What Is Simon Says About?
The premise of Simon Says in 351 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the restless heat of spring break, five college friends set off for what they hope will be a carefree escape by the river. Kate leads the group with a mix of practicality and quiet determination, while Zack supplies the humor that keeps the mood light. Vicky brings a sharp eye for the details that everyone else overlooks, Riff carries the restless energy of a young adventurer, and Ashley adds a carefree spirit that balances the squad. Their journey takes a turn when a wrong fork in the road drops them deeper into a remote, pine‑scented landscape that feels both inviting and oddly isolated.
The campsite they discover seems perfect—a sleepy stretch of water framed by towering trees, the kind of spot that promises late‑night fires and morning swims. Yet the surrounding woods carry a low, humming tension, as if the forest itself remembers stories better left untold. The friends’ easy banter gradually gives way to an undercurrent of unease, amplified by the dimming light and the occasional rustle that hints at unseen eyes. The atmosphere is a blend of rustic charm and creeping suspense, where every crackling fire and distant owl call feels like a reminder that nature can be both nurturing and indifferent.
Hidden among the trees, twin brothers—Simon and Stanley—appear as enigmatic locals with a quiet, unsettling presence. Their brief encounter in a nearby store leaves a lingering impression; their demeanor is cool, their intentions ambiguous, and the twins seem to belong to the land in a way the outsiders do not. As night deepens, the group’s attempt to settle into the wilderness is subtly challenged by the twins’ ambiguous watchfulness, prompting the friends to question how well they truly understand the place they’ve entered.
The film balances the bright optimism of a youthful road trip with a slow‑burning dread that seeps in as the forest’s shadows grow longer. It is a story of friendships tested by an environment that feels both beautiful and foreboding, where the line between adventure and danger blurs, leaving each character to grapple with the unknown that lurks just beyond the campsite’s glow.
What Happens in Simon Says?
The complete story of Simon Says, from the first scene to the last, in 886 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 8 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Five teenagers — Kate,Margo Harshman, Zack,Greg Cipes, Vicky,Carrie Finklea, Riff,Artie Baxter, and Ashley,Kelly Vitz— are on their way to pan for gold during Spring Break when they accidentally take a wrong turn and slip deeper into a landscape full of danger. The group’s sense of adventure quickly sours as they encounter two strange men, Pig Ernie Lively and Garth Bart Johnson, who warn them to head back home, insisting that murders have been reported in the area. Their warning hangs in the air like a warning bell as the teens press on, seeking a store, a campsite, any sign of civilization.
As night begins to fall, four of the teens duck into a nearby store while the fifth keeps watch outside. Inside, they come face to face with two brothers whose names will soon become synonymous with terror: Simon Crispin Glover and Stanley. Simon is curt, seemingly unimpressed by the teens’ requests to buy basic supplies, and his cold demeanor makes the teens uneasy. The tension in the store grows thick, and when the doors close behind them, a chilling unease settles over the group. Outside, a figure in a ghillie suit watches intently, and the quiet forest starts whispering in a language of fear.
While a hidden observer trails Ashley through the woods, the hunter finally reveals himself in a brutal, unforgiving moment: he is Stanley in disguise, and he murders Ashley after realizing she isn’t the dreamlike figure he pursues. The killer’s hands are relentless as he begins to render her into a gruesome, perverse “gift” for his imaginary dream girl, the chilling motive driving his ritualized violence.
Back at the store, Zack returns to find it abandoned and ominously silent, its shelves bearing witness to a stack of bodies hanging from the ceiling—Pig, Garth, and others whose names blur into the macabre. Zack rips newspaper clippings from the corpses, a desperate need to cling to the truth in the face of a grotesque spectacle, and then he flees into the dark, hoping to outrun whatever nightmare stalks them. The night deepens, and the store’s doors remain stubbornly closed to any sign of help. Eventually, Simon arrives again, claiming that Stanley has gone missing, a claim that does little to quell the fear simmering in the teens.
The danger closes in as the group discovers their van’s tires have been punctured, stranding them in a forest that feels increasingly claustrophobic. They resolve to search for Ashley, drawn deeper into the trees by a mix of hope and dread. It is there they uncover more of the horror: a makeshift “doll” assembled from Ashley’s head, hands, and feet, a grotesque testament to the killers’ fixation on control and domination. The sight sends chills through each survivor as they realize they are being watched, and soon the stalker reappears, ready to finish what he started.
In a brutal, devastating sequence, Riff is killed by Stanley while Vicky is slain by Simon, a revelation that jolts Kate into a fierce, survival-driven response. Simon, now driving a truck, stops Kate and offers a twisted version of reassurance, claiming the others are safe in his store. Zack, who had hidden in the truck, makes his presence known, and Kate manages to maneuver into a position of risk and potential escape. As the truck winds toward a derelict campsite, Simon reveals the full-nightmare truth: he and Stanley are the same person, the two brothers having already lived in the area their entire lives and having killed their parents, Quinn and Carrie, to take over the family gas station. The real Stanley lies in a coma somewhere, a foil to the murderous deception that has consumed his brother.
