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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

The KtS Contest: The Depps of My Despair

UPDATE: This contest has ended. Congratulations to Danielle for her comment, "I think he would be outraged when no one would believe he's really a vampire ... I mean, he doesn't sparkle or look anything like the rest of the Cullens!!!" Indeed, Danielle! Indeed!

Hey, Everyone! This Tuesday sees the home video release of Tim Burton's best film in more than a decade, Dark Shadows. To celebrate, Kicking the Seat and Partnershub are giving you a chance to win this cool vampire dramedy on blu-ray!

To enter the Depps of My Despair Contest, fill out a Comment Card with the subject line, "The Future Sucks!" In the body of your entry, I need fifty words or less on what you think would horrify a vampire the most about waking up in 2012 after being buried for several hundred years. In Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp's Barnabas Collins freaks out at the sight of television, McDonald's golden arches, and 1970s fashion. Imagine if he'd been allowed to sleep another forty years, and send me your funniest, weirdest, most original idea of a modern outrage for the undead.

Submit your entries by 11:59pm on Monday, October 15th. The best answer will receive their very own copy of the film in stunning high definition!

In the meantime, please spread the word. And if you're feeling brave, feel free to take the "Are You Creepy Enough?" quiz, test your knowledge of the elder Collins in the "Barnabas' Terrorific Trivia" game, or see what the "Dark Shadows Horror-Scope" has to say about your prospects this Halloween season--all available via the app below!

Thanks again for reading, and good luck!

The KtS Contest: Catching up with Friends

The KtS Contest: 500 Films!