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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: THE FLY (1986)

Scare-a-Thon 2021: THE FLY (1986)

Ian Simmons

"Scare-a-Thon 2021" concludes with a rousing and reverent look at David Cronenberg's 1986 sci-fi masterpiece, The Fly!

Eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) has just unlocked the secret to teleportation. Unfortunately, his DNA gets mashed up with that of a common housefly during one of his experiments--leading to a horrific transformation and some truly awkward moments with new girlfriend, Veronica (Geena Davis)!

Ian, AC, and Jon talk about why this is the rare practically perfect film, and the double-rare excellent remake! They also get into the movie's subtle (and in-your-face) themes; Jeff Goldblum's absolute robbery of an Oscar snub; and whether or not this film qualifies as "horror" (Ian gets some mighty fine educatin' from his fellow enthusiasts)!

Thanks so much to everyone who has tuned in this month and engaged in these very fun fright-flick discussions--and especially to those who were able to help out The Albany Park Theater Project, either by directly donating or spreading the word!

We'll be back next October with a fresh slate of menacing movies, but don't miss out on the year-round fun of our ongoing horror series, "Accademia Giallo" and "Hammerland" (available in this channel's "Playlists")!

Show Links

  • Watch The Fly trailer.

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

  • Follow Jon down into Kitley's Krypt.

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

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

  • Donate to the Albany Park Theater Project here.

  • Check out Scream Factory's Blu-ray box set of the entire Fly franchise!

  • And watch AC's recent guest appearance on the It's Not That Scary podcast, which features a discussion on The Innocents!

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

Ep721: The Michael Dante Way

Ep721: The Michael Dante Way
Ep720: Page2Screen2Screen2Screen: DUNE

Ep720: Page2Screen2Screen2Screen: DUNE