Kicking the Seat

In space, no one can hear you scream, "Happy Anniversary!" Aliens turns 35 this summer, and Ian is eager to facehug the hell out of it. Cole is...not in the partying mood.Watch as a lifelong fan steps up to defend James Cameron's landmark sci-fi/horror film from someone who just doesn't see what the fuss is about. Can Ian rescue his friend from a secreted-resin cocoon of boredom--or will Cole nuke his enthusiasm from orbit?Find out who gets the airlock in this very odd battle royale! "Late Screening" is Kicking the Seat's monthly series in which 'Millennial Correspondent' Cole Rush watches a film he's never seen before and talks with Ian about the experience.Show Links:Watch the Aliens trailer.Keep up with all of Cole's literary criticism at The Quill to Live.Check out Cole's TikTok channel, BookRush.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian talks with filmmaker Alex Noyer, whose bold new thriller, Sound of Violence, is now available On Demand.This twisted expansion of Noyer's 2018 short, Conductor, centers on a troubled young musician named Alexis (Jasmin Savoy Brown). After experiencing two severe childhood traumas, she develops the ability to see sounds when encountering violence. The sensation is intoxicating, and Alexis soon finds herself going to murderous extremes in order to perfect her art.Ian and Alex talk about the journey from documentary producer to horror filmmaker; evading the specter of the Saw movies; and the importance of casting, communication, and community in making an indie film. Show Links:Watch the Sound of Violence trailer.Watch Conductor, the award-winning short film that Alex turned into Sound of Violence: Read Ian's review of Sound of Violence at Kicking the Seat.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian enjoys an intoxicating conversation with Drunk Bus co-directors John Carlucci and Brandon LaGanke!The audacious and often touching comedy stars Charlie Tahan (Ozark) as Michael, an aimless and heartbroken college townie who drives the titular campus-loop transport. Following an assault, Michael is assigned a philosopher-brute bodyguard named Pineapple (Pineapple Tangaroa) who tries to coax him out of his funk--to hilariously awkward results.The guys talk about translating LaGanke's real-life experience to the screen (he was the inspiration for Michael, and Pineapple plays a version of himself); the limits of the filmmakers' outrageousness; and the influence of one of Ian, Brandon, and John's favorite films on Drunk Bus's tone!Drunk Bus is now available On Demand.Show Links:Watch the Drunk Bus trailer.Watch Carlucci and LaGanke's viral 2014 short film, Drone Boning (NSFW!).Read Ian's review of Drunk Bus at Kicking the Seat.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Today, Ian and Sujewa get personal with a look at Jonas Mekas' 2012 film, Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man. The hour-plus assemblage of footage from the prototypical film diarist's life paints a portrait of a well-traveled creative person. But is there something deeper, even contradictory, in Mekas' visually cheerful account of artistic pursuits?The guys talk about Mekas as a director; his influence on arthouse cinema; and what young filmmakers can learn from the old master, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 96.Also, Sujewa gives an update on his forthcoming movie, The Secret Society for Slow Romance!"The Slowdown" is Kicking the Seat's monthly exploration of the world of Slow Cinema with filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake. Catch up on previous episodes on our "The Slowdown" Playlist.Show Links:Watch the Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man trailer.Check out the Re: Voir page on Vimeo, where you can find more Jonas Mekas films.Learn more about New York's Anthology Film Archive, which Mekas co-founded in 1970.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.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and David gather to mourn the death of the Saw franchise with a spoilerific review of Spiral.Chris Rock stars as Ezekiel Banks, a grizzled detective in a police department full of crooked cops. When someone begins knocking off his co-workers, Zeke and his rookie partner, Will (Max Minghella) look to the grisly Jigsaw murders to see if one of the killer's acolytes has once again taken up trap-making.David had never seen a Saw film before this one (part nine!), and Ian wonders if the people who made it are in the same boat.In the next hour, the guys discuss why Spiral is so markedly different from the other Saw movies; why Rock and co-star Samuel L. Jackson are a threat to the series' future; and how a half-baked socio-political message could make this theatrical-only release one of 2021's first major flops.Show Links:Watch the Spiral trailer.Read Ian's written review of Spiral at Kicking the Seat.Read David's written review of Spiral at Keeping It Reel.Check out Ian and Dr. AC's mega-review of the pre-Spiral Saw franchise! Watch the trailer for Sound of Violence (referenced in the show), and look out for Ian's interview with writer/director Alex Noyer next week!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian talks with filmmaker Zach Lamplugh about his hilarious new comedy, 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Bigfoot (#1 Will Blow Your Mind)!When a disgruntled clickbait journalist (Brian Emond) takes an assignment to learn the truth about Bigfoot in Georgia's backwoods, he discovers very human subcultures that are scarier than the most rabid Sasquatch! In this spoiler-free conversation, Zach talks about making the move from video editing to feature film directing; pop culture's obsession with Bigfoot; and why the elusive creature is a perfect metaphor for internet fame! 