Simon Says (2006)

Director:

William Dear

Writer:

William Dear (writer)

Release Date:

2007 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

You forgot to say..... SIMON SAYS

Plot:

Five college friends choose to spend their vacation debauching at the riverside. They find the perfect place to camp out...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Crispin Glover	...	Simon / Stanley
Margo Harshman	...	Kate
Greg Cipes	...	Zack
Carrie Finklea	...	Vicky
Kelly Vitz	...	Ashley
Artie Baxter	...	Riff
Lori Lively	...	Lani
Bruce Glover	...	Sam
Erica Hubbard	...	Sommer
Blake Lively	...	Jenny
Daniella Monet	...	Sarah
Bart Johnson	...	Garth
Kelly Blatz	...	Will
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chad Cunningham	...	Young Stanley
Chris Cunningham	...	Young Simon
Oliver Dear	...	Hitchhiker
Adam Johnson	...	Chavez
Brad Johnson	...	Quinn
Leila Johnson	...	Molly
Ernie Lively	...	Pig
Robyn Lively	...	Leanne
Max Moody	...	Shag
Michael Moody	...	Buzz
Dean Shelton	...	Joey
Harold Smith	...	Sty
Tofu	...	Reggie B

Runtime:

Greece:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Grass Valley, California, USA

Company:

Simon Says Productions

Movie Connections:

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Simon says . . . . this does improve after a poor start.

As Simon Says begins you have plenty to give you cause for concern. First of all, many of the cast members seem to be plucked from the producer's family (just see how many people named Lively are involved)) and then, secondly, we are thrown in with the usual group of stereotypical teens: the jock, the stoner, the prude, the "slutty" girl and one well-balanced, average female. The third thing to get your spidey sense tingling is the bad acting, proudly displayed from the opening scenes onwards and peaking in an almost laughable flashback scene.

And then Crispin Glover appears and the movie begins to redeem itself a little. Glover twitches and wildly overacts almost every time he's on screen but he does so with such gusto that you can't really dislike him for it (and I'm sure that his fans will love it if they can stand the surrounding movie). It's miles away from his wonderful performance in the remake of Willard but it's just as entertaining for totally different reasons.

Not long after Glover's initial appearance comes the movie's other saving grace, some enjoyably daffy death scenes complete with over the top gore. Neither the deaths themselves nor the great effects are the best you will see but they are fun for fans and, commendably, manage not to look TOO fake most of the time (although the "death by joint" scene does look very fake but is too funny to properly criticise).

As I am reviewing the movie I guess I should take the time to mention the slight plot. It's all about murderous twins, Simon and Stanley, played by Glover and just serves to let us know that everyone on screen is about to be put in jeopardy sooner or later. It's passable enough, attempting the odd twist here and there while never straying too far from the level of "dumb no-brainer" and I've certainly seen worse in the slasher subgenre.

Top things off with a surprisingly good, and deliciously dark, ending and you have a film that actually claws it's way from an ignominious beginning to become watchable fun.