Kicking the Seat

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm.com welcome back Crystal Lake Memories author Peter M. Bracke for the penultimate installment of our year-long “Friday the 40th” series. Is Freddy Vs. Jason a dream match-up, or a campy nightmare? The guys plumb the depths of Ronny Yu’s 2003 blockbuster and bring back some surprising evidence to support both Team Jason and Team Freddy!Join us back here next month as the guys offer up a bloody entertaining “final chapter”, with a review of the 2009 Friday the 13th remake!Also, Ian invites you to join him and the “What If He Doesn’t Survive?” crew LIVE tonight at 9pm CST for a lively look at the latest chapter in Disney’s Mandalorian saga. Who will be the first to use the “F” word? And just which “F” word are we talking about? Join us live and hang out in the chat to find out!Episode 606 drinks warm milk with its Hypnocil!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:43Freddy Vs. Jason Trailer: 2:43 - 3:42Freddy Vs. Jason Review: 3:42 - 51:15Outro Music: 51:15 - 51:31Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Christmas arrives way early as Ian and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie review the wild and bloody brilliant action comedy, Fatman!Co-directors Ian and Eshom Nelms follow up Small Town Crime with a movie about a spoiled rich kid who puts out a hit on Santa Claus. The multi-faceted farce stars Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and may just wind up an off-kilter holiday classic alongside Gremlins and Die Hard.This spoilierific discussion explores the film's three imaginative converging storylines; its deftly pointed social commentary; and the case it makes for bailing Gibson out of movie jail!Fatman opens in theatres Friday, and will be available On Demand November 24th, from Saban Films.Episode 605 stuffs its stockings with grenades!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:51Fatman Trailer: 2:51 - 5:22Fatman Discussion: 5:22 - 53:05Outro Music: 53:05 - 53:21Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Aaron Christensen of Horror 101 with Dr. A.C. wrap up “Scare-a-Thon 2020” with a look at Terence Fisher’s The Brides of Dracula! The October livestreams may be over, but Aaron shares the record-breaking funds he was able to raise in support of Chicago’s Boxville Marketplace—as well as helping to review one of the greatest Hammer vampire movies.Also, Ian recommends Scream Factory’s just-released Blu-ray of the film, and invites listeners to check out the latest episode of The Spoiler Room podcast, in which he talks the Kevin Bacon revenge flick Death Sentence with Mark “The Movie Man” Krawczyk!Episode 604 has a lot at stake!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 5:50The Brides of Dracula Trailer: 5:50 - 8:02The Brides of Dracula Discussion: 8:02 57:32Outro Music: 57:32 - 57:48Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie review a film that’s actually premiering exclusively in theatres this weekend (i.e. no On Demand counterpart): Thomas Bezucha’s neo-Western thriller, Let Him Go!Diane Lane and Kevin Costner star in a taut drama about two 1960s Montana ranchers who set out to rescue their grandson from an abusive stepfather. Their journey takes them to dark places where they encounter darker people, and the movie (based on Larry Watson’s 2013 novel) doesn’t flinch from the violence or the discomfort of impossible ethical dilemmas.In this spoilerific conversation, Ian and David untangle the film's challenging timeline; marvel at the tonal tightrope Bezucha walks between touching, insightful family drama and new-century Texas Chainsaw Massacre; and heap praise on Lane's different brand of "Strong Female Character".Also, the guys memorialize the late, great Sean Connery, and Ian invites you to watch the video version of this podcast, as well as join the “What If He Doesn’t Survive” crew LIVE this Sunday night (8:30 CST) for a round table review of the latest chapter in the Mandalorian saga!Episode 603 is a dish best served cold-blooded!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 3:21Let Him Go Trailer: 3:21 - 5:38Let Him Go Discussion: 5:38 - 1:12:44Outro Music: 1:12:44 - 1:12:59Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast concludes its year-long “Reelpolitik” project with a look at Steven Spielberg’s 2012 biopic, Lincoln! Daniel Day-Lewis stars as the embattled sixteenth President of the United States during the weeks preceding his second inauguration, in which he works to abolish slavery and end the Civil War.The parallels to 2020 are numerous. Some are very surprising. Erik Childress of the Movie Madness Podcast joins Ian for a spoilerific exploration of performances, politics, and the “problematic”.Also, Ian recommends the video version of his talk with Erik; reflects on a year of “Reelpolitik”; gives a few much-deserved colleague shout-outs; and offers some Election Day encouragement for those who need it!Episode 602 is socially distanced but emotionally available!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 5:56Lincoln Trailer: 5:56 - 8:07Lincoln Discussion: 8:07 - 1:25:04Outro Music: 1:25:04 - 1:25:19Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and HollywoodChicago.com’s Pat “The Uber Critic” McDonald visit the Land of the Dead for the penultimate episode of “Reelpolitik”!This George Romero flick pits the haves against the have-nots against the brainless, lumbering dead. And though it may seem like just another Bush-era political allegory, it holds up pretty well today—with evergreen themes, and a colorful cast of characters that make it more of an adventure film than a straight-up horror movie.Also, Ian invites you to watch his YouTube-exclusive interview with director Julie Sokolow, whose documentary, Barefoot: The Mark Baumer Story, is now available On Demand. Also, Ian reviews the film, and teases his recent guest appearances on You’ll Probably Agree and 90 Under 90!Episode 601, man, it freaks me out!