Kicking the Seat

Our "Bond & Determined" series emerges from deep cover for a 60th anniversary review of Thunderball! Sean Connery's fourth big-screen outing as the MI6 super-spy finds James Bond tracking down stolen nuclear warheads while dodging SPECTRE's second-in-command! Packed with gutsy gals, groovy gadgets, and gorgeous underwater cinematography, this decades-old adventure outshines just about anything at the multiplex today.In this spoilerific episode, Ian and Jeff look at how Thunderball fits into the Bond legacy; the ways in which the character comes into his own four movies in; and whether or not the franchise should have a future--and what that might entail!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Thunderball (1965) trailer.You can pick up Thunderball, and 5 other Connery Bond titles, recently remastered in 4K from Warner Bros!Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at: The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists!Spy on our other "Bond & Determined" episodes in our series playlist!

This month, "Accademia Giallo" cranks it up to "11" with a roundtable review of Murder-Rock: Dancing Death!In Lucio Fulci's mid-80s thriller, the owner of a prestigious New York ballet school teams up with a male model to solve a series of bizarre student murders. Does this gonzo 80's experiment stack up to Fulci's earlier, more buttoned-up work?Join us for a bloody-good, spoilerific jam session and find out! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats, and pay tribute to a very special long-time fan of the show!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Murder-Rock (1984) trailer.As mentioned in the show, you can catch up with our recent "Credito Extra" episode, in which Ian interviews Guido and Lucas Henkel--the father/son powerhouse behind the Celluloid Dreams home video label! Support all of our terrifying teachers' axe-tracurricular activities!Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!And subscribe to his YouTube channel!If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley! And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!Stalk Bryan Martinez in The Giallo Room!Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).Catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!Continue your education with our "Accademia Giallo" Playlist!

The outer boundaries of Hammerland are in sight, but no daring escape would be complete without a blown tire at the worst possible moment; that blown tire is the 1956 Quatermass knock-off X The Unknown! Co-directors Leslie Norman and Joseph Losey bring us a tale of slow-moving space slime that terrorizes a Scottish military base. Only an American scientist and his Atomic Energy Agency liaison stand in the way of face-melting global dominance.While not a homerun like some of the other films discussed in this series, there's a good deal to like in X The Unknown--a fact that Ian gradually learns in real time, thanks to a handful of post-viewing insights and trivia provided by the ever-patient AC! Join us for a look at "The Blob before The Blob"!Note: As mentioned in the video, this review was recorded in late May--almost exactly a month ago. After several weeks of nail-biting computer drama, I realized the video footage had not, in fact, been eaten. I recovered the conversation and am ecstatic to share it with you. Enjoy!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the X The Unknown (1956) trailer.Read AC's written review of The Phantom of the Opera at Horror 101 with Dr. AC!Order AC's books on essential and obscure horror movies, Horror 101 and Hidden Horror!Subscribe to AC's YouTube channel, Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Grab only what you can carry as we "Escape from Hammerland"! Hitch a ride with our entire 2024 series in the "Return to Hammerland" Playlist!It's not too late to catch up with our 2023 trip “Beyond Hammerland”!Check out 2022's year-long journey, "Son of Hammerland"!And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"

In 1972, Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris pierced the cinema landscape with its gritty and unrelenting portrayal of animalistic sex, grief, and urban malaise.Marlon Brando stars as Paul, a recent middle-aged widower who meets 20-year-old Jeanne (Maria Schneider) while looking for an apartment. The two decide to shack up for three hedonistic days, blocking out the sad concerns of the world outside. The result is a portrait of mutual and self-destruction, helmed by a director so bent on "authenticity" that he permitted an actual assault to take place on his set.This year, co-writer/director Jessica Palud brought us Being Maria, a biopic about Schneider and the aftermath of Last Tango's scandalous shoot/release, with Matt Dillon and Anamaria Vartolomei turning in commendable interpretations of the film's iconic actors.In today's episode, Ian and David examine both films and walk through the various reasons neither come close to being as memorable (or, frankly, as good) as they ought to be--outside the sensationalism inherent in the infamous "butter" scene. They also look at critic Pauline Kael's 1972 New Yorker review and how it brushes right up against contemporary social mores.Show LinksWatch the Being Maria (2025) trailer.Being Maria is now available On Demand and on Blu-ray, courtesy of Kino Lorber.Keep up with all of David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.As mentioned in the show, you can read critic Pauline Kael's 1972 review of Last Tango in Paris.Plus! Listen to Ian and David's other recent (and very raucous) reviews of:The Unholy Trinity (2025) A Real Pain (2025)Rebel Ridge (2024)Duchess (2024)The Old Oak (2024)What Remains (2024)

Dreamworks has entered the "live action remake" arena with How to Train Your Dragon, and Earth's Mightiest Critics have a take or two on the déjà vu!Dean DeBlois returns with an update of the 2010 animated hit, which he co-directed with Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, The Wild Robot). He's riding solo this time and, depending on who you ask, the "new" version is either so faithful that it puts Disney's recent live-action efforts in their place--or renders the whole experience "toothless"!This week's EMC panel promises fire-breathing spectacle nonpareil, as our animated animation fans present both POV's with gusto!Join us for a look at the good, the bad and the repetitive. We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the How to Train Your Dragon (2010) trailer.Watch the How to Train Your Dragon (2025) trailer.Bonus! Catch the "Target Audience's" take on the new How to Train Your Dragon film, with Ian and Luke's latest review!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".

