Kicking the Seat

Ian welcomes writer/director Charles Murray to discuss his latest film, The Devil Know!Omar Epps stars as Marcus, an ex-con who has made a better life for himself, thanks to the support of his large, loving family. When younger brother Drew (William Catlett) gets mixed up in a horrific crime, Marcus' instinct to protect his sibling proves disastrous--leading to fractured relationships and the prospect of returning to prison.In this spoiler-free, free-flowing conversation, Charles talks about how his career writing and producing genre TV (Luke Cage, Clone Wars, and many others) informs his more personal independent work; how classic crime films informed the way he told The Devil Know, and how he approached directing a tense interrogation scene between Omar Epps and Michael Ealy (who plays the detective pursuing Marcus and Drew).Plus: find out what it was like going to see The Batman with Jeph Loeb, co-creator of some of the Dark Knight's most cherished modern storylines!The Devil Know is now playing exclusively at AMC Theatres.Show LinksWatch the Devil You Know trailer.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian talks with filmmaker Cole Bacani about his short film, Everything Stays, which will be featured in the Gene Siskel Film Center's "Asian American Shorts: Resilience" program this weekend!This moving and authentic semi-autobiographical movie centers on a young filmmaker from the Chicago suburbs who wrestles with telling his large, close-knit Filipino family that he's leaving for film school in California.Ian and Cole discuss the wild circumstances that compelled him to make Everything Stays; the importance of building a loyal and creative crew, and what it means to be part of the Asian American filmmaking community. You can catch Everything Stays this weekend in Chicago at the Siskel Center--and meet Cole, who will be in attendance! Check below for a link to tickets and more information.Show Links:Watch the Everything Stays trailer.Buy tickets for the Gene Siskel Film Center's "Asian American Shorts: Resilience" program, featuring Everything Stays--starting this Saturday (4/2/22) at 3pm.Follow Cole on Instagram and Twitter.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

In their latest "wrap" session, Ian and Dr. AC take on Terence Fisher's 1959 Hammer horror film, The Mummy!When a family of archaeologists discover the tomb of an Egyptian princess, their plans to bring back priceless artifacts unleashes an ancient curse! Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee star in this "greatest hits" of the Universal Monsters Mummy sequels--but do the derivations matter to someone who's never seen a Mummy film from start to finish?Find out as Ian (a newcomer to the gauzy ghoul's mythology) shares his love for a movie that's old hat to AC! From Hammer's trademark devotion to elaborate sets and costumes; to Lee's (literally) tortured performance as the undead protector of divine royalty, and so many references to Friday the 13th you'll be concerned for Ian's mental health--this episode dusts off an underappreciated classic and brings it to stunning new life!"Son of Hammerland" is Kicking the Seat's monthly journey into the non-Dracula-and-Frankenstein films from Hammer Studios!Show Links:Watch the Mummy (1959) trailer.Read Dr. AC's review of The Mummy.Catch up on previous "Son of Hammerland" episodes!And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Hold your breath and dive into this week's fount of feedback!From show suggestions to naked flattery, from grief counseling to the comment that almost didn't make it--Ian responds to absolutely everything that comes his way!If you would like Ian to read your comments in a future segment, simply leave feedback on any video review, written review, interview, or other bits of Kicking the Seat content on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, kickseat.com, or the Kicking the Seat Facebook fanpage. Replies (and witty wisdom) guaranteed!Show Links:Check out the shows that inspired all this lucid/ludicrous feedback!The Batman (2022) Written ReviewHalloween Kills (2021) - Movie ReviewThe Batman (2022) Round Table ReviewDon't Read the Comments! 3/11/22Friday the 40th Part 3: Who Was That Masked Man?Son of Hammerland: The Quatermass XperimentAccademia Giallo: MY DEAR KILLER (1972)Hammerland: Dracula A.D. 1972Hammerland: Dracula: Prince of DarknessA Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) - Movie ReviewMarry Me (2022) - Movie ReviewBonus Shows (Referenced in the Video):Scare-a-Thon 2021: Hammerland Special: The Gorgon.Listen to Ian and ChicagoFilm's Lee discuss more films in the Elm Street series.Listen to Ian and Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com discuss A Nightmare on Elm Street 2.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian welcomes back ChicagoFilm's Lee Shoquist for a dreamy look back at A Nightmare on Elm Street 3!Dream Warriors turned 35 this year, and the guys dive headfirst into Chuck Russell's groundbreaking horror fantasy, which finds a group of struggling teens squaring off against Freddy Krueger in a sleep clinic. More than three decades on, film (co-written by future Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile director Frank Darabont) offers way more to think about than just imaginative nightmare sequences and the birth of "funny Freddy"! Watch as Ian and Lee reminisce about their early experiences with the series; examine the legacy of Wes Craven's heady horror as funneled through the ultimate teen angst metaphor; and try to pinpoint what's so unsettling about Patricia Arquette (who made her big-screen debut in Dream Warriors)! Show LinksWatch the A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors trailer.Check out Lee's newly revamped movie-review site, ChicagoFilm!Listen to Ian and Lee discuss more films in the Elm Street series.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

