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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.

Ep598: FRIGHT NIGHT is Still So Cool!

Ep598: FRIGHT NIGHT is Still So Cool!

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Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast welcomes author Ben Beard* to look back on thirty-five years of Fright Night! Tom Holland’s innovative horror/comedy/fantasy centers on a suburban high schooler who discovers that his new neighbor is a vampire. He recruits his friends and a TV horror host to stop the bloodsucking scourge—a task that’s much harder than he’d bargained for!

Ian and Ben discuss why Fright Night is much better than they’d remembered it; why Tom Holland is one of horror’s unsung heroes; and how the 2011 remake stacks up.

Also, Ian invites you to check out his recent appearances on The Spoiler Room and You’ll Probably Agree podcasts, and shares an exclusive promo code for you to use in purchasing the newly released documentary, Finding Courage (watch Ian’s YouTube-exclusive interview with director Kay Rubacek to find out why this is one of the year’s best films)!

Episode 598 doesn’t need hot cocoa—it saw a vampire!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 5:53

Fright Night (1985) Trailer: 5:53 - 7:14

Fright Night (1985) Discussion: 7:14 - 1:15:44

Outro Music: 1:15:44 - 1:16:00

*Look for Ian’s interview with Ben about his upcoming book on the history of Southern cinema, The South Never Plays Itself, next month. You can pre-order it now!

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Ep599: Alfred Hitchcock Resents

Ep599: Alfred Hitchcock Resents

Ep597: Friday the 40th: Jason in Spaaaaaace!

Ep597: Friday the 40th: Jason in Spaaaaaace!