Forget comic book movies and video game adaptations: low-budget Westerns are charging over the pop culture horizon!Today, Ian and David look at Richard Gray's The Unholy Trinity, starring Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brandon Lessard. Unlike many of the Saban Films the guys have reviewed in the past, this one is actually out in theatres--and one of your two intrepid hosts heartily recommends it!Yes, this twisty tale of multi-pronged revenge, found family, and buried gold is either a standard-issue I-guess-we-can-shoot-here cash grab, or it's an above-average adventure with witty dialogue, unexpectedly fun developments, and a main cast that does far more than sleepwalk across the plains!Notice, we said "main cast".In this spoiler-lite episode, Ian and David talk about the perils of casting modern young actors in period parts--along with how The Unholy Trinity stumbles as much as it strides, and whether you should rush out to the theater or wait 'til it hits home (on the range)!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the The Unholy Trinity (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian and Luke return with a high-flying review of Dreamworks' live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake!The Simmons family caught a sneak peak of the new film earlier this week (in IMAX, no less!) and are here to share their thoughts on how it stacks up to the 2010 animated movie--and how someone who's never seen the original, or its sequels, is affected by this action-packed period fantasy (one of your two hosts is brand new to the series)!So cozy up by the (dragon-lit) fire and enjoy this spoiler-free review!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the How to Train Your Dragon (2025) trailer.Catch up with all of Ian and Luke's reviews in our "Target Audience" Playlist!

2025 is shaping up to be the Year of Stephen King, with three films and one TV series adaptations of his work on offer for rabid fans. This week, Earth's Mightiest Critics look at Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck, a very different kind of King movie--inspired by a very different kind of King short story!Chuck Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) is an accountant whose imminent retirement is advertised on billboards all over town. Most residents are too busy worrying about rampant Internet outages, colossal natural disasters, and mysterious sinkholes to notice. But soon, Chuck's likeness becomes impossible to escape. How does this relate to dancing? And why are people calling this bizarre, end-of-the-world scenario an uplifting film?The answers are as tricky as The Life of Chuck's asynchronous structure. Join us for a spoilerific look at one of 2025's best films--and one of the most faithful book-to-screen adaptations you'll ever see!We also take your questions, comments and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the The Life of Chuck (2025) trailer: https://youtu.be/jlN1Mmj6YNo?si=ptNf5atSYVjxMs-Q Read Ian's The Life of Chuck written review: https://kickseat.com/written-review/the-life-of-chuck-2025 Flashback to our February livestream about The Monkey (which we'll definitely talk about in this show!): https://youtube.com/live/T-oD7FMNJ00 As mentioned in the show, reframe your movie brain with the Mindframes podcast, hosted by Dave Canfield and Mike Cockerill: https://mindframesfilm.com/ And subscribe to Dave's new Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher": https://open.substack.com/pub/creaturefeaturepreacher/p/come-hear-the-confessions-of-a-creature?r=5q7lkx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Oddly enough, this week's Spoiler Room Podcast centered on The Giant Spider Invasion--which is also the subject of Dave's latest Substack piece! Coincidence? Or part of a grand plan?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHe9onCjVjYSupport all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

It's time for another "Credito Extra" edition of Accademia Giallo, as Ian welcomes Guido and Lucas Henkel, the father/son powerhouse behind the phenomenal new indie genre label, Celluloid Dreams!In this episode, the Henkels talk about the origins of their boutique home video company, and offer insights into just what it takes when you're determined to do it all, to exacting standards. From securing rights to 4K restoration; from choosing which films are "Dreams-worthy" to figuring out physical extras and bonus features--you'll learn a little bit of everything in an episode centered around the guys' latest release, Aldo Lado's 1971 head trip, Short Night of Glass Dolls!Celluloid Dreams' new 4-disc 4K UHD Short Night of Glass Dolls set is now available!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971) trailer.Take a refresher course on our Short Night of Glass Dolls roundtable from 2023!Support all of our terrifying teachers' axe-tracurricular activities!Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!And subscribe to his YouTube channel!If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley! And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!Stalk Bryan Martinez in The Giallo Room!Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).Catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!Continue your education with our "Accademia Giallo" Playlist!

The Class of '95 graduates this week with a look at one of that year's most memorable cult hits--and biggest flops: Empire Records!Allan Moyle's bewildering follow-up to his generational anthem, Pump up the Volume, tracks a day in the life of several record store employees whose love lives and futures are as questionable as their tastes in music. Featuring a cast packed with soon-to-be-famous young actors, the offbeat comedy is known more for its memes (yes, this is where "Rex Manning Day" comes from) than its overall quality.Is it still a flannel-draped cringe-fest, three decades on? Or does Empire Records (whose soundtrack famously sold more than the film it promoted) deserve some respect?Join us as we damn the Man, save the Empire, and take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Empire Records (1995) trailer.Here are the Empire Records deleted scenes mentioned in the show.And here's the full video for Rex Manning's "Say No More Mon Amour"!Check out our other "Class of '95" episodes!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

IndieSeen welcomes Steve Martini and Gabriela Kulaif from the indie comedy, BitterSweet!In February, Ian and Sujewa reviewed the film, which centers on an autistic man named Sam (writer/director/star Martini), whose life spins out of control following a domestic misunderstanding involving the cops. Gabriela produced the film and stars as Sam's wife, Gigi.Join us for a special live edition of IndieSeen, as Steve and Gabriel talk about the genesis and filming of Bittersweet; just how closely this screwball, city-spanning comedy is "based on true events", and next week's limited theatrical engagement at LA's Laemmle Theaters--where you can participate in live Q&A events!We'll also take your questions, comments and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Bittersweet trailer.Info on theaters, tickets, and times for the upcoming Laemmle Theaters BitterSweet events can be found here.Follow BitterSweet on Instagram to keep up with the latest updates!Watch Ian and Sujewa's review of BitterSweet.Catch up with last month's episode, which featured a review of Woody Allen's Stardust Memories and some initial thoughts on Cannes!Subscribe to Raphael's smash hit podcast Inside the Arthouse with Greg Laemmle!As mentioned in the show, Raphael will next appear in the HBO Max series, Task! Watch the trailer here!Support Sujewa's new film project, 53 Spaceships, the latest adventure of Cosmic Disco Detective Rene!Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life! Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube! Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).Follow Sujewa on X.Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

