (“zzzzzz….”).
3. We’ll meet at Breakside Brewery in Beaverton at 2pm on the scheduled date. We typically have signs or relevant books or memorabilia at our table(s), and sometimes we even wear colorful antennae if the movie we are celebrating demands it (e.g. “Real Genius” or “Robot Monster”).
4. Typically, we'll begin by going around and introducing ourselves. The Hosts may elect to give a summary of the film's development providing critical context, then suggest potential topics for diving into the group discussion.

A little more about “CARNIVAL OF SOULS”
The regional origin of this $33,000 production, in Lawrence, Kansas and Salt Lake City, may remind some of the Pittsburgh base for the early films of George Romero. And like Romero’s original “Living Dead” opus, “Carnival of Souls” is the work of a first-time feature director who learned his craft making industrial films. Incidentally, director Herk Harvey actually appears in the film as the phantasmic stalker.

“Carnival” wasn’t properly noticed until unsuspecting viewers caught it as hypnotic middle of the night programming on local television stations. And they couldn’t shake its mesmerizing imagery. It took a good three decades for it to accumulate a cultish reputation that generated retrospective rediscovery and an art-house reissue in cinemas. Director Harvey has said that among his primary influences were Bergman and Cocteau, and for once that kind of boasting is warranted. A one-of-a-kind B-Movie budgeted miracle.

Viewing Options:
Streaming options will vary from month to month, but currently they are plentiful and include Amazon prime, Tubi, Plex, etc. There’s a beautiful Criterion Collection Blu-ray, which was preceded by DVD and Laserdisc releases (for nostalgia buffs).

Trigger Notes:
We tend to watch edgier stuff in the Cult Films Meet-Up than in other Meet-Up Events. We direct you to the “Does the Dog Die” website for specifics. Carnival of Souls (Movie, 1962) - DoesTheDogDie.com

About Cult and Psychotronic Films:
Cult and Psychotronic films defy mainstream criticism and often exist at the borderline between art and exploitation. They can be any genre and typically have been dismissed – at least initially - by film critics and cineastes. This is arguably because they don’t follow the same rules that Made-In-Hollywood flicks adhere to. Some consider these titles to be Oppositional Cinema, always inhabiting a space outside of mainstream trends and popularity.

It needs to be mentioned that “Psychotronic” was a term invented by Michael Weldon, who published a magazine under that name (and later a pair of groundbreaking books) out of his cramped NY City apartment. Often it is used to describe films in the SF and Horror genres, but not limited to those, whose unique charms have been under-appreciated by the masses.

Previous titles viewed and discussed have included: This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse, Possession (1981), Born In Flames, Titane, Barbarella, Fantastic Planet, Eraserhead, Daisies (aka, Sedmikrásky), Jennifer’s Body, Another Day Another Man, The Human Tornado, The Love Witch, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Phantom of The Paradise, Takashi Miike's Audition, and David Cronenberg’s Videodrome and Rabid.

Are you on Discord? Join the PMC Discord!

All That Jazz has scenes of drug and alcohol use and other scenes that viewers might find uncomfortable. Please refer to the website https://www.doesthedogdie.com for a comprehensive list.

Here’s how it works
Just like a book club, we watch the movie on our own time before we meet.
We'll meet at Lucky Lab on SE Hawthorne at 4pm on the scheduled date.
We'll typically have a sign at our table(s), but at least we'll try to be obvious and identifiable. Grab some food and drinks to support our generous hosts and spend some time socializing and discussing this movie with us.

Viewing options
All that Jazz is a bit hard to find on streaming, it is available for free on Tubi and YouTube. I can also be rented at Movie Madness. If you do rent please be mindful of others who are looking to rent, as well.

About Musicals, Music, and Film
“Musicals, Music and Film” is an exploration of musicals and films where music is essential to the plot or plays a deeply influential role. We'll look at musicals, music biopics, plots that center dancing or nightclub settings, rock operas and more. We’ll explore modern, cult, and classic movies alternating between musicals and music essential films every other meet-up. The group will rate the movie and vote for the next choice from the host’s list. We’ll be open for suggestions and ideas from all group members attending that day.

The Portland Movie Club is on Discord!
Are you on Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club! We're also on Insta

1. We'll meet at Lucky Lab in SE at 6:30pm (map)
2. Grab a drink and we'll spend some time discussing the film with us (NOTE: Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet, streaming links below).

Heads up! Lolita contains strong themes of grooming, manipulation, and child exploitation. While presented through satire and dark humor, the film engages with subject matter that many viewers may find disturbing or upsetting.

Movie Spotlight: Lolita
Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita (1962), adapted from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, follows Humbert Humbert, a sophisticated but deeply unreliable narrator whose fixation on Lolita drives the story. After marrying Dolores’s mother to remain close to her, Humbert becomes entangled in a destructive relationship defined by manipulation, secrecy, and abuse. Blending dark comedy, psychological drama, and social satire, the film examines obsession and self-deception while exposing the gap between Humbert’s romanticized narration and the disturbing reality of his actions.

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (Kubrick and Nabokov), and Sellers, Lyon, Mason, and Winters received Golden Globe nominations, as well.

About Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer, widely regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time. Born and raised in New York City, Kubrick displayed a keen interest in literature, photography, and film from a young age. After graduating from high school, he taught himself all aspects of film production and direction. His films spanned various genres and were often adaptations of novels or short stories. Kubrick’s meticulous attention to detail, innovative cinematography, extensive set design, and dark humor set him apart. Notable works include “Paths of Glory” (1957), an anti-war film, and the historical epic “Spartacus” (1960), both collaborations with actor Kirk Douglas. In 1961, Kubrick left the U.S., settling in England, where he continued to create groundbreaking films. His science fiction masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) earned him an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and is considered one of the greatest films ever made.

Kubrick’s artistic control extended to writing, editing, color grading, promotion, and exhibition. His perfectionism led to painstaking research, innovative staging, and multiple retakes of scenes, sometimes frustrating his actors. His legacy endures through films that broke new ground, leaving an indelible mark on cinema.

Tips:

1. Haven't seen the movie in a while? Try to watch the movie sometime before we meet (streaming options). Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can
2. I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you

More Resources:

• Letterboxd Page
• Our Instagram

1. Haven't seen the movie before? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet (Streaming Options). Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. .
2. I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
3. We'll decide on our next movie to watch! Come with suggestions.