Kate uses a moment of vulnerability to her advantage, drawing Stanley’s attention away and seizing the opportunity to flee during a chaotic struggle. The chase is a brutal clash of wits and grit, with Kate striking back and landing a decisive blow on Simon’s head with a cleaver as she bursts from Zack’s corpse where she had been hiding, only to realize that the killer’s body has vanished into the darkness.
The ending arrives in a jarring flip of fate and fear. A hand reaches out from the darkness as Kate looks down at where the killer should lie, and the screen cuts to black. The film’s final image is left suspended, a reminder of the unpredictable line between life and death.
As the credits approach, the story adds one more unsettling thread: a new group of youths arrives at the same store, asking Simon for directions and noting his peculiar, unsettling behavior. They leave remarking on the strangeness of the place, and Simon follows them with a gaze that is more than a little unsettling. He slips into the back room and opens a trapdoor, revealing Kate bound and waiting, her fate uncertain as the screen goes dark.
Throughout this bleak, tension-filled night, the film keeps a tight focus on the unraveling of trust, the blur between family and monster, and the way violence can be masked by ordinary, everyday settings. The atmosphere is thick with fear and foreboding, and the narrative uses a stark, unflinching lens to explore the dangers that can hide in plain sight, while the characters’ bravery, cunning, and desperation push against a nightmare that refuses to end.
Simon Says Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Teens head off for a Spring Break gold-hunt” to “A new group arrives at the store; trapdoor is opened”. 14 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Teens head off for a Spring Break gold-hunt
Five teens set out for a seemingly fun gold-hunting trip during Spring Break, full of bravado but short on preparation. They take a wrong turn and end up on a remote road, far from any familiar landmarks. The sense of danger begins to creep in as the adventure gives way to the unknown wilderness.
When:Day Where:Road toward remote gold site
- 2
Pig and Garth warn them of danger
Two eerie men, Pig and Garth, pull the teens aside to warn them about murders in the area. They urge the group to turn back and go home, but the teens press on regardless. The ominous warning casts a shadow over the journey ahead.
When:Afternoon Where:Rural road
- 3
In town, Simon and Stanley are encountered
The teens reach a quiet town store and meet the brothers Simon and Stanley, who feel off and unhelpful. Simon refuses to sell anything, and the group leaves the shop frustrated. The uneasy dynamic between the brothers hints at deeper danger in the area.
When:Evening Where:Town store
- 4
Ashley is chased and murdered in the woods
Someone watches the teens from the woods in a ghillie suit before chasing Ashley through the trees. The killer reveals himself as Stanley, who murders her and then taunts that he will make her into a present for a 'dream girl'.
When:Night Where:Woods near campsite
- 5
Zack discovers the store is littered with corpses
After dark, Zack returns to the store to find it closed and filled with bodies hanging from the ceiling. He pulls down newspaper clippings from the bodies and escapes with a racing heart. The grisly discovery confirms the killers are real and dangerous.
When:Night Where:Store interior
- 6
Stanley is missing; group is stranded
Simon arrives claiming Stanley is missing, heightening the teens' paranoia. Zack shows up and persuades Simon to leave, but the group’s van is punctured, leaving them stranded. With no way to call for help, they are cut off from safety.
When:Night Where:Store and road outside
- 7
Forest search reveals Ashley’s gruesome doll
The teens trek into the forest to search for Ashley and stumble upon a horrifying sculpture: Stanley has crafted a doll from Ashley’s head, hands, and feet. Panic and fear mount as they realize the danger is closer than they thought. Stanley silently watches from the trees, savoring their fear.
When:Night Where:Forest near campsite
- 8
Riff and Vicky are killed during the pursuit
In the chaos, Stanley ambushes and kills Riff, while Simon murders Vicky. Kate is briefly intercepted by Simon in his truck, who lies that the others are safe back at the store. Zack hides in the truck bed, listening as Simon crafts a chilling backstory about his family and their hold on the area.
When:Night Where:Forest/truck route
- 9
The convoy heads to an old campsite
Simon drives the group toward an old campsite where two long-decayed bodies sit at a picnic table. He ties Kate to the table and calls for Stanley, who appears in a ghillie suit. The setup tightens the noose around the survivors and signals the next twist.
When:Night Where:Old campsite
- 10
Zack is tortured and revealed as Stanley's foil
In a brutal turn, Simon tortures Zack, who is strapped to a tree and forced to reveal his feelings for Kate. The interrogation exposes the deception surrounding the ghillie-clad Stanley and heightens the sense of danger. The scene deepens the psychological cruelty of the killers.
When:Night Where:Old campsite
Show the other 4 events of Simon Says Hide the last 4 events
- 11
The truth emerges: Simon is also Stanley
It’s revealed that Simon is actually Stanley, having stolen the real Stanley’s identity after their parents’ death while the real Stanley lies in a coma. Kate realizes the extent of the killers’ manipulation and danger. The revelation reframes the entire relationship of the villains and the threat they pose.
