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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.

Ep901: Beyond Hammerland: THE HAUNTING (1963)

Ep901: Beyond Hammerland: THE HAUNTING (1963)

Ian Simmons

This month, we're beyond excited to go "Beyond Hammerland", thanks to a TRIPLE birthday celebration! Yes, Ian and AC were born on June 30th, and Robert Wise's THE HAUNTING turns 60 this year! Join us for a...ahem...spirited and spoilerific review of this classic horror movie, which centers on a paranormal investigator who recruits a pair of psychically touched women and a wealthy freewheeling hipster to uncover the secrets of the famously haunted Hill House! The guys have talked about talking about this movie for a long time, and now you can hear what they have to say. Despite this being a well-regarded and highly influential film, today's episode is not strictly a love fest--with one of the panelists needing his own guided tour of the film's merits!

Show Links:

  • Watch the Haunting trailer.

  • Chicagoans! Join AC for a special anniversary screening of The Haunting at the Sulzer Regional Public Library on Tuesday, August 22! He'll introduce the film and conduct a Q&A afterward!

  • Watch Ian's interview with J.R. Jordan, author of Robert Wise: The Motion Pictures.

  • Subscribe to AC's YouTube channel, which is positively dripping with fiendishly fresh content!

  • Watch AC's recent round table review of Twilight Zone: The Movie (mentioned in the show):

  • Catch up with 2022's year-long journey, "Son of Hammerland"!

  • And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"!

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

Ep902: THE MOSQUITO COAST (1986) - Movie Review

Ep902: THE MOSQUITO COAST (1986) - Movie Review
Ep900: Late Screening: WARGAMES (1983)

Ep900: Late Screening: WARGAMES (1983)