profile pic ian.jpg

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.

Ep898: MAD HEIDI: The Kicking the Seat Interview w/ ALICE LUCY and CASPER VAN DIEN

Ep898: MAD HEIDI: The Kicking the Seat Interview w/ ALICE LUCY and CASPER VAN DIEN

Ian talks Alice Lucy and Casper Van Dien, stars of the world's first "Swissploitation" film, Mad Heidi!

In a dystopian future, Switzerland is ruled by malevolent cheese magnate President Meili (Van Dien). After losing her loved ones in a series of vicious attacks, country girl Heidi (Lucy) takes up arms against Meili's regime, cutting a pulpy, bloody path through is sinister plans for world domination!

In this brief interview, Lucy and Van Dien talk about how they connected with this crowdfunded project; a surprising controversy surrounding its production; and how each prepared to play these instantly iconic characters, between studying action movie heroes and switching up accents for maximum effect!

Show Links

  • Watch the Mad Heidi trailer.

  • Keep up with all the Mad Heidi goings-on at the film's website.

Ep899: There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: ENTER THE DRAGON (1973)

Ep899: There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: ENTER THE DRAGON (1973)

Ep897: THE FLASH (2023) - Round Table Review

Ep897: THE FLASH (2023) - Round Table Review