Just when you thought it was safe to write off another killer-shark movie--here comes Sean Byrne's Dangerous Animals to mangle your expectations!Friendly Australian tourist boat operator Bruce Tucker (Jai Courtney) loves taking young couples on shark-feeding tours in the heart of the ocean--only trouble is, he feeds his customers to the sharks! Enter Zephyr, a free-spirited surfer played by Hassie Harrison. After being kidnapped by Tucker, she must fight her way out of the bowels of his vessel before he can turn her into chum.In this spoilerific (you've been warned) panel discussion, Ian, Cati, and David heap praise on Byrne's thriller--while also talking about some of the off-putting character dynamics that almost (ahem) sunk the story for one of them.They also talk about Jai Courtney's stunning transformation into a real actor and lament the state of movie trailers--with Dangerous Animals being Exhibit A!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Dangerous Animals (2025) trailer: (don't watch it until after you've seen the movie--trust us!).As mentioned in the show, the EMC also reviewed another new horror movie, Bring Her Back! Watch that discussion here.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian and Luke are back with a look at one of the summer's most surprising movies--in more ways than one! If you've seen the trailers and marketing materials for Karate Kid Legends, you probably think you know what this legacy sequel is about. You'd be mostly wrong.In this spoiler-lite mini-review, the guys talk about the film's strengths, its (mildly) scary part, and why it gets a "corner thumb" recommendation from Luke! Plus: Learn about the latest step in Luke's own martial arts journey!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Karate Kid Legends (2025) trailer.Catch up with all of Ian and Luke's reviews in our "Target Audience" Playlist!

Horror wunderkinds Danny and Michael Philippou are back with Bring Her Back--a follow-up to their 2023 cult hit, Talk to Me!While not a sequel, the new film delves into similar realms of demonic possession, busted family dynamics, and body horror-as-adolescence metaphor. Billy Barratt and Sora Wong star as Andy and Piper, siblings who are placed in a new foster home following the sudden death of their father.Their new guardian, Laura (Sally Hawkins), is doting but odd, and has an odd relationship with a mute child named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) whom she is also looking after. It's not long before weird things begin happening around the house, and Andy and Piper must uncover the dark mysteries surrounding Laura and Oliver before it's too late!Do the Philippous catch lightning in a bottle twice, or is Bring Her Back destined to be another entry on Hollywood's storied "Sophomore Slump" list?Join Earth's Mightiest Critics for a spoilerific summoning of cerebral, cinema-celebrating speakers! We also take your questions, comments and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Bring Her Back (2025) trailer.Flashback! Watch Ian and Cati review 2023's Talk to Me! Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian, Sujewa, and Jeff welcome back actor/filmmaker Raphael Sbarge for a look at two huge recent showbiz events: the release of A24's hit comedy, Friendship (starring Raphael, Paul Rudd, and Tim Robinson), and the recently wrapped Cannes Film Festival!First up, Raphael talks about how he got involved with Andrew DeYoung's insightful, disturbing, and laugh-out-loud debut film--and what it was like making the movie. The guys also talk about the history of A24 as a genre powerhouse, and the potential turning point Friendship represents.Next, our esteemed guest gives viewers an inside look at what it's like to attend the Cannes Film Festival for the first (and hopefully not last) time. From the rigorous, whirlwind schedule to red carpets and multi-million-dollar accessories to the secret coin of the cocktail party realm--this gossip-free-yet-delicious inside scoop will put you right in the thick of the glamorous hustle and bustle!Plus: Sujewa talks about the launch of his 53 Spaceships GoFundMe (back it via the link below!) and we get a sneak peek at two of Raphael's upcoming projects--a short film called Loving Day, and the Palme d'Or-nominated History of Sound, directed by Oliver Hermanus and co-starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Friendship (2025) trailer.Watch Earth's Mightiest Critics' live roundtable review of Friendship: Catch up with last month's episode, which featured a review of Woody Allen's Stardust Memories and some initial thoughts on Cannes!Subscribe to Raphael's smash hit podcast Inside the Arthouse with Greg Laemmle!As mentioned in the show, Raphael will next appear in the HBO Max series, Task! Watch the trailer here!Support Sujewa's new film project, 53 Spaceships, the latest adventure of Cosmic Disco Detective Rene!Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life! Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube! Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).Follow Sujewa on X.Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

We continue our look back on the "Class of '95" with a roundtable review of Kevin Smith's sophomore effort, Mallrats!This "day in the life" (of a mall) comedy centers on recently dumped romantic, TS (Jeremy London) and his annoying best friend, Brodie (Jason Lee). While navigating choppy relationship waters, they must also contend with a cast of weirdos and malcontents; TS's ex's overbearing dad (Michael Rooker); and the filming of New Jersey's lamest gameshow.Mallrats was a big flop for Smith and Universal, who had banked on the writer/director's indie sensation, Clerks. Despite bad press and empty theaters (and Smith's public apology for the movie on a late-night talk show), Mallrats has developed a cult following over the last three decades, and is worthy of reappraisal. Join us for a stink-palmin', opinion-slingin' good time! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Mallrats (1995) trailer.Check out our other "Class of '95" episodes!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian welcomes back writer/actor/filmmaker Jeremy Eden to Kicking the Seat for a look at his latest work-in-progress, Hello Apocalypse!This sci-fi/horror/rockumentary follows Talon St. Lee, the wild front-man for the once marginally popular rock group Marilyn's Dress. He decides to reunite his band after a 10-year hiatus, whether they want to or not! But even Talon's out-of-control antics, drinking, and womanizing are nothing once the global threat of an alien invasion interrupts the tour and hits them head-on.Jeremy recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to help complete the movie, and in today's episode the guys talk candidly (and hilariously) about the ins and outs of making indie films and Jeremy's journey in bringing this maniacal mash-up to life!We also take your questions and comments! Normally, I'd shill for SuperChats here, but if you feel moved to donate, please contribute to the Hello Apocalypse campaign here!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebook

