What we’re about
It's like book club, but for Movies!
Want to talk about movies with other movie nerds? Saw a great movie you gotta tell others about?
The Portland Movie Club meets regularly to talk about a movie we all watched, recommend great movies to each other, and decide on what to watch for the next discussion. We're open to all fans of film.
Membership is free, just join us for a beer or two and hang out!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Giallo Spotlight: "The House That Screamed"Dot's Cafe, Portland, OR
Join Movie Club Member Kyle C. for the next movie in his giallo series.
Here's how it works:- We will be meeting at Dot's Cafe, 2521 SE Clinton St., on Sunday, June 1 from 4-6pm
- Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece. (NOTE: Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet, streaming links below).
Movie Spotlight:
The House That Screamed (1969), also known as La residencia, is a Spanish horror film directed by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador. Set in a strict boarding school for young women in 19th-century France, the story follows Señora Fourneau, the authoritarian headmistress who enforces rigid discipline among her students.
As new student Teresa arrives, she quickly senses that something is off—students mysteriously disappear, tensions rise, and the oppressive atmosphere becomes suffocating. Meanwhile, Luis, the headmistress’s son, is kept isolated from the girls, with his mother insisting that none of them are good enough for him.
The film is a slow-burning Gothic thriller, blending psychological horror with eerie suspense. Its haunting atmosphere, unsettling themes, and methodical pacing make it a precursor to later slasher films, influencing works like Suspiria and Pieces.
Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? 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. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
- 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!
- We'll decide on our next giallo movie to watch! Come with suggestions.
Are you not that familiar with the giallo genre? Read the Wikipedia entry to learn more. Is there a giallo you'd like to propose the group watch and discuss next? Here's a comprehensive list of Italian giallos along with films influenced by the genre. Maybe there's a film you've heard about but needed an excuse to see--come join us for discussion & make a suggestion!
Coming to the group for the first time, but interested in movies previously watched & discussed? Here's a list of all previous giallos watched and discussed by the group (with group rating)!
On Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!
Not open - Stanley Kubrick: The Killing DiscussionLucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Join movie club member Nick M for the first film in a series focusing on the works of Stanley Kubrick! Responsible for films like 2001: A Space Odessey, Full Metal Jacket, and The Shining; he influenced directors like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, George Lucas, and Paul Thomas Anderson. We're going to begin our examination of Kubrick with an earlier film; The Killing (1956). Here's how it works:
- We'll meet at Lucky Lab in SE at 2pm (map), we'll have a sign at our table (be sure to check outside just in case the weather is nice).
- 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).
Movie Spotlight: The Killing (1956)
The Killing is a 1956 film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel "Clean Break" by Lionel White. The movie follows a group of small-time crooks, led by Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden), as they plan and execute a complex heist at a racetrack. The team, which includes a corrupt cop, a wrestler, and a cashier, aims to steal a large sum of money from the track's counting room. As the story unfolds, the characters' motivations and backstories are revealed, adding depth to the narrative. The film's non-linear storytelling and use of overlapping timelines add to the tension and suspense.The Killing received widespread critical acclaim upon its release and has since become a classic of the film noir genre. The movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1995, deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Although it did not receive any major awards at the time of its release, The Killing has been recognized as one of the greatest films of all time by various organizations and critics. It has been named as one of the 100 Best Films of All Time by The Guardian and has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising its influential direction, strong performances, and gripping storyline. The film's success can be seen as a milestone in Kubrick's career, showcasing his unique visual style and storytelling ability, which would go on to influence many other filmmakers.
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.
You can use www.doesthedogdie.com for content warnings.
Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? 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. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can
- 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!
Movie Resources:
- LGBTQ+ Cinema Discussion: SLEEPAWAY CAMPLucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Movie Spotlight on "Sleepaway Camp"
Join Movie Club Member Elliot J. for the next movie in their series highlighting LGBTQ+ films featuring "Sleepaway Camp" from 1983. It’s a low-budget slasher that has become somewhat of a cult film among the LGBTQ+ community. Its popularity has inspired at least two sequels, numerous home video releases and fan websites.
Here's how The Portland Movie Club Meet-Ups work:
- Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet.
- We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map) on the scheduled day & 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 and spend some time socializing and discussing this movie with us.
Eight years after a traumatic boating incident, the only survivor Angela Baker (played by Felissa Rose) returns to Camp Arawak as a shy and lonely 13-year-old. She becomes the target of a lecherous cook, a stuck-up cabinmate and other insensitive tormentors who take advantage of her shyness and morbid fear of the water. Honoring its cinematic role models, the perpetrators meet increasingly violent and gory fates at the camp.
Sequels to Sleepaway Camp have included “Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers,” and “Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland.” These aren’t required viewing for the purposes of the Meet-Up, but the actual titles themselves are amusing enough we couldn’t resist mentioning them here.
