From a variety of cat statues modeled after the cartoon classic Coraline to thriller films that were either set in or shot in Oregon, 2024 provided a wealth of entertainment options to help us forget about the upsetting news. Here’s a look back at some of the TV series, films, podcasts, and other media that have ties to Oregon and delighted local viewers as 2024 comes to a close.
Sometimes I Think About Dying: Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) played Fran, a lady who works in an office in a seaside town in Oregon, in this occasionally depressing and occasionally subtly humorous film. As Riley stated in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive, “The experience of filming in Astoria was gratifying, from the wonderful community to shopping at the Astoria co-op grocery store.” The film made good use of its Astoria locations. (You can rent Sometimes I Think About Dying on services like Amazon Prime Video.)
Little Wing:This movie, which was filmed on location in the Portland area and was based on an article written by former Portlander Susan Orlean for the New Yorker, tells the story of the unlikely bond between Brooklynn Prince’s character, an alienated adolescent, and Brian Cox’s character, a gruff Vietnam veteran and seasoned pigeon-racing practitioner. Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth on Yellowstone, is also in the cast as the teen’s mother.
“The Rose City felt like a place that was so full of texture and character, and it felt like it really fit the lives, the DNA of these people, and the themes in the film,” director Dean Israelite said in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive that the film benefited from being filmed on location in Portland. I fell in love with the idea of shooting in Portland as soon as I saw the site images. (Paramount Plus is streaming Little Wing.)
Lost Angel: Judee Sill’s Ingenuity: Filmmakers Brian Lindstrom and Andy Brown, who are based in Portland, examined the now-forgotten career and influence of the late Judee Sill, a member of the thriving Los Angeles music scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s, in this moving documentary. Despite her skill as a singer-songwriter, Sill never achieved widespread recognition or significant record sales, in contrast to other members of that scene like Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne.
Several people who knew Sills, including David Geffen, Ronstadt, Browne, and Graham Nash, are interviewed for the documentary. First and foremost, everyone was thrilled that we were shooting the movie because they adored Judee and wanted her music to be heard and seen by more people, Lindstrom told The Oregonian/OregonLive. This was incredibly reassuring.In contrast to the gloomy Wikipedia portrayal of Judee Sill, Lindstrom praised the interviewee’s impression of Sill as having a very lighthearted disposition and being enjoyable to be around.
The 15th anniversary of Coraline: Coraline, the first animated film from Hillsboro’s Laika company, debuted in 2009 and was a huge hit. However, the film’s 15th anniversary in 2024 demonstrated how vibrant Coraline is even now. A limited engagement re-release of the film and Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail, an installation of 31 artist-decorated cat figurines positioned throughout Portland before being put up for auction to benefit OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, were among the festivities. (You can rent or stream Coraline on services like Amazon Prime Video.)
The popular horror film “Longlegs,” starring Maika Monroe, is set in Oregon in the 1990s.The Neon
The horror! The terror: In 2024, there was a noticeable increase in the quantity of horror films that were either filmed or set in Oregon. Watching Longlegs, Strange Darling, It’s What’s Inside, and Clover Door could give viewers a fright.Despite being set in Oregon in the 1990s, Longlegs was a surprising box office hit and was shot in Canada.However, Strange Darling, It’s What’s Inside, and Cellar Door were all shot in Oregon. (You can watch It’s What’s Inside on Netflix; Strange Darling, Long Legs, and Cellar Door are available for rent on Amazon Prime Video.)
Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy: Wondery and The Oregonian/OregonLive’s podcast delved into the bizarre yet real tale of Nancy Crampton Brophy, a self-published romance novelist convicted of murdering her husband, Portland-based cooking instructor Daniel Brophy. Crampton Brophy’s 2011 online essay, How to Murder Your Husband, was one of the reasons the case garnered national notice.
I Am: Celine Dion: Directed by Portland-based filmmaker Irene Taylor, this compelling documentary explores pop artist Celine Dion’s battles with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes muscle spasms. It is an intimate and occasionally heartbreaking look at Dion’s life.