You've never seen Earth's Mightiest Critics really upset--but that all changes with our Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning roundtable review!In fairness, some of our super savvy cineastes enjoyed Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise's curtain call for globe-trotting do-gooder Ethan Hunt. But for others, this over-long, overstuffed race against the AI clock was a little too self-serious (and dare we say, "messianic") to serve as a worthy capstone to one of the great action-adventure series.Join us for a spoilerific, self-destructing deconstruction of the mega franchise's alleged last gasp! We also take your questions, comments and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Schools around the country are letting out for the year, and in our new miniseries, "Class of '95", Earth's Mightiest Critics look back on seminal teen flicks from the year Ian graduated high school--and, yes, they had movies back then!We kick things off with the Queen Bee, Amy Heckerling's "mall-sterpiece", Clueless! Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, a bubbly, fashion-obsessed student whose days are as aimless as her notebooks are empty. But complications with friends and strange feelings for her bookish older stepbrother, Josh (Paul Rudd), force Cher to grow up and stop being so, well, y'know...Join us for a totally bitchin' look back at one of the biggest and most influential comedies of the 1990s!We also reminisce about the good ol' days while answering your questions, comments, and SuperChats! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Clueless (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian talks with writer/director Richard Bakewell and producer/star Anthony Michael Hall about their new sci-fi drama, Roswell Delirium!Set in an alternate 1988, the film stars Ashton Solecki as Firefly, a troubled woman who was left physically and psychologically scarred by an alien abuction in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. Her therapist, Dr. Baskin (Hall) guides her through a web of dreams and memories in search of clues as to what happened to her--and to her mother (Arielle Bodenhausen), who disappeared following a similar otherworldly experience.In this brief interview, Bakewell and Hall talk about crafting parallels between 1980s Cold War paranoia and the pandemic mania that would grip the world decades later; how therapy helped Hall prepare for his role; and the twist of fate that led Bakewell to film Jeff Bezos's recent Blue Origin mission!Roswell Delirium is now available On Demand and on DVD.Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Roswell Delirium trailer.

Tenacious D once proclaimed that "Friendship is rare". That's doubly true of Friendship, A24's hilariously uncomfortable new comedy from writer/director Andrew DeYoung!Tim Robinson stars as Craig, a bored suburban dad who befriends Austin (Paul Rudd), the carefree, charismatic local weatherman who's just moved in down the street. The two make fast friends, but their bromance soon flames out as Craig's feeble attempts at being cool prove disastrous. The neighborliness soon turns nightmarish as Friendship spirals into a black hole of insecurities, workplace incidents, and more property damage than a low-tier Marvel movie!Join us as we bond over the bonkers badness of would-be besties! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Friendship (2025) trailer.As mentioned in the show, this Sunday we'll kick off our "Class of '95" miniseries with a look back at Clueless! Join us live at 3pm CST.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian and Sujewa have never been to the Cannes Film Festival, but that won't stop them from bringing it to you (sorta)!This month, the guys look at the latest news from the South of France, featuring the buzz around Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague, which dramatizes the making of Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless; and speculate as to why festival darling Jim Jarmusch's new movie was totally shut out of Cannes!Then they take a bumpy trip down Stardust Memories lane, to look at one of Woody Allen's sharpest, most surreal, and eerily contemporary comedies--centering on a neurotic filmmaker who must wrestle with loves both lost and lingering while navigating a weekend retrospective of his work.Join us as we talk snubs, spoilers, and a sneak peek at our next episode--which will be a star-studded Cannes-tinuation of the discussion you're about to hear!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Stardust Memories (1980) trailer.Watch the trailer for Richard Linklater's Cannes sensation, Nouvelle Vague.Watch Ian and Sujewa talk Breathless on a previous installment of "IndieSeen"!Bonus! Read Ian's archive interview with Nouvelle Vague star Zooey Deutch!Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life! Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube! Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).Follow Sujewa on X.Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

Earth's Mightiest Critics come alive with a 40th-anniversary review of Stuart Gordon's horror/comedy classic, Re-Animator!Based on H.P. Lovecraft's short story, the film stars Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, a weaselly med student whose single-minded focus on conquering death leads to disastrous consequences. His new roommate, Dan (Bruce Abbott), and Dan's girlfriend, Megan (Barbara Crampton), get swept up in a madcap nightmare of undead cats, lecherous faculty, and a glowing green serum whose effects are as unpredictable as they are grotesque!Join us for a grave-robbin' gush-fest in which we talk spoilers, sequels, and celebrity encounters-- AND take your questions, comments and SuperChats! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Re-Animator (1985) trailer.Check out Ignite Films' new 4K UHD release of Re-Animator, available in several different collectible editions!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Join Earth's Mightiest Critics in witnessing the middle of the end of the MCU: Yes, we're talking Thunderbolts*!Marvel's answer to DC's Suicide Squad kicked off the summer blockbuster season last weekend. And if this gray, introspective, pseudo-artsy take on superheroics is any indication, moviegoers will be trading in their collectible popcorn buckets for pill box organizers!In the film, a cast of cast-offs from other MCU movies and TV shows must band together to stop a willpower-gobbling threat that has emerged from a top-secret research lab--while also coming to grips with deep-seated trauma and not strangling their teammates!Join us for a spoilerific look at enemies, empathy, and that eyebrow-raising asterisk! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Thunderbolts* (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Earth's Mightiest Critics left the house to see Until Dawn...so you don't have to.Join us for a spoilerific roundtable review of a film best described as "Groundhog Day meets...every other direct-to-video horror movie you've ever turned off."We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Until Dawn (2025) trailer. Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

