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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.

Scare-a-Thon 2021: DRACULA / FRANKENSTEIN 90th Birthday Bonanza!

Scare-a-Thon 2021: DRACULA / FRANKENSTEIN 90th Birthday Bonanza!

Ian Simmons

Welcome back, children of the night!

The "Scare-a-Thon" tradition continues as our good friend Aaron Christensen of Horror 101 with Dr. A.C. spends all of October watching horror movies and raising money for a worthy cause.

This year, he's supporting Chicago's Albany Park Theatre Project, which creates transformative experiences that forge an inclusive community of youth artists, adult artists, and audiences to envision and build a more just, equitable, and joyful world.

And to help the good doctor in his quest, we'll be doing Friday night livestreams all month long--beginning with a special 90th-anniversary review of the seminal Universal Monsters hits, Dracula and Frankenstein!

Join us LIVE on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch at 7:30pm every Friday in October. We'll take questions, address comments, and invite you to tell us about your go-to Spooky Season movies!

Show Links

  • Watch the Dracula (1931) trailer.

  • Watch the Frankenstein (1931) trailer.

  • Keep up with Aaron's entire "Scare-a-Thon" experience beginning October 1st at Horror 101 with Dr. AC (you can peruse his library of horror content in the meantime!).

  • For more info on the Albany Park Theatre Project visit their website.

  • Donate to the Albany Park Theatre Project here.

  • And check out this "Scare-a-Thon 2021" trailer from the great Jason Coffman!

  • Dying for more? Check out our "Hammerland" Playlist, to see Ian and Aron's year-long look at Hammer Films' interpretation of Frankenstein and Dracula!

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

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE Round Table Review

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE Round Table Review
Ep715: Chorus Correction: An Interview with THE JESUS MUSIC Co-directors Andrew and Jon Erwin

Ep715: Chorus Correction: An Interview with THE JESUS MUSIC Co-directors Andrew and Jon Erwin