I Am: Celine Dion was, as Taylor told The Oregonian/OregonLive, “Nothing like anything I’ve ever made, because I was so focused on telling the story about her,” despite the fact that her work has brought her recognition, accolades, and prizes. Early on, she informed me, “The only thing I ask of you is that you not have other people in the movie talking about me.” “Will you allow me to share my story?” she said. And she believed that by asking me to refrain from going out and getting opinions on her, I was doing her a favor. As a storyteller, I said, “Oh my goodness,” because I swear that if you give me yourself, I will be just as genuine as you are. (Amazon Prime Video offers I Am: Celine Dion for streaming or rental.)
Merchant Ivory: Although Ivory is not from the United Kingdom, James Ivory gained notoriety as a director of erudite, British-set films including A Room With a View, Howard’s End, and The Remains of the Day. In person, he went to the University of Oregon after growing up in Klamath Falls. Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant’s personal and professional relationship, as well as how the pair and its colleagues made their iconic films, were documented in the documentary Merchant Ivory.Regarding his admirers in Oregon, Ivory stated in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive, “It’s good that they know I’m not English.” (You may rent Merchant Ivory from sites like Amazon Prime Video.)
On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at The Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California, Kaitlin Olson posed for a photograph to promote the ABC television series “High Potential” as part of the Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour. (AP/Invision/Willy Sanjuan) InvisionInvision
High Potential: After gaining popularity for her roles in shows like Hacks and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Kaitlin Olson found herself in the lead role of a big movie. Olson, who was born in Portland, plays a flawed and gregarious character in the ABC series. According to Olson, her exceptional cognitive abilities enable her to help the police solve crimes. (You can stream High Potential on Hulu.)
Chief Dandridge, played by Bruce Campbell in “Hysteria!”Peacock/Mark Hill
The Peacock series Hysteria!, which is set in the 1980s and centers on a small Michigan town whose citizens are terrified that Satan-worshippers have taken control, starred Bruce Campbell, the cult favorite actor from southern Oregon. It’s a little unexpected to see that in Hysteria, given that Campbell’s demon-battling role in the Evil Dead horror series has helped him develop a devoted fan base! Campbell portrays the town police chief, who appears to be the only sensible individual in the neighborhood.
In an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive, Campbell stated, “I’ve already done the big, wild-eyed stuff with chainsaws and blood.”Let the others go crazy. It’s okay, I can now act like the sensible guy. (You can watch Hysteria! on Peacock.)
St. Denis Medical: This comedy is set in a provincial hospital in the made-up town of Merrick, Oregon, and follows a mockumentary style that viewers of The Office and Parks and Recreation would recognize. (The Los Angeles area is where the series is filmed.) Allison Tolman, David Alan Grier, and Wendi McLendon-Covey play Joyce, the hospital’s aspirational executive director, among the outstanding ensemble cast.
In an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive,McLendon-Covey whose sister, Shelley McLendon, is the owner and artistic director of Portland s Siren Theater sang the praises of the comedy mockumentary format.
According to McLendon-Covey, it’s smarter because there are jokes interspersed throughout the text that require you to look at the screen in order to understand. Additionally, there is always something going on in a hospital. And when you’re the patient, you hope it’s not amusing. Frequently, however, amusing things occur. Funny things always happen when you’re trying to fix something that went wrong, whether you want them to or not. (The series is available for streaming on Peacock.) St. Denis Medical will return to NBC on January 14 at 9 p.m.
Samantha Isler, left, and Chandler Riggs, right, in the Oregon-filmed movie, “Breakup Season.”Buffalo 8/BMP Beverly Hills is the source.
Breakup Season: Chandler Riggs (who played Carl in The Walking Dead ) stars as Ben, and Samantha Isler plays Cassie, a couple who travel from their home in Los Angeles back toBen s hometown of La Grande,to celebrate the Christmas holiday with Ben s family. What sounds like a potential premise for a Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas movie turns out to be more subtle and sensitive, as Cassie and Ben break up shortly after arriving in La Grande. Writer-director H. Nelson Tracey shows a gift for storytelling, the eastern Oregon locations are a treat, and the cast which also includes James Urbaniak and Brook Hogan as Ben s parents are fine company. ( Breakup Season is available to rent on platforms includingAmazon Prime Video.)
Stories by
Kristi Turnquist
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