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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 2022: BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA 30th Anniversary Review LIVE!

Scare-a-Thon 2022: BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA 30th Anniversary Review LIVE!

Ian Simmons

Scare-a-Thon celebrates the godfather of all movie monsters with a 30th-anniversary review of Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker’s Dracula!

In 1992, Coppola delivered a gruesome, gothic interpretation of the classic horror novel, featuring Gary Oldman in various forms of the bourgeoise blood-sucker. Co-starring Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, and Sir Anthony Hopkins as Abraham Van Helsing, the film became a blockbuster Oscar-winner.

So how does it hold up three decades on? Our panel sinks its teeth into this ambitious adaptation with a spoilerific look at how Coppola's vision stacks up to previous takes on Dracula; how the film sidesteps being a bona fide classic by several frustrating degrees--and whether or not those degrees actually does keep Dracula from being an infinitely re-watchable experience!

Plus: One of our panelists reveals a surprising personal connection with one of the film's stars!

We'll be live every Friday throughout October with special anniversary discussions of classic horror films--all benefiting the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP), a non-partisan, nonprofit organization assisting women who are financially unable to pay for safe, legal abortions or emergency contraceptives.

Show Links

  • Watch the Bram Stoker’s Dracula trailer.

  • Support WRRAP via our Scare-a-Thon donation link on Plumfund.

  • Keep up with our rotating panel of pontificators from "Accademia Giallo" AND this week's special guest:!

    • Follow Jeff York's illustrative film criticism at The Establishing Shot.

    • Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!

    • If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley! http://www.kitleyskrypt.com/ And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!

    • Get devious with Bryan Martinez's Film Deviant podcast!

    • Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).

    • And catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!

    • Also: Blake is making a documentary! Yes, the author of Scored to Death Volume I & II is making a feature film with interviews from top horror composers. You can help make it happen by contributing to his Kickstarter campaign.

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

Don't Read the Comments! 10/25/22

Don't Read the Comments! 10/25/22
Ep814: TUMBBAD (2018) - Movie Review LIVE!

Ep814: TUMBBAD (2018) - Movie Review LIVE!