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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 Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy 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.

Ep1212: IndieSeen: His Monster (2025) - Movie Review

Ep1212: IndieSeen: His Monster (2025) - Movie Review

Ian Simmons

Ian and Sujewa engage in a monstrous battle over the new indie film, His Monster!

An Oregonian alcoholic named James (Gabriel Casdorph) struggles to overcome the dissolution of his marriage following a tragedy. Complicating matters is the sudden appearance of an ancient evil monster who begins attacking people in James' orbit.

This contentious, spoilerific deep dive is a prime example of how two people can take away two very different experiences of the same film.

Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:

Show Links

  • Watch the His Monster (2025) trailer.

  • Follow Compassionate Disaster Films for info on all upcoming His Monster festival screenings:

  • Watch Sujewa's recent interview with His Monster writer/director Erich Cannon.

  • Support Sujewa's new film project, 53 Spaceships, the latest adventure of Cosmic Disco Detective Rene!

  • Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube!

  • Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).

  • Follow Sujewa on X.

  • Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

Ep1213: The Bride! (2026) - Live Roundtable Review

Ep1213: The Bride! (2026) - Live Roundtable Review
Ep1211: Through the Tunnel of Shadows: An Interview with Sirat Director Oliver Laxe

Ep1211: Through the Tunnel of Shadows: An Interview with Sirat Director Oliver Laxe