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 1:54Barefoot: The Mark Baumer Story Review: 1:54 - 7:56Intro Ct’d: 7:56 - 12:08Land of the Dead Trailer: 12:08 - 13:41Land of the Dead Discussion: 13:41 - 1:15:33Outro Music: 1:15:33 - 1:15:49Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, The Kicking the Seat Podcast and Cole Rush of The Quill to Live celebrate 600 episodes with a bonus installment of “Reelpolitik”! Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm dropped on Amazon Prime last weekend, and the guys dig into what makes this a top-notch sequel—and a below-the-belt slice of political propaganda.Also, Ian recommends his latest appearance on the Spoiler Room Podcast (in which he puts a hex on 2005’s Bewitched with Mark “The Movie Man” Krawczyk), and welcomes back Keeping it Reel’s David Fowlie for a wrap-up of the 56th Chicago International Film Festival!Lastly, be sure to subscribe to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel and join us live this Friday night at 7:15pm Central for the final “Scare-a-Thon” livestream of 2020! We’ll close out Scary Season in grand fashion with a sharp-edged review of the entire Saw franchise (benefiting Chicago’s Boxville Marketplace)!Episode 600 is very nice!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:33CIFF 56 Wrap-up with David Fowlie: 2:33 - 33:59Intro Ct’d: 33:59 - 36:41Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Trailer: 36:41 - 39:28Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Discussion: 39:28 - 1:29:38Outro Music: 1:29:38 - 1:29:54Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson hold up a mirror to Ben Wheatley’s new take on Rebecca (now streaming on Netflix). Though marketed as an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s novel, there’s no escaping the fact that the film walks in the footsteps of Alfred Hitchcock’s eerie, Oscar-winning 1940 drama. The guys compare and contrast both films in this spoiler-lite analysis of a remake gone weird. From an oddly sped-up sensibility that runs approximately the same length as the languid original; to the injection of modern-day gender politics that may feel redundant to those who understand subtext; to the unfortunate casting of Lily James in another pseudo-Cinderella story, this is definitely a tale of two (technically three) Rebeccas.Also, Ian reviews the new Frozen short, Once Upon a Snowman, and the Hunter S. Thompson documentary Freak Power: The Ballot or the Bomb—and invites you to check out his YouTube-exclusive interview with Freak Power co-director Ajax Phillips! Speaking of YouTube, you can also watch the video version of this podcast right now!And don’t forget to join Ian and the “Scare-a-Thon” crew LIVE tonight at 7:15pm Central for a look at Lucio Fulci’s A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin!Episode 599 is the third Mrs. De Winter!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:27Once Upon a Snowman Review: 2:27 - 4:34Freak Power: The Ballot or the Bomb Review: 4:34 - 8:09 Intro Ct’d: 8:09 - 10:22Rebecca (2020) Trailer: 10:22 - 12:39Rebecca (1940 and 2020) Discussion: 12:39 - 57:20Outro Music: 57:20 - 57:36Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast welcomes author Ben Beard* to look back on thirty-five years of Fright Night! Tom Holland’s innovative horror/comedy/fantasy centers on a suburban high schooler who discovers that his new neighbor is a vampire. He recruits his friends and a TV horror host to stop the bloodsucking scourge—a task that’s much harder than he’d bargained for!Ian and Ben discuss why Fright Night is much better than they’d remembered it; why Tom Holland is one of horror’s unsung heroes; and how the 2011 remake stacks up.Also, Ian invites you to check out his recent appearances on The Spoiler Room and You’ll Probably Agree podcasts, and shares an exclusive promo code for you to use in purchasing the newly released documentary, Finding Courage (watch Ian’s YouTube-exclusive interview with director Kay Rubacek to find out why this is one of the year’s best films)!Episode 598 doesn’t need hot cocoa—it saw a vampire!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 5:53Fright Night (1985) Trailer: 5:53 - 7:14Fright Night (1985) Discussion: 7:14 - 1:15:44Outro Music: 1:15:44 - 1:16:00*Look for Ian’s interview with Ben about his upcoming book on the history of Southern cinema, The South Never Plays Itself, next month. You can pre-order it now!Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm.com welcome back Crystal Lake Memories author Peter M. Bracke for a “Friday the 40th” look at Jason X! This bizarre Freddy Vs. Jason placeholder is definitely a product of its time, foregoing traditional slasher movie conventions for Scream-style self-awareness, crossed with sci-fi concepts (and Sci-Fi Channel production values).The guys get (semi) serious about what went wrong with the film, which finds Crystal Lake killer Jason Voorhees resurrected nearly five hundred years in the future on a spaceship populated by sarcastic high school science students. No joke.As a bonus, Peter shares some exclusive insights about the making of Scream Factory’s recently released deluxe Blu-ray box set of the entire Friday the 13th series.Also, Ian reviews Cooper Raiff’s brilliant new college dramedy, Shithouse (now available On Demand and playing at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre), and invites you to watch his YouTube-exclusive interview with writer/director/star Cooper Raiff. You can also watch the video version of this Jason X chat on YouTube!Lastly, don’t forget to join Ian and the “Scare-a-Thon” gang on tonight’s YouTube livestream, where they’ll celebrate thirty-five years of Lamberto Bava’s Demons! There’s even a special message from star Geretta Geretta in the intro of this here podcast!Episode 597 sucks on sooooo many levels!Show Guide:Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14Intro: 0:14 - 2:24Shithouse Review: 2:24 - 5:35Intro Ct’d: 5:35 - 7:52Jason X Trailer: 7:52 - 9:42Jason X Review: 9:42 - 1:14:36Outro Music: 1:14:36 - 1::14:52Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, iTunes, Stitcher!