Viewing Options for "Sleepaway Camp"
Streaming options appear to be plentiful and reportedly include Amazon Prime, Peacock, Screambox, The Roku Channel with additional for-purchase options at Apple TV and Fandango-At-Home, and free with ads options at Pluto TV and Tubi.
LGBTQ+ Portland Movie Club Meet-Up Cinema Series
LGBTQ+ characters and themes have been present throughout film history dating back to pre-Hays Code era. The relationship between film and the LGBTQ+ community has had its ups and downs over the years and has been continually changing. This discussion group will highlight some key films that mark these changes and shed light upon the vast selection of LGBTQ+ films which cinema has to offer.
Tips:
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. 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.
- 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!
Some of the films previously viewed and discussed in this series of PMC Meet-Ups have included Gregg Araki’s “The Doom Generation” and “Nowhere,” “But I’m A Cheerleader,” “I Saw The TV Glow,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" and the documentary “Paris Is Burning.”
- Cult Films Meet-Up: BARBARELLALucky Labrador Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Portland Movie Club Meet-Up - Spotlight on "BARBARELLA"
Let's talk about movies! Join Movie Club Member David J. for the next discussion in our cult film series with our second selection derived from French Science Fiction – this time the 1968 space opera “Barbarella,” starring a young Jane Fonda and based on a wildly popular and boundary pushing French comic.Here's how it works:
1. Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet.
2. We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map), there will be a sign at our table, or at the least we will make it as obvious as we can who we are (watch for that rowdy bunch waving hands and wearing movie themed T-Shirts) and where we are saving tables and chairs.
3. Grab some food and drinks and spend some enjoyable time discussing this cult movie masterpiece with us.A little about BARBARELLA
Adapted from Jean-Claude Forest’s adult SF saga, produced by a giant of the Italian movie industry, Dino DeLaurentiis, scripted by the noted satirist from Texas Terry Southern (“Dr. Strangelove,” “The Magic Christian and a contributor to “Easy Rider”), directed by Roger Vadim, who was at the time Jane Fonda’s husband and famous for helping to turn his first wife Brigitte Bardot into an international superstar with his French art-house hit “And God Created Woman” – “Barbarella” was a truly international concoction which honors its source’s pop-art blend of sex, humor and psychedelic space travel.Anyone expecting a realistic approach to Science Fiction ala “2001: A Space Odyssey,” released the exact same year, should check that attitude at the door. Filled with colorful, eye-popping special effects and a production design that might be described as “early lava lamp,” there’s even a bouncy pop-driven musical score credited in part to Bob Crewe, known for “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” This is just about as far away from Kubrick as you can get.
Viewing Options
Streaming options are reported to include Apple TV, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Fandango, YouTube and Google Play. You might also find it on Paramount Plus since it is a Paramount film. Over the decades the studio has released it on VHS, LaserDisc, DVD and Blu-ray. Arrow Video offers a spectacular boxed edition on 4K UHD Blu ray with a deep well of extra features.About Cult Films
Sometimes good, almost always interesting, and only somewhat definable (to hijack a phrase from a certain former Supreme Court Justice* when he was talking about a different genre of film, "I know a Cult Film when I see one!"), this very special genre of film can be known for its dedicated fanbases, high-camp kitsch, transgressive ideas, counterculture attitude, polarized reception, and sometimes for artfulness, but far more often for obscurity.While Cult Films typically defy mainstream criticism, they are rich candidates for open-minded entertainment and interpretation, viewed through a lens that emphasizes their unique perspectives regardless of their financial success or failure.
To be sure, there are many sub-groups of Cult Films including Midnight Movies, Z Movies, and over-looked arthouse cinema. Many cult films exist at the borderline between art and exploitation.
Some of Portland Movie Club Organizer Nick’s favorites are The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Big Lebowski, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Birdemic and Office Space. There's a great writeup of the genre on Wikipedia.
Tips
- Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can
- 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!
Previous films viewed by “Cult Film” Meet-up members for group discussion have included “Fantastic Planet,” a double feature of “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” with “The Man With Two Brains,” Takashi Miike's "Audition," “Daisies,” “Jennifer’s Body,” Dolemite in “The Human Tornado,” David Cronenberg’s “Videodrome” and "The Brood," David Lynch’s “Eraserhead,” “Switchblade Sisters,” “The Love Witch,” Ed Wood's “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood,” and Brian DePalma’s “Phantom of The Paradise.”
Coming soon, but not necessarily in this order: a depraved Doris Wishman double feature, early David Cronenberg, a controversial Cannes Film Festival winner, Jess Franco (eventually, I promise!), Italian films that are not giallo, more David Lynch, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Hong Kong cinema and many surprises!
*Former SC Justice Potter Stewart is who I am referring to, if you were wondering.
