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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.

Ep459: Waking NIGHTMAREs

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm.com journey to the intersection of Memory Lane and Elm Street with a look at one of cinema's most enduring horror franchises! Wes Craven's New Nightmare turns twenty-five today, and the guys look at three of the Freddy films celebrating anniversaries this year (the 1984 original and 1989's The Dream Child)!

From their earliest memories of the cerebral slasher to adult perspectives on teen horror, and a handful of lamentations on the lack of modern horror icons, Ian and Lee get at the heart of a series that helped shape the way they think about genre films.

Also, Ian teases his coverage of the 55th Chicago International Film Festival, which kicks off this Thursday!

Episode 459...is God!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 2:22

A Nightmare on Elm Street Trailer: 2:22 - 3:56

Nightmare series Discussion: 3:56 - 54:42

Outro Music: 54:42 - 54:57

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Ep460: Initials CIFF

Ep458: Running Commentary: The Crow