Simon Says (2006)

Director:

William Dear

Writer (WGA):

William Dear (written by)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

You forgot to say..... SIMON SAYS

Plot:

The pothead Zack; the sweethearts Kate and Riff; the slut Vicky; and the spoiled Ashley travel by van to the backwoods to camp...

Plot Keywords:

Twins | Bikini | Impalement | Wilhelm Scream | Split Personality

Cast

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

Directed by
William Dear		(as Bill Dear)

Writing credits (WGA)
William Dear		(written by) (as Bill Dear)

Produced by
Jason Black	....	co-producer
Jason Black	....	line producer
Janelle Harshman	....	associate producer
Ernie Lively	....	producer
Harold Smith	....	associate producer
Vern Sorenson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ludek Drizhal

Cinematography by
Bryan Greenberg

Film Editing by
Chris Conlee

Casting by
Kate Haisch

Production Design by
Oliver Dear

Art Direction by
Zach Bangma

Set Decoration by
Daniel Harshman

Costume Design by
Breanna Price

Makeup Department
Sara Irving	....	key hair stylist
Sara Irving	....	key makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gino Caputi	....	second second assistant director
Oliver Dear	....	second unit director
Colin Michael Kitchens	....	first assistant director
Cliff T.E. Roseman	....	second assistant director (as Cliff Roseman)
Sean Vawter	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jeff Bell	....	art department
Oliver Dear	....	storyboard artist
Daniel Harshman	....	art department team
Mark Kewman	....	art department production assistant
Roland G. Ludlow	....	art department
Kevin Meier	....	art crew: additional photography
Murat Montero	....	property master

Sound Department
Casey A. Fife	....	sound effects editor
Sam C. Lewis	....	adr recordist
Sam C. Lewis	....	foley recordist
Martin Lucas	....	boom operator
Jim Machowski	....	sound mixer
Michael J. McDonald	....	sound mixer (as Michael McDonald)
Michael J. McDonald	....	supervising sound editor (as Michael McDonald)
Paul Morris	....	boom operator
John Sanacore	....	sound recordist
Alex Ullrich	....	foley artist
Brad Whitcanack	....	sound designer (sound designer)

Special Effects by
Michael Broom	....	special effects makeup
Oliver Dear	....	special effects
Ron Karkoska	....	special effects technician
Ron Knyrim	....	special effects: Sota FX
Heather Mages	....	special effects technician
Mark Villalobos	....	special effects: Sota FX

Visual Effects by
Oliver Dear	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Oliver Dear	....	stunts
Billy Hayes	....	stunt performer
Justin Sundquist	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Brett Allen	....	Steadicam operator
Matthew Anconetani	....	electrician
William D. Barber	....	director of photography: second unit
Eric S. Boland	....	best boy electric
Bernard Cistrunk	....	electrician
Marcelo Colacilli	....	gaffer
Scott Donahue	....	electrician
Craig Gleason	....	electrician
Tiffany Laufer	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Frankie Martinez	....	electrician
Lance Oyabu	....	electrician
Ryan Schubert	....	still photographer
Mark A. Shelton	....	gaffer: additional photography
Mark A. Shelton	....	key grip
Michael Ursetta	....	electrician
Bradford Whitaker	....	best boy electric
Jeremy Wong	....	additional photographer
Jeremy Wong	....	second assistant camera

Editorial Department
Shawn J. Arteaga	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Gary DeVoe	....	transportation captain
Aaron Lee Lopez	....	transportation
John Proctor	....	transportation coordinator
Terence Smith	....	driver
Terrence Smith	....	driver co-captain

Other crew
Karuna Eberl	....	production coordinator
Sandy Fleck	....	script supervisor
Russell Geltman	....	production assistant
Kate Haisch	....	assistant to producer
Daniel Harshman	....	production assistant
Billy Hayes	....	key set production assistant
Billy Hayes	....	van captain
Erica Headley	....	script supervisor
Mark Kewman	....	production assistant
Jen Kleiner	....	assistant production coordinator
Aaron Lee Lopez	....	production assistant
Michael Moragne	....	production assistant
Angela Rule	....	office production assistant
Ryan Schubert	....	epk director
Yovel Schwartz	....	production coordinator
Jenny Siff	....	script supervisor: second unit

Thanks
Daniel Gruen	....	special thanks
Carrie LeBlanc	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Dark Moon Pictures (as DarkMoon Pictures) (presents)
• Blue Cactus Pictures (in association with)
• Simon Says Productions

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Barnholtz Entertainment
• Cinemax (2008) (Hungary) (TV)
• Creative Axa Co. Ltd. (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Geneon Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Peacock Films (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• VVS Films (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Zeno Pictures (2008) (Belgium) (all media)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore, drug use, language and brief sexuality/nudity

Runtime:

USA:87 min | Greece:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Germany:18 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA (2009) | USA:R | UK:15 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Grass Valley, California, USA

Company:

Dark Moon Pictures

Trivia:

Harold Smith is credited as Harold 'Smitty' Smith in the beginning credits, and as Harold Smith in the end credits.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Stanley is shot with the paint balls, they first hit him just above his waist, then, later in the film they are higher up his chest.

Movie Connections:

References Back to the Future (1985)

Soundtrack:

I Died in a Mall

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.

See this if you like: Sleepaway Camp 2, Crispin Glover, The Greenskeeper.