BY JACK CAMERON for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 10/9/2026
The Blue Mouse starts their run of the Brad Pitt survival epic, “Heart of the Beast,” as well as another opportunity to do the Time Warp again at “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” And over at the Grand Cinema, spooky season continues with “An American Werewolf in London.” And the dearly departed Dolly returns to the big screen this week at Tacoma’s independent theaters.
The Blue Mouse Theatre – 2611 North Proctor
“Heart of the Beast” – Oct. 9-11 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
Every decade or so, they make a movie about a small plane crashing in the Alaskan wilderness and the survivors doing what they can to get back to civilization. They make that movie every now and then because it’s almost always a good time. This time around, you got Brad Pitt playing a veteran with a dog who has seen just as much war as he has. The last time David Ayer directed Brad Pitt, we got the gritty World War II flick “Fury.” This one should be a fun survival story. If you’re looking for movie trivia about this one, though taking place in Alaska, they filmed almost everything in New Zealand. Also, the German Shepherd in the film is actually played by four related dogs.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” – Oct. 10 at 11 p.m.
It’s October and this week offers one of three chances to see the anarchic musical classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Blue Mouse Theatre. Tim Curry (who recently passed away) absolutely eats the scenery in this fun and ridiculous film. If you’ve never gone to one of these screenings, you’re missing out on a cultural touchstone that has lasted decades. Participation and dressing up are highly encouraged.
“Echoes of the Sound” and “Makers on the Tide” – Documentary double feature, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
“Echoes of the Sound” – In 1968, an orca called Hugo was taken from his pod and put in captivity. This documentary follows Hugo’s journey and the impact human intervention has on the lives of orcas. This film challenges viewers to consider what responsibility humanity has to nature. This is one of two documentaries in a double feature.
“Makers on the Tide” – The Willits Brothers made red cedar canoes for 50 years right here in Tacoma. This documentary tells the story of these intrepid entrepreneurs. An untold tale of Tacoma’s past using historical footage, photos and other resources, “Makers on the Tide” preserves a piece of Tacoma history. This is the second of two documentaries in a double feature.
Grand Cinema Tacoma – 606 Fawcett Avenue
“An American Werewolf in London” – Oct. 9-10 at 10 p.m.
Weird Elephant’s October selection is the John Landis classic “An American Werewolf in London.” When two friends go hiking and are attacked by a mysterious creature, one of them undergoes a dramatic transformation. There are probably better ways to prepare for Robert Eggers’ upcoming werewolf movie, but none as fun as this.
“Seeds” – Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
A Mohawk woman gets hired as a social media influencer, but soon finds herself in a fight to preserve her people’s heritage from corporate interests. “Seeds” is presented with Tahoma Indian Center as a part of Sovereign Cinema, a film series centering on Indigenous stories of reclamation, resistance and resilience. Stick around for an in-theater panel with local Indigenous food sovereignty leaders and medicine practitioners Melissa Meyer (Rose Island Farm) and Channa Smith (Canoe Journey Herbalists) after the film. Tickets are going fast on this one.
“Black Zombie” – Oct. 13 at 1:45 p.m. and 7 p.m.
This week’s Tuesday documentary is “Black Zombie.” Zombies are all the rage these days with hit shows like “The Last of Us” and “The Walking Dead,” but few know the origins of these monsters of screens large and small. The original zombie was a living metaphor for slavery. Filmmaker Maya Annik Bedward digs into the blood-soaked soil of this icon of modern horror and finds its unsettling origins. The film has been celebrated as “an act of reclamation.”
“9 to 5” – Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
If there’s one person on this planet who absolutely everyone seems to have loved, it was Dolly Parton. So it’s no surprise that one of the celebrations of her life is the classic Dolly Parton movie “9 to 5.” She received an Oscar nomination for the title song. This fun and funny movie is back for one night only. Catch it while you can.
“NAZA” – Oct. 9 at 11:15 a.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m.; Oct. 10 at 12:30 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 11-12 at 11:15 a.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m; Oct. 13 at 3:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 3:30 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7:45 p.m.; Oct. 15 at 1:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
The word NAZA refers to collateral damage and civilian deaths caused by Israeli strikes in Gaza. The documentary is a series of interviews with Israeli soldiers about the mass killing in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attacks that began the war. Directed by two of the co-directors of the 2024 Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” and winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Venice Film Festival.
“Digger” – Oct. 9 at 1:15 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 10 at 1:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m.; Oct. 11-12 at 1:15 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 13 at 1:25 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 6:45 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 1:25 p.m., 6:45 p.m.; Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Tom Cruise stars in a unique role as an eccentric billionaire on a frantic mission to save the world. Writer/Director Alejandro González Iñárritu brings his considerable talent and vision to this unforgettable movie. Also starring John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, and Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons.
“The Incomer” – Oct. 9 at 11:50 a.m., 2:20 p.m., 7:55 p.m.; Oct. 10 at 11:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.; Oct. 11-12 at 11:50 a.m., 2:20 p.m., 7:55 p.m.; Oct. 13 at 4:20 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 2 p.m., 4:20 p.m.; Oct 15 at 1:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m.
On a remote Scottish isle, a brother and sister spend their days hunting seabirds and following the rules their father gave them: Protect the island, allow no incomers, and survive. But their lives are disrupted when Daniel, an official from the mainland, arrives. Domhnall Gleeson stars as Daniel.
“The History of Concrete” – Oct. 9 at 12 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.; Oct. 10 at 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 4:40 p.m.; Oct. 11 at 12 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.; Oct. 12 at 12 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 5 p.m.; Oct 13-14 at 1:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Oct 15 at 3:10 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
You may be familiar with the writer/director of this movie from his HBO show “How To with John Wilson.” He’s irreverent, odd and funny. Just the sort of person you’d want to do a film about the history of concrete. In all seriousness, John Wilson is entertaining no matter what he’s up to and this promises to be just as absurd and somehow poignant as the rest of his work. Tickets are going surprisingly fast.
“Primetime” – Oct. 9 at 11:30 a.m, 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:20 p.m.; Oct. 10 at 12:15 p.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:15 p.m.; Oct 11-12 at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:20 p.m.; Oct 13-14 at 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:20 p.m.; Oct 15 at 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m.
In 2006, reality television is dominating the television airwaves. And Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson) leads a television show in which they try to catch men trying to have sex with children. The story of “To Catch A Predator” is the topic of “Primetime,” and it promises to be one of the more talked about movies of 2026. The Grand Cinema has an early showing of it this week on the 24th one day before it releases nationwide.
Next week, the documentary with the creepiest trailer I’ve ever seen, and the Musical is coming. Which Musical? “The Musical.”
