Simon Killer (2012)

A recent college graduate flees to Paris after a break-up, where his involvement with a prostitute begins to reveal a potentially dark recent past.

Director:

Antonio Campos

Writers:

Antonio Campos, Antonio Campos (story)

Stars:

Brady Corbet, Mati Diop, Lila Salet

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brady Corbet	...	Simon
Nicolas Ronchi	...	Carlo
Constance Rousseau	...	Marianne
Lila Salet	...	Sophie
Etienne Rotha Moeng	...	Cambodian Man
Yannis Calonnec	...	Street Hustler
Johan Jacques-Andre Coquin	...	Brothel Runner
Mati Diop	...	Victoria / Noura
Shaina	...	Madame
Oksana	...	Hostess Bar Worker
Anais	...	Hostess Bar Worker (as Anaïs)
Catie	...	Hostess Bar Worker
Frederic Jolie	...	Customer
Alexandra Neil	...	Simon's Mom (as Alexandra Neill)
Samir Hartouf	...	Gare du Nord Kid

Storyline

Recently heartbroken, Simon travels to Paris to clear his head. After several days of wandering aimlessly, Simon finds himself drawn into a sex parlor and has a sexual encounter with an exotic prostitute, Victoria. The chemistry builds between the two until they find themselves in a serious relationship, one that leads to blackmail, betrayal and the ultimate revelation of Simon's true nature.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | blackmail | masturbation | male rear nudity | written by director | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The Heart Machine (2014)

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Soundtracks

The Beat and the Pulse
Written by Katie Stelmanis
Performed by Austra
Published by Domino Publishing Company Of America, Inc.
Courtesy of Domino Recording Co. Ltd.

User Reviews

A disturbing and uncomfortable film that is difficult to like

"Simon Killer" is an odd, bleak and deeply unsettling film that I simply could not get to grips with. It tells the story of a young American neuroscience graduate, Simon (Brady Corbet). Simon leaves the United States and goes to Paris in an attempt to get over the somewhat traumatic break-up of a five-year relationship with his girlfriend Michelle (a character who does not appear in the film). There is something not quite right about Simon. He is a bit like Patricia Highsmith's well-known anti-hero Tom Ripley: cold, unfeeling, amoral and emotionally unintelligent. He is also a compulsive liar.

Soon after his arrival in the French capital (where he initially stays with a cousin of his - who is, in fact, not really a relation but a friend of the family), Simon goes into a sex club where he pays for sex with one of the resident prostitutes, Victoria (Mati Diop). As a result of that encounter, he develops a relationship with her and later moves into her small flat. Victoria opens up to Simon and tells him intimate details of her past, including the fact that she miscarried some time ago. Simon is less willing to disclose information about himself to Victoria. Indeed, one of the many problems with the film is that the viewer is given little or no hint as to what actually motivates Simon and why he frequently behaves so oddly. Part of that oddness is his attitude to women, whom he seems to view as nothing more than objects of sexual desire. At the same time, he attempts to blackmail some of Victoria's "customers" in order to finance his stay in Paris. He later meets another attractive young woman, whom he had bumped into earlier in his stay, and begins a brief relationship with her. This understandably upsets Victoria. Things move on from there.

"Simon Killer" is a very unpleasant film. It is full of graphic sex scenes, many of which are quite unnecessary in that they add little or nothing to plot or character development. In addition, Simon is a deeply unsympathetic character. It is left to the viewer to decide why he is like he is. There are hints that he has some sort of Oedipus complex or perhaps a personality disorder (or both). What is clear is that he is an extremely selfish and shallow person who lacks any sort of empathy for other people. Much of the plot has the feel of improvisation about it. And it's really not at all clear what the message of the film is. In addition to all that, I was simply not convinced by the relationship between Simon and Victoria, in particular why, of all her many "customers", she would choose him as someone with whom to have a serious relationship. Although the conclusion of the film is well done, much of what precedes it is ponderous and lethargic and, as a result, extremely boring. The soundtrack, however, is one of the best of any film that I have seen. But when all is said and done, "Simon Killer" is an unsatisfactory film that is difficult to recommend. 5/10

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 April 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Simon Killer

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,054, 7 April 2013

Gross USA:

$27,740

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$27,740

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmHaven Entertainment, BorderLine Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1