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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.

Ep675: Face Value: An Interview with CINEMAPHAGY Author Scout Tafoya

Ep675: Face Value: An Interview with CINEMAPHAGY Author Scout Tafoya

Ian Simmons

Ian talks with filmmaker, film essayist, and author Scout Tafoya about his new book, Cinemaphagy: On the Psychedelic Classical Form of Tobe Hooper!

Tobe Hooper directed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, and other wildly influential horror films--but his legacy hasn't been nearly as heralded as many genre fans believe it should be.

In his thorough analysis, Tafoya explores the themes, technique, and relevance of Hooper's filmography--from the household name classics to obscure experimental films, music videos, and more than a dozen episodes of genre television.

In this pinballing conversation, the guys look at Scout's career in dissecting cinema; his affinity for Hooper; film critic blindspots, and that lingering controversy about the true director of POLTERGEIST! As a bonus, the guys look back on 35 years of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2!

Time Stamps:

  • Intro / Scout's Story (Origin of "The Unloved"): 0:00 - 7:39

  • Cinemaphagy Discussion: 7:40 - 34:25

  • Texas Chainsaw 2 Chat: 34:26 - 57:55

  • Dark Web and The High Seas: 57:56 - 1:01:01

  • The Spielberg Controversy: 1:01:02 - 1:07:01

  • Outro: 1:07:02 - 1:09:37

Show Links:

  • Watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 trailer.

  • Scout Tafoya's Cinemaphagy is available at booksellers everywhere, but you can order a signed copy exclusively from the MZS World Store.

  • Catch up with Scout's long-running video essay series, "The Unloved", at RogerEbert.com.

  • Explore more of Scout's films and essays on Vimeo.

  • Follow Scout on Twitter.

  • Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ep676: The Slowdown: ALL THE LIGHT IN THE SKY

Ep676: The Slowdown: ALL THE LIGHT IN THE SKY
Ep674: THE AMUSEMENT PARK (1973) - Movie Review

Ep674: THE AMUSEMENT PARK (1973) - Movie Review