IndieSeen sells out! This month, Ian and Sujewa welcome Jeff York for a spirited discussion of Adrian Lyne's blockbuster relationship drama, Indecent Proposal.This (very loose) adaptation of Jack Engelhard's novel centers on David (Woody Harrelson) and Diana (Demi Moore), a young married couple who, after loosing their meager savings in Las Vegas, are presented with a life-changing offer from billionaire John Gage (Robert Redford): $1 million to spend the night with Diana. The encounter and its after-effects may have split the narrative right down the middle--but it united audiences in making Indecent Proposal one of the highest-grossing films of 1993.In this spoilerific episode, the guys examine the movie in a few different contexts: as a comparison to the source material; as an awkward attempt to fit Lyne's film into the trendy "erotic thriller" niche; and as a bungled telling of what could have been (in more thoughtful hands) a challenging and dare-we-say-"sexy" head-trip for the ages.They also talk bad casting; Indecent Proposal's unfortunate connection to The Brutalist; and the recently announced news that Redford's Sundance Film Festival is vacating Park City, Utah, after nearly 40 years!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Indecent Proposal (1993) trailer.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life! Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube! Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).Follow Sujewa on X.Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

We're long overdue for a mailbag, so let's dive in together (while also celebrating a certain subscriber milestone)Join me for a look at the best, the worst, and the ugliest comments I've received since late January! I also respond to your real-time questions, feedback, and SuperChats in the chat!If you'd like to see your comment read and responded to in this or a future "Don't Read the Comments" video, simply...leave a comment on YouTube, kickseat.com, Facebook, or Twitch!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebook

Ryan Coogler has made believers out of Earth's Mightiest Critics!Sinners is the best film of 2025 so far, and continues a hard-charging streak of smart, game-changing genre pictures that could make this one of the best movie years in decades.(Jinx!)Michael B. Jordan stars as twin criminals Smoke and Stack Moore, who return to Mississippi after seven years building their ill-gotten fortunes in Chicago. They enlist several local acquaintances, including their young Christian guitarist cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), to help them open a juke joint at the edge of town. All goes to plan, until three mysterious strangers ask to join in the fun--and don't take kindly to being turned away.If you don't know anything else about Sinners, please, please, please avoid trailers, spoilers, word-of-mouth--anything that might give away the heart (dare we say, the meat) of the film.Just go see it (in IMAX, if you can) right away!Then join us for a spoilerific celebration of the movie many of us have been waiting for.We'll also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Sinners (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

As Pat says in today's episode, it's not a Good Friday, it's a Great Friday--which is fitting, as the guys review The Greatest Story Ever Told!George Stevens' epic adaptation of the life of Christ turns 60 this year, and it holds up as one of the most sprawling and "cinematic" tellings ever committed to film!In the latest installment of "There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia", Ian and Pat talk about the film's spotty Biblical accuracy and undeniable visual poetry; the wild cast of characters (including Max von Sydow as Jesus, Telly Savalas as Pontius Pilate, and John Wayne's infamous quarter-million-dollar cameo as a Roman soldier); and Hollywood's "Jesus curse"!You'll also learn about the film's different versions--and which one to seek out for the best possible viewing experience!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Greatest Story Ever Told trailer.Keep up with Pat at HollywoodChicago.com.Listen to Pat's movie reviews on the radio at STAR 96.7.

The Amateur is a hilarious new comedy about a CIA analyst whose world is turned upside down when he finds out the Agency isn't trustworthy!Or did Earth's Mightiest Critics read the latest Rami Malek vehicle totally wrong?Join us for secrets, spoilers, and your SuperChats (plus regular ol' comments and questions)!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Amateur (2025) trailer.Bonus! Listen to Ian's vintage interview with The Amateur star Rachel Brosnahan!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian and Armond return with a look at Steven Spielberg's first (and wildly underappreciated) theatrical film, The Sugarland Express!Based on a true story, the movie follows Clovis and Lou Jean Poplin (William Atherton and Goldie Hawn), a couple of married Texas convicts whose young son has been taken away by the court. Their kidnapping of a highway patrolman named Maxwell Slide (Michael Sacks) sparks a state-wide police chase--and more wrecked cop cars than The Blues Brothers!In this spoilerific retrospective, the guys look at this unique bright spot in the careers of both Spielberg and Atherton (who would become known primarily for playing smarmy villains in classics like Ghostbusters and Die Hard), and how The Sugarland Express fits in with the storied history of the American "road picture"!Plus: Get a sneak peek of their next review!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Sugarland Express (1974) trailer.Bonus! For a preview of our next episode with Armond, read his January writeup on Day of the Locust in the National Review.Can't get enough Armond White? Check out our "Movies with Armond" Playlist!Order the book that inspired these regular movie chats: Armond's Make Spielberg Great Again.

Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza's Warfare is now in theatres, and we can't recommend it enough! Based on first-person accounts of a 2006 attack on US Navy SEALs in Iraq, the film offers a harrowing, on-the-ground look at modern combat.In this spoilerific review, Ian and Cati dive into what makes this a standout among the war-picture genre--and share their experience of having front-row seats to the Chicago premiere, with the co-directors and star Will Poulter in attendance!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Warfare (2025) trailer.As mentioned in the review, you can catch the full Q&A from last month's Music Box Theatre special screening, featuring co-directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, and star Will Poulter!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

A Minecraft Movie is high-gloss, empty-calorie, IP garbage...right?Not so fast, ya zombies!Join Earth's Mightiest Critics as we build a case for the year's biggest box office sensation--directed by the guy who brought you Napoleon Dynamite!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the A Minecraft Movie (2025) trailer.Bonus! Check out Ian and Luke's "Target Audience" review of the movie!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Ian and Luke enter a world of swords, zombies, and cube-shaped chickens!Yes, it's time for a "Target Audience" review of A Minecraft Movie! Can fans (and non-fans) of the video game enjoy Warner Bros' big-screen adaptation? How does Minecraft stack up to other recent console-to-silver-screen releases? And what about those freaky McDonald's Grown-up Happy Meal toys?Join us for this mildly spoilerific mini-review, and find out! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the A Minecraft Movie (2025) trailer.Catch up with all of Ian and Luke's reviews in our "Target Audience" Playlist!

