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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.

Ep761: Son of Hammerland: SCREAM OF FEAR (1961)

Ep761: Son of Hammerland: SCREAM OF FEAR (1961)

Ian Simmons

Ian and Aaron go "psycho" for Seth Holt's unique Hammer thriller, Scream of Fear!

When Penny (Susan Strasberg) visits her estranged father's estate, she finds the old man has gone missing and must deal with a mother-in-law she's never met (Ann Todd) and a hunky but suspicious chauffeur named Robert (Ronald Lewis). Through a series of mysterious events (and the arrival of dad's shady physician, played by Christopher Lee), Penny begins to question her sanity.

Ian and Dr. AC look at why Scream of Fear was so important to Hammer Films (especially to screenwriter Jimmy Sangster); how atmosphere can overcome story padding, and what we can learn from the most ludicrous series of twist endings in recent memory!

Show Links:

Ep762: Accademia Giallo: TRAUMA (1993)

Ep762: Accademia Giallo: TRAUMA (1993)
Ep760: There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: LA DOLCE VITA (1960)

Ep760: There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: LA DOLCE VITA (1960)