profile pic ian.jpg

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.

Ep1041: Scare-a-Thon 2024: IT'S ALIVE (1974)

Ep1041: Scare-a-Thon 2024: IT'S ALIVE (1974)

We're late into Spooky Season, but it's never too late for some Scare-a-Thon fun!

Ian and AC return with a special 50th anniversary review of Larry Cohen's 1974 family-drama-with-monsters, It’s Alive!

John P. Ryan and Sharon Farrell star as Frank and Lenore Davis, a happily married expectant couple whose second trip to the delivery room ends in a freakish massacre. Turns out their newborn is a razor-clawed mutant with a thirst for milk, blood, and mayhem!

During the weeklong, city-wide hunt for a creature on the loose, the Davises go through twisted versions of the Stages of Grief, and the audience is treated to the kind of unexpectedly observant, cerebral horror that only Larry Cohen could deliver!

Join the guys for a spoilerific celebration of Cohen's casting, creativity, and character nuance--all in support of the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (donation info below, if you are so moved to participate)!

Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, and check out kickseat.com for multiple movie podcasts each week!

Show Links

  • Watch the It’s Alive trailer.

  • Support this year's Scare-a-Thon by donating directly to WRRAP!

  • And keep up with all of AC's "Scare-a-Thon" viewings at Horror 101 w/ Dr. AC!

  • Bonus Content! As mentioned in the show, you can check out Ian's interview with It’s Alive director Larry Cohen (waaaaay back on the third episode of the Kicking the Seat Podcast!):

  • And listen to Ian's interview with Steve Mitchell, director of the Larry Cohen documentary, King Cohen!

Ep1042: Scare-a-Thon 2024: Accademia Giallo: ALICE, SWEET ALICE (1971)

Ep1042: Scare-a-Thon 2024: Accademia Giallo: ALICE, SWEET ALICE (1971)

Ep1040: Here We Go Again: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984 / 2010) - LIVE Round Table Review

Ep1040: Here We Go Again: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984 / 2010) - LIVE Round Table Review