It's April. It's Accademia Giallo. It's your fearsome faculty getting downright foolish!This month we're talking about The Editor, Adam Brooks and Matthew Kennedy's stalker send-up, in which a film editor gets wrapped up in a series of murders! Join us for a presentation on parodying the perilous! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Editor (2014) trailer.Support all of our terrifying teachers' axe-tracurricular activities!Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!And subscribe to his YouTube channel!If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley! And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!Stalk Bryan Martinez in The Giallo Room!Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).Catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!Continue your education with our "Accademia Giallo" Playlist!

If you've seen Drew Hancock's Companion, you know that explaining it to those who haven't seen it is nearly impossible--which is why Earth's Mightiest Critics are assigning you homework for this livestream! The late-January release is still playing in some theaters (Go, go, go!), but you can also rent/buy it On Demand. It tells the story of Iris (Sophie Thatcher), a young-and-in-love young woman who's accompanying her boyfriend, Josh (Jack Quaid), on a weekend getaway with his friends at a remote luxury cabin.Yep, that's all we can tell you, besides:Don't watch the trailer.Don't look up the synopsis.Don't look at the movie poster or any streaming/physical media cover art.But definitely do watch the movie and then join us for a complete breakdown of one of the year's sharpest, surprising, and downright relevant films!We'll escort you down a spoilerific path of twists, turns, and totally messed-up ideas! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Companion (2025) trailer.Companion is now available on 4K from Warner Bros.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

This month, Ian and Sujewa look back on a truly remarkable indie gem from 2011: Lynn Shelton's three-character dramedy, Your Sister's Sister!Mark Duplass stars as Jack, an aimless Seattle-ite who's still grieving a year after his brother's death. His best friend, Iris (Emily Blunt), offers him the use of her family's remote cabin for a week, to relax, reflect, and plan to get his life back on track. Little do either of them know that Iris's older sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) has also decided to stay at the house, following a nasty breakup. During a comedically tumultuous week, the trio will uncover secrets, shatter illusions, and make decisions that will affect them for decades to come.In this spoilerific review, the guys lament the loss of the earnest relationship indie; pay tribute to the stars' distinct approach to delivering realistic performances, in service of Shelton's keen direction and sharp screenplay (minus a few spotty contrivances); and dig into some interpretations of where the story might go, following a harsh cut to black. Plus: Stick around to learn how Sujewa approaches learning about new film gear, in preparation for shooting his films!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Your Sister's Sister (2011) trailer.Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life! Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube! Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).Follow Sujewa on X.Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

Earth's Mightiest Critics emerge from the mines of pop culture controversy to deliver a detailed look at Snow White!And because this is a special "Here We Go Again" episode, we'll see how Marc Webb's 2025 film compares to Disney's foundational 1937 animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!In the new movie, Rachel Zegler stars as Snow White, whose kingdom was transformed by the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) from an "apples for everyone" utopia into a capitalist hellscape of brute-strength tax enforcement.(Yes, you read that right).The would-be princess leads a proletariat revolution of banished thieves, magical animals, and the formerly eponymous dwarfs to reclaim the land. There is also shoehorned singing, a magic mirror, and an "eeeww-do-we- have-to?" romance with not-a-Prince (Andrew Burnap).Is this the most audacious and revisionist of the so-called "live-action" Disney remakes? If so, is that necessarily a bad thing? Perspectives are as varied as the hand-drawn raindrops in the '37 cartoon--and we'll tackle as many of them as possible.Join us for a grumpy, dopey, (but never sleepy) spoilerific review that's guaranteed to be the fairest of them all! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) trailer.Watch the Snow White (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Amd make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

After two years on various shelves, Elijah Bynum's Magazine Dreams is finally in theaters.Why did it take so long for the critically acclaimed festival darling to reach the mainstream silver screen? Well, you may have heard of its (former rising) star, Jonathan Majors, and the legal troubles stemming from assault and stalking charges.But Kicking the Seat believes in "separating the art from the artist", and we're here today to review a film in which Majors stars as a mentally unstable bodybuilder who...stalks and assaults people.So much for objectivity, eh?In this spoilerific discussion, Ian and David break down the handful of positives, and delve into the far-too-numerous stumbling blocks that led to a split recommendation. They also review the timeline of Magazine Dreams's troubled release and explore critics' ability to truly compartmentalize real-world events when watching movies!Subscribe, like, and comment to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel, and check out kickseat.com for multiple movie podcasts each week!Show LinksWatch the Magazine Dreams (2025) trailer.Read David Fowlie's Magazine Dreams review and follow his film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Plus! Listen to Ian and David's other recent (and very raucous) reviews of:A Real Pain (2025)Rebel Ridge (2024)Duchess (2024)The Old Oak (2024)What Remains (2024)

