1. Plot Summary (Spoiler-Light)
A group of five friends — Kate, Zack, Vicky, Riff, and Ashley — set out for a camping trip / prospecting holiday near a river during Spring Break.
On the way, they make wrong turns, stop in small creepy places, are warned by locals, and eventually find themselves at a remote store/gas station where they meet two strange brothers: Simon and Stanley.
Things go quickly from odd to deadly: traps in the woods, escalating violence, and murders. The teens are hunted in brutal fashion by Simon / Stanley, where the nature of their identities becomes part of the mystery. The rule “Simon says” takes on a literal and deadly meaning.
Without giving away every twist, the film builds to a final confrontation, with survival in question, deception involved, and a dark, somewhat ambiguous ending.
2. Notable Elements
a. Crispin Glover’s Dual Role
One of the film’s stronger points is Glover playing multiple characters (Simon and Stanley, essentially twins, or at least with split personalities) — he brings eccentric energy, creepy mannerisms, and unpredictable behavior which elevate many of the scenes.
b. Death Scenes / Gore / Traps
The movie leans heavily into creative kill sequences, with booby-traps, flying pickaxes, dismemberment, etc. These are over the top, sometimes absurd, but for fans of splatter / slasher horror, that’s part of the appeal.
c. Tone & Pacing
The first half is somewhat cliché-heavy: stereotypical teens, the “wrong turn / remote woods” set-ups, the warnings from locals. It takes a while to get to the meat of the horror. But once things escalate, the pacing picks up. The “rules” of Simon / Stanley’s game also bring tension as the teens have to figure out how to act (or how not to act) to survive.
d. Atmosphere & Setting
Woods, river, remote campsites, creepy village/shop, isolated routes — the usual slasher settings. They’re not especially novel, but used efficiently for horror. Lighting, sound, and darkness are leveraged to build suspense and surprise. Some of the set design and effects suffer from budget limits but largely do the job.
3. Themes & Messages
- “Obey or Die” / Control: The “Simon says” motif (from the children’s game) twisted into literal murderous commands underlines themes of obedience, authority, and control. The idea that following or not following instructions can mean life or death.
- Identity / Duality: The twin / split personality twist explores how outward appearance and reputation may hide psychological damage. It raises questions about what is real vs. performed in someone’s behavior.
- Survival, Mistakes & Foolishness: As is common in slasher films, poor decisions (ignoring warnings, venturing into unknown territory, splitting up) come back to haunt the characters. The film leans into the trope that “if only they had done X differently” but often that’s part of the horror formula.
- Stereotypes of Youth: The teens are archetypal: pothead, flirt, etc. Their interactions are strained under pressure; loyalty, fear, betrayal are in play. The film doesn’t deeply interrogate youth culture, but uses its stereotypes as a way to deliver horror.
It doesn’t have big philosophical messages, rather it’s more about the spectacle, fear, and horror mechanics, with the twist and identity adds some psychological edge.
4. Personal Impressions
Strengths:
- Crispin Glover is a standout — his creepy presence helps carry scenes and makes the antagonists more than just generic killers.
- The creative death scenes and traps are fun (in a gruesome way). For horror fans who enjoy “gore for gore’s sake,” there’s plenty here.
- The kills and effects, especially in the second half, deliver more than many low-budget slashers that spare on gore.
- The atmosphere of isolation and weird locals works well; you feel the danger creeping in when the group is cut off.
Weaknesses:
- The characters are thin; little backstory or emotional development. That means empathy is limited; when they die, we don’t always feel much.
- The first act is slow / cliched — the “teens in woods” setup has been done many times. The warnings from locals, the stop at creepy stores, etc. don’t feel especially fresh.
- Some effects are cheesy; budget constraints show in lighting, some CGI or trick effects. Might pull you out of immersion.
- The twist (Simon/Stanley identity) is predictable if you’re familiar with horror formulas. Also the final resolution feels abrupt and maybe not entirely satisfying.
Overall, I think it works well if you go in expecting a B-movie slasher: not something deep, but something with fun scares and gruesome kills.
5. Audience Recommendations
You’ll especially enjoy Simon Says if you like:
- Classic slasher/horror with heavy gore and traps.
- Movies where the antagonist is unusual / has a twist (dual identity, creepy twins, etc.).
- Low-budget / B-movie horror where creative kills matter more than plot coherence.
- Horror comedy (“so bad it’s good”) or campy vibes; people who enjoy schlocky horror with intentional absurdity will get the most out of it.
If you prefer:
- strong character development
- subtle horror or psychological horror without overt gore
- originality in setting and story
- a polished, cinematic look
…this might feel disappointing.
6. Conclusions and Rating
Final Thoughts:
Simon Says doesn’t aim to redefine horror, but it does what it sets out to do with more enthusiasm than many of its peers. The kills are inventive, the antagonist(s) weird in a compelling way, and Crispin Glover is a horror asset. It’s not deep, and it’s not subtle. But for slasher fans who like their horror loud, bloody, and with a twist, it’s an enjoyable ride.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ to ★★★☆☆ (2.5 / 5)
