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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.

Ep1102: Re-Animator (1985) - Live 40th Anniversary Roundtable Review

Ep1102: Re-Animator (1985) - Live 40th Anniversary Roundtable Review

Earth's Mightiest Critics come alive with a 40th-anniversary review of Stuart Gordon's horror/comedy classic, Re-Animator!

Based on H.P. Lovecraft's short story, the film stars Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, a weaselly med student whose single-minded focus on conquering death leads to disastrous consequences. His new roommate, Dan (Bruce Abbott), and Dan's girlfriend, Megan (Barbara Crampton), get swept up in a madcap nightmare of undead cats, lecherous faculty, and a glowing green serum whose effects are as unpredictable as they are grotesque!

Join us for a grave-robbin' gush-fest in which we talk spoilers, sequels, and celebrity encounters-- AND take your questions, comments and SuperChats!

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Ep1103: IndieSeen: Stardust Memories (1980) - Movie Review and Cannes Talk

Ep1103: IndieSeen: Stardust Memories (1980) - Movie Review and Cannes Talk

Ep1101: Thunderbolts* (2025) - Live Roundtable Movie Review

Ep1101: Thunderbolts* (2025) - Live Roundtable Movie Review