Is escaping from Hammerland a good idea? Ian and AC are starting to wonder, as they take a look at Terence Fisher's lavish 1962 period piece, The Phantom of the Opera!Herbert Lom stars as the titular mystery man who lives beneath a prestigious opera house, plotting revenge against the ne'er do well composer who stole his life's work (Michael Gough).In today's spoilerific discussion, the guys dig into this surprisingly modern take on a film that had the unenviable task of following two iconic predecessors--and whose heightened production design and drama offered moviegoers more than just a rehash!So why isn't this Phantom more fondly remembered? And how can it be so...bad...yet so impactful?Yes, this episode is a veritable landmine of Ian and AC's tripping over the numerous story problems while simultaneously praising Fisher and company's brilliant overall presentation!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Phantom of the Opera (1962) trailer.Read AC's written review of The Phantom of the Opera at Horror 101 with Dr. AC!Order AC's books on essential and obscure horror movies, Horror 101 and Hidden Horror!Subscribe to AC's YouTube channel, Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Grab only what you can carry as we "Escape from Hammerland"! Hitch a ride with our entire 2024 series in the "Return to Hammerland" Playlist!It's not too late to catch up with our 2023 trip “Beyond Hammerland”!Check out 2022's year-long journey, "Son of Hammerland"!And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"

Earth's Mightiest Critics get deep in their feels with Novocaine!Jack Quaid stars as Nate, an assistant credit union manager with a rare medical condition that prevents him from feeling pain. He's geeky, isolated, and extremely cautious--until one day he goes on a date with free-spirited co-worker Sherry (Amber Midthunder). Their connection is instant; their romance undeniable. Unfortunately, the next day is Christmas Eve, and a gang of gun-toting Santa suit-wearing criminals busts in and takes Sherry hostage. Nate throws caution to the wind, embarking on a citywide chase to stop the bad guys and save the girl.The trailers make Novocaine look like a fun but predictable action comedy, but there's a lot more going on here than bloody gags and quips.Join us for a spoilerific look at one of the best, most surprising films of the year so far! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Novocaine trailer.Watch Ian and Pat McDonald's review of Harry and Walter Go to New York (mentioned in the show).Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Bong Joon Ho's Mickey 17 may be a dystopian sci-fi dramedy about cloning, but the assessment of Earth's Mightiest Critics is one-of-a-kind!Robert Pattinson stars as the eponymous, disposable space worker who's tasked with dangerous grunt work aboard a deep-space colonial vessel. When the craft lands on a planet suitable for starting civilization anew, Mickey 17 (the latest iteration of a down-on-his-luck Jerseyite named Mickey Barnes) discovers that they're not the only lifeforms on the icy desolate rock--and that he's not the only "Mickey" aboard the ship! The film has a solid cast; is sourced from a popular novel (Edward Ashton's Mickey 7); and is adapted/helmed by the Oscar-winning director of Parasite--so why did it stumble at the weekend box office?Join us for a spoiler-filled look at the movie, its rocky production, and the sad state of "topical" sci-fi. Ian and Cati also talk about the filmmakers' denial that Mark Ruffalo plays a Trump-like figure, prove that civil discourse isn't dead, and provide an extended preview of next week's Novocaine livestream (mark your calendars for Wednesday the 19th at 8pm CST)! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Note: On play-back we discovered some sound distortion on Ian's mic at the 2:30 mark--which lasted for about 3 minutes. Fortunately, it cleared up after that. Apologies for the disruption!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Mickey 17 trailer.As mentioned in the show, here's a ScreenRant article detailing the differences between Bong Joon Ho's film and Edward Ashton's novel.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Ian talks with director Brian Skiba about his latest film, Guns of Redemption!Casper Van Dien stars as Luke, a post-Civil War-era drifter looking to escape his past in a small town. He befriends a preacher (Sean Astin) and runs afoul of a traveling con man named Bork (Jeff Fahey), whose caravan of booze and games also contains several captive women whom he pimps out to the locals. Following a tragedy, Luke teams up with several of the prisoners to take down Bork and his men--in a modern indie mash-up of Unforgiven and Mad Max: Fury Road.In this brief interview, Brian Skiba talks about building an authentic Western world in the modern era; working with Casper Van Dien in this surprisingly gritty role; and pulling off one of the coolest shots you're likely to see in any movie this year!Guns of Redemption is now available On Demand!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Guns of Redemption trailer.

The Oscars may be over, but we're keeping the party going with a live roundtable review of Amadeus--which racked up a symphony of statues 40 years ago!In Milos Forman's adaptation of Peter Shaffer's play, F. Murray Abraham plays Italian composer Antonio Salieri, whose dreams of musical immortality are shattered when he encounters child prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). The film opens with Salieri in an asylum, confessing to a priest that he'd killed Mozart years earlier--and much of Amadeus takes us behind the scenes of their tumultuous relationship.This was a first-time watch for Ian and, as you'll soon see, Amadeus is another one of those "They Should've Just Stopped Making Movies After This Movie" movies. But what do the rest of the EMC think? Join us as we compose ourselves while talking spoilers and taking your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Amadeus trailer.Warner Bros recently released a 4K UHD of the Amadeus theatrical cut, available wherever you pick up movies.Watch F. Murray Abraham's moving (and brief!) "Best Actor" acceptance speech at the 1985 Oscars (mentioned in the show).Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Earth's Mightiest Critics don't toy around--even when reviewing Osgood Perkins' The Monkey!In this (very loose) adaptation of a short story from Stephen King's Skeleton Crew collection, Theo James plays twin brothers Hall and Bill, who, as children, discovered a cursed monkey toy in a closet. When winding the gold key in its back, the spooky little novelty beats its drum...and someone dies! Decades later, after having rid themselves of the evil thing, the monkey shows up to resume its reign of terror!In what is sure to be one of the podcast's more animated episodes (one critic calls The Monkey a "year's best", another "one of the worst in years"), the gang will get into Perkins' success at bringing the short story to the big screen; the pitfalls of horror/comedy; and how this stacks up to other King adaptations!Join us as we get wound up talking spoilers and taking your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Monkey trailer.Cati filmed Osgood Perkins' recent Q&A at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre, following a sneak preview of The Monkey. Check it out! Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Ian and Mark look back on 20 years of Francis Lawrence's Constantine!At the pre-dawn of our modern comic-book movie era, Warner Bros commissioned a $100 million adaptation of the cult DC Vertigo series, John Constantine: Hellblazer, featuring a sarcastic, chain-smoking British antihero who stalks the rainy streets of London contending with the supernatural.The resulting film stars a fully Americanized Keanu Reeves fighting the forces of darkness in L.A., accompanied by his spunky chauffeur, Shia LaBeouf. In 2005, lifelong Hellblazer fan Ian was unimpressed and mildly offended. Two decades on, his opinion of the film is markedly different--as is Mark's!Join us for this wide-ranging, spoilerific review, which also looks at the comics, the short-lived NBC reboot starring Matt Ryan, and the recent news of a possible Constantine sequel--which may find Reeves once again lighting up in that dapper black trenchcoat!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Constantine trailer.You can pick up the all-new 4K Ultra HD edition of Constantine from Warner Bros.Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