This month's IndieSeen is very different from what we'd planned. Instead of discussing David Lynch's Inland Empire, the guys look back at one of Sujewa's early films, Breakthrough Weekend!The offbeat NYC detective comedy follows Sal Vulpes (Damie Bosco) and his new partner, Yevgeny (Sean Bempong), as they tackle a trio of bizarre cases involving dysfunctional relationships. Infidelity, incest, and wizardry (yes, actual wizardry) keep our intrepid P.I.s on their toes--as does the quest to boost their respective Happiness Levels to 100!In this wide-ranging episode, the guys discuss the nitty-gritty of indie filmmaking; dealing with criticism, and how this quirky little gem may figure into Sujewa's ever-evolving cinematic universe, which includes sequels to The Secret Society for Slow Romance and Werewolf Ninja Philosopher!They also talk about that David Lynch situation!Show Links:Rent/own Sujewa's films on Vimeo, including:Breakthrough Weekend (2014)Date Number One (2006)The Secret Society for Slow Romance (2022)Werewolf Ninja Philosopher (2018)Find clips, making-of videos, and other cool info about Sujewa's upcoming film, The Secret Society for Slow Romance.Keep up with all of Sujewa's projects.Follow Sujewa on Twitter.Get tickets and more info about the Music Box Theatre's David Lynch retrospective, happening April 7-14th in Chicago!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

This month, spring forward with "Accademia Giallo"--but don't lose your head!In Tonino Valerii's 1972 thriller, My Dear Killer, a mysterious decapitation leads Inspector Peretti into a case of blackmail, deceit, and the unsolved kidnapping of a young girl.Though this was Valerii's one and only stab at the genre, My Dear Killer proves to be a trend-setter whose influence would echo for decades. The guys talk red herrings, power tool safety, mirror art, and plenty more regarding this underappreciated gem--which also features one of giallo's most shocking images and an opening set-piece that defies belief!Also, Ian and Bryan share some very different perspectives on how My Dear Killer relates to Matt Reeves' The Batman!"Accademia Giallo" is Kicking the Seat's monthly deep dive into Italian Horror's "giallo" sub-genre. And this ain't no private school, either: the chat is open to everyone who wants to chime in about the movie and all things giallo!Show LinksWatch the My Dear Killer trailer.Further your fearful education at Horror 101 with Dr. AC!And be sure to check out Aaron's written review of My Dear Killer! Follow Jon down into Kitley's Krypt!And listen to Jon's great new podcast, Discover the Horror!Check out Bryan Martinez's YouTube show, The Giallo Room!And follow The Giallo Room on Instagram for your daily gialli fix!AND...as mentioned in the show, both Jon and previous guest Troy Howarth have been nominated for this year's Rondo Hatton Horror Awards! Check out the full ballot, and if you're so moved feel free to vote for Jon in the "Best Column" cateory, and for Troy in the "Book of the Year--Nonfiction" category!Catch up on past lessons with our "Accademia Giallo" YouTube Playlist!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

It's a virtual avalanche of virtual feedback as "Don't Read the Comments!" returns for its sixth (and sickest) installment!From heartwarming testimonials to head-scratching harangues to unexpected knowledge bombs, this overdue and overstuffed edition of the mailbag is sure to give you something to talk about--maybe even to comment on!If you would like Ian to read your comments in a future segment, simply leave feedback on any video review, written review, interview, or other bits of Kicking the Seat content on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, kickseat.com, or the Kicking the Seat Facebook fanpage. Replies (and witty wisdom) guaranteed!Show Links:Check out the shows that inspired all this lucid/ludicrous feedback!Watermelon Man - Movie ReviewDon't Read the Comments! 2/18/22Page2Screen: The Green MileThe Education of a Legitimate Wiseguy: An Interview with Nicholas CelozziHammerland: Dracula: Prince of DarknessThere's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: American Graffiti Nightmare Alley (2021) Movie ReviewSon of Hammerland: The Quatermass XperimentDarker Hughes: Career Opportunities Movie and Blu-ray Review with Erik ChildressThe Batman (2022) Round Table ReviewA Brilliant Young Mind (2014) - Movie ReviewThe Batman (2022) Written ReviewAnd be sure to subscribe to Keeping it Reel, the new YouTube home of friend and colleague David Fowlie!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Earth's Mightiest Critics return for a special LIVE round table review of The Batman!Matt Reeves' grim-and-gritty (TM) take on The Dark Knight finds Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne taking on The Riddler (Paul Dano) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell)--as well as Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz), but in a very different way!In this lively and very spoiler-heavy panel, the gang digs into Warner Bros' latest take on the world's most popular costumed vigilante. Come for the lore analysis and comparisons to past films--stay for the live comments, which range from feisty to weird to downright heartwarming!Plus: Find out when you'll see Earth's Mightiest Critics band together again for more comics-to-screen round table reviews! Show Links:Watch the Batman trailer.Support Earth's Mightiest Critics! Keep up with our rotating panel of guests at their various outlets: Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...and 25YL...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at Chuck Load of Comics....and MoviewebRead Ian's written review of The Batman!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and Dr. AC's lurid look at Hammer's lineage of lunacy continues with 1955's The Quatermass Xperiment!When a rocket crash lands in the English countryside, a mysterious American scientist named Quatermass teams up with local investigators to solve the mystery of what happened on its doomed space mission. The answers are as weird as they are chilling, and the guys dive head-first into this highly influential sci-fi horror movie.From its roots as an insanely popular British TV miniseries; to pop touchstones like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Thing, Alien, and Frankenstein, and the sheer artistry with which director Val Guest make fantastic scenarios feel (mostly) believable--this is one robust discussion about a criminally overlooked film!Also, Ian struggles to pronounce "Quatermass"!Show Links:Watch the Quatermass Xperiment trailer.Read Aaron's review of The Quatermass Xperiment.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!