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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 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.

Ep160: Orbituary

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast visits an alternate dimension in which Phantasm: Ravager is actually worth talking about! Ian embarks on on this treacherous journey with David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, who brings a unique perspective to the fourth sequel, as well as to the newly restored 1979 original. Has creator Don Coscarelli lost his mojo, or is the success or failure of a franchise really in the eye of the beholder?

Also, Ian talks about diving into the world of capsule reviews, the Chicago International Film Festival (going on now), and a very special 50th anniversary screening of Manos: The Hands of Fate that he will host on Friday, November 11th! Star Jackey Neyman Jones and author Laura Mazzuca Toops will join Ian on stage at the historic Music Box Theatre to introduce the film and do a Q&A afterwards.

Episode 160 promises to blow your mind right out the back of a silver ball!

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Ep161: BERTIE Lives Matter

Ep159: CARRIE Unplugged