Earth's Mightiest Critics return to kick off the year-long deluge of comic-book movies with a look at Captain America: Brave New World!Anthony Mackie returns as Sam Wilson, with a newly minted mantle and a global conspiracy to put down. Can he stop the shadowy figure pitting the United States against Japan for control of a mysterious cosmic resource? Can he keep President "Thunderbolt" Ross (Harrison Ford) from losing his temper and turning into the Red Hulk? And just how badly did the handful of reshoots hamper this film's ability to tell a story worthy of the Cap brand?Join us for super-charged spoiler talk and find out! We'll also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow Links Watch the Captain America: Brave New World trailer.As mentioned in the show, Cati filmed Osgood Perkins' recent Q&A at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre, following a sneak preview of The Monkey (which we reviewed here)! Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

This month, the Accademia Giallo faculty gets hitched (and stitched) with the matrimonial mayhem of Mario Bava's Hatchet for the Honeymoon!The 1970 thriller centers on a cleaver-wielding bridal designer who murders various young brides-to-be in an attempt to unlock a repressed childhood trauma.Join us for a stalk down the aisle and a spoilerific trip down memory lane! We'll also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats! Valentine's Day may be over, but the Honeymoon has just begun!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Hatchet for the Honeymoon trailer.Support all of our terrifying teachers' axe-tracurricular activities!Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!And subscribe to his YouTube channel!If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley! And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!Stalk Bryan Martinez in The Giallo Room!Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).Catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!Continue your education with our "Accademia Giallo" Playlist!

Ian and Pat celebrate Valentine's Day with a candy-coated love-in for Chandler Levack's 2022 coming-of-age comedy, I Like Movies!Set in 2003,* the film stars Isaiah Lehtinen as Lawrence, a celluloid-obsessed high school student living in Canada, who dreams of studying film at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He and his only friend, Matt (Perry Hynes White), make low-budget movies and spend their Saturday Nights watching Saturday Night Live. When Lawrence gets a job at the local video store to save for college, he meets a group of misfit adults--including "cool boss" Alana (Romina D'Ugo), on whom he inevitably develops a crush. This coincides with a series of personal tragedies that force Lawrence into a world he can neither reckon with nor rewind.In today's spoiler-lite review, the guys dig deep into Levack's phenomenally insightful and painstakingly authentic coming-of-age movie, which borrows from her own youth yet manages to capture the universal awkwardness, isolation, and small triumphs of teen-boydom.They also veer into Levack's uncanny ability to draw strong female characters in ways that utterly shame the mainstream cliche; tout I Like Movies's similarity to Adam Rehmeier's Dinner in America; and pull each other back from the Inception-like spiral of some of the film's deceptively simple creative choices!*Ian mistakenly said the movie took place in 2002, but according to the Internet, Punch-Drunk Love didn't hit home video until June of the following year (Paul Thomas Anderson's drama figures heavily in I Like Movies).Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the I Like Movies trailer.Read Ian's written review of I Like Movies at Kicking the Seat!Check out Ian's recent interview with the cast and filmmaker of Dinner in America (mentioned in the show)!Keep up with Pat at HollywoodChicago.com.Listen to Pat's movie reviews on the radio at STAR 96.7.

Earth's Mightiest Critics are in love with love--and with creatively cut-up body parts (only in the movies, ya freaks)!This week's romantic round table review centers on Heart Eyes, Josh Ruben's holiday-themed horror movie about...well, a serial killer whose mask has glowing heart eyes on it! Join us for a sweet and spoilerific dissection of the latest big-screen slasher!We also talk spoilers and take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Heart Eyes trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian and Sujewa are back with a look at Steve Martini's indie comedy, Bittersweet!The film premieres this Friday at Regal Gallery Place as part of the DC Independent Film Forum Collection, and centers on an Autistic dad named Sam (Martini) who, through a series of wild events, finds himself embroiled in a nightmarish custody battle. Bittersweet also stars William Baldwin as a sleazy divorce attorney/men's rights activist, who delivers a speech comparable to his brother Alec's "Coffee is for Closers" diatribe from Glengarry Glen Ross!In this spoiler-lite discussion, the guys dig into Bittersweet's questionable handling of Autism; its strengths as an independent film (comparable in many ways to Vivian Kerr's Scrap); and the age-old debate of an artist's responsibility to their audience--and vice versa!Plus: Stick around for tips on indie filmmaking using prosumer cameras; Sujewa's anecdote about meeting William Baldwin in the airport; and the birth of "Z-roll"!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Bittersweet trailer.If you're in the Washington, DC area this Friday, you can celebrate Valentine's Day with Steve Martini and members of the Bittersweet cast/crew! They'll be on hand for a Q&A following the 8:30pm screening at Regal Gallery Place, as part of the DC Independent Film Forum Collection. Tickets and more info here!Revisit our "Most Interesting Indies of 2024" conversation.Read the post that inspired this conversation! Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube! Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).Follow Sujewa on X.Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!