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Bigfoot is now available On Demand.Show Links:Watch the 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Bigfoot trailer.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian talks with writer/director Danny Madden and executive producer Jim Cummings about their chilling new drama, Beast Beast!The film follows the budding relationship of high schoolers Krista (Shirley Chen) and Nito (Jose Angeles), and their fateful encounters with an aimless twentysomething named Adam (Will Madden) who's obsessed with internet fame and guns.In this audio-only interview (Danny was on the road at the time of recording), the filmmakers talk about evolving their hit Sundance short film, Krista, to feature-length; working with co-executive producer Alec Baldwin; and how Will's research into the world of gun enthusiasts helped shape a character with a perspective very different from his own.Beast Beast is now available On Demand.Note: In the show artwork, Jim Cummings is listed as “Producer”. He is actually an Executive Producer on the film.Show Links:Watch the Beast Beast trailer.Watch Danny Madden's short film Krista, which inspired Beast Beast.Read Ian’s Beast Beast review.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian talks with filmmaker Jer Sklar about his feature film debut, Tom of Your Life!The dramedy stars newcomer Baize Buzan as a hospital nurse who discovers a newborn boy that ages four years every hour of his life. She takes him on a road trip to learn the secret of his condition, in the process grappling with past mistakes; a private detective; and a traveling companion whose midlife crisis happens only a few hours after puberty.True to the get-it-done spirit of indie filmmaking: in addition to writing, directing, editing, and providing many of the songs for the film with his band The Blackstrap Molasses, Sklar co-stars as the adult version of Tom.In this wide-ranging interview, Sklar talks about his crazy moviemaking journey, which led from Highland Park, IL to Los Angeles, then back to film school in Chicago (oh, and executive producing projects with Chris Rock in between). He also talks openly about generational divides; navigating Windy City politics to make his movie; and the lightning-bolt moment that made him upend his comfortable but passion-free life. Tom of Your Life is now available on Amazon Prime (and other On Demand services), and will have its Chicago premiere this weekend at the Music Box Theatre.Show Links:Watch the Tom of Your Life trailer.Catch the film's Chicago premiere this weekend at the Music Box Theatre.Keep up with Jer's Chicago-based production company, Satori! Studios.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and Pat continue their unofficial "Adventures in Cancellation" series with a look back at the 93rd Academy Awards and a review of Woody Allen's 2019 film, A Rainy Day in New York!The guys talk plummeting audience numbers and ascendant wokeness; Tyler Perry's message of unity, and Twitter's ugly reaction to Anthony Hopkins' win; and why the once venerated telecast has shrunk to little more than a gold-plated COVID bubble.Then they get into the latest (released) Allen film, which stars Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning as college kids whose day trip to the Big Apple becomes a descent into the madness of celebrity culture, old flames, and high-society revelations.The movie-review segment is bookended by thoughts on the controversies surrounding Allen and fellow accused-and-canceled comic Louis C.K., and the dangers of extra-judicial media trials.So, yes, please enjoy what very may well be the final episode of the Kicking the Seat Podcast!Timestamps:93rd Oscars Discussion: 0:00 - 18:40Some Thoughts on Woody Allen: 18:41 - 29:17A Rainy Day in New York Review: 29:18 - 51:17Louis C.K. Revisited (Why Not?): 51:18 - 58:09Outro: 58:10 - 101:33Show Links:Watch the A Rainy Day in New York trailer.Thirsty for more controversy? Listen to Ian and Pat's 2017 review of Woody Allen's Wonder Wheel and Louis C.K.'s I Love You, Daddy on the Kicking the Seat Podcast.Keep up with Pat at HollywoodChicago.com.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

What do you get when you cross a vampire movie with a slasher film? In the case of Terence Fisher's 1966 Dracula: Prince of Darkness, the result is a uniquely entertaining mash-up of both genres' best qualities!Ten years after the events of Horror of Dracula, four British tourists journey into a forbidden part of the German countryside. Their arrival sets the stage for Dracula's return, and a series of stalk-and-slash encounters that may have you thinking more about Friday the 13th than Fright Night.Ian and Aaron talk about the film's possible influences; the magnificence of Andrew Keir as a substitute for Peter Cushing; and the film's absolutely bonkers take on vampire lore!"Hammerland" is our monthly look at the 1950s-1970s Hammer Studios horror films featuring Dracula and Frankenstein.Show Links:Watch the Dracula: Prince of Darkness trailer.Keep up with all of Aaron's reviews at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Dying for more? Check out our other monthly horror series, "Accademia Giallo"!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!