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.

Scare-a-Thon 2021: Hammerland: THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA

Scare-a-Thon 2021: Hammerland: THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA

It's family fun week at the ol' "Scare-a-Thon" as we gather for Satanic Rites of Dracula!

Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm boards our creepy carriage through 1970s London, where a freshly resurrected Dracula continues to terrorize locals and frustrate the descendent of vamp-vanquishing legend, Van Helsing!

Join us live on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter 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! This year, "Scare-a-Thon" is raising money and awareness for Chicago's Albany Park Theater Project, which you can learn more about in the links below!

Show Links

  • Watch the Satanic Rites of Dracula trailer.

  • Keep up with Aaron's daily "Scare-a-Thon" reviews at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.

  • Keep up with Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm!

  • Watch a brand-new video with several members of the Albany Park Theater Project, talking about the Halloween season and what makes APTP special!

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

  • Donate to the Albany Park Theater Project here.

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

  • If you just can't get enough "Hammerland", feel free to stalk our YouTube Playlist.

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

Ep719: IndieSeen: THE SECRET SOCIETY FOR SLOW ROMANCE

Ep719: IndieSeen: THE SECRET SOCIETY FOR SLOW ROMANCE

Ep718: IndieSeen: Tales of the Tape: An Interview with 18 1/2 Co-writer / Director Dan Mirvish!

Ep718: IndieSeen: Tales of the Tape: An Interview with 18 1/2 Co-writer / Director Dan Mirvish!