When:Night Where:Old campsite
- 12
Kate triggers a distraction and escapes
Kate uses a calculated distraction to lure Simon, creating an opening to slip away. She manages to break free from the campsite’s claustrophobic trap and vanishes into the darkness. The escape sets the stage for a final confrontation.
When:Night Where:Old campsite
- 13
Kate bursts from the remains and kills Simon; the corpse vanishes
Kate bursts from Zack’s charred corpse and delivers a fatal cleaver strike to Simon, killing him. He falls, but his body disappears before her eyes. A pale hand reaches from the ground as the screen cuts to black.
When:Night Where:Old campsite
- 14
A new group arrives at the store; trapdoor is opened
The film cuts to a new group of youths arriving at the store looking for directions, unaware of the horror inside. Simon goes to the back room and opens a trapdoor, revealing Kate tied up with infant twins. The movie ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the threat unresolved.
When:Ending Where:Store/back room
Who Are the Main Characters in Simon Says?
8 characters, among them Kate (Margo Harshman), Zack (Greg Cipes) and Ashley (Kelly Vitz): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- K(
Kate (Margo Harshman)
Played by Margo Harshman
A practical and wary member of the group, Kate stays alert amid escalating danger. She uses quick thinking to keep her friends safe, and she ultimately confronts the antagonist with calculated resolve. Kate shows resilience, resourcefulness, and a protective instinct as she navigates deception and mortality.
- 🧭 Resourceful
- 🎯 Determined
- 🗝️ Cunning
- Z(
Zack (Greg Cipes)
Played by Greg Cipes
Zack is the impulsive, courageous romantic of the group who often acts first and thinks later. He masquerades as Stanley to protect the others, and his loyalty is tested to the extreme. His fate is sealed through brutal torture and a final blaze of violence, marking one of the story’s darker turns.
- 💡 Brave
- 🗡️ Reckless
- 💔 Romantic
- A(
Ashley (Kelly Vitz)
Played by Kelly Vitz
Ashley is curious and in the mix with the group during their Spring Break trek. She becomes a target in the woods, and her disappearance foreshadows the brutal reality of the killer. Her fate underscores the film’s brutal consequences for those who venture into danger.
- 🕊️ Curious
- 🧭 Impulsive
- 💪 Determined
- R(
Riff (Artie Baxter)
Played by Artie Baxter
Riff is one of the group’s more energetic members whose bravado contrasts with the lurking threat. He meets a violent end as the killer closes in, highlighting the fragility of safety in an unfamiliar, hostile environment.
- 🔥 Energetic
- 🗡️ Quick-tempered
- 🧭 Loyal
- V(
Vicky (Carrie Finklea)
Played by Carrie Finklea
Vicky is part of the core teen group and meets a brutal end at the hands of Simon. Her arc emphasizes the sudden turn from camaraderie to catastrophe that defines the film’s tension.
- ⚔️ Sharp
- 🎗️ Protective
- 🧭 Practical
-
Simon / Stanley (Crispin Glover)
Played by Crispin Glover
The central antagonist who manipulates, stalks, and murders with a chilling calm. He secretly inhabits the role of Stanley, and later reveals himself as the impostor who has taken over his brother’s identity after murderous acts. His presence drives the horror, deception, and final confrontation.
- 😈 Charismatic
- 🗡️ Calculating
- 🌀 Double identity
- P(
Pig (Ernie Lively)
Played by Ernie Lively
One of the two ominous figures who warn the teens of danger, his warnings hint at mortality in the area. He and Garth become part of the film’s grim background that foreshadows the violence to come.
- 🪶 Mysterious
- 🧭 Observant
-
Garth (Bart Johnson)
Played by Bart Johnson
The other warning figure whose presence adds to the sense that danger is closer than it appears. His role cycles into the unfolding horror as the truth about the area’s violence becomes clearer.
- 👊 Brash
- 🧭 Suspicious
Where and When Is Simon Says Set?
Simon Says is set in Town, Forest, Gas Station and Old Campsite (Present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present day
The events occur in a contemporary setting during Spring Break, with modern teenage dynamics and casual roadside commerce. The town and its surroundings feel current, grounded in everyday teen life before the horror escalates. The timing emphasizes a false sense of safety before the deadly events unfold.
Where
Town, Forest, Gas Station, Old Campsite
The story unfolds in a rural town and its surrounding woods, with a lone gas station acting as a central hub. Dense trees and isolation heighten the sense of danger as the teens leave the town for a campsite in the forest. The derelict campsite and scattered bodies hint at a long-running, hidden danger in the area.
- 🌆 Small town
- 🌲 Dense forest
- 🏚️ Abandoned gas station
- 🕯️ Remote campsite
What Are the Themes of Simon Says?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Isolation and Deception.
-
01
Identity
The film leans into questions of who people really are beneath surfaces and masks. Simon secretly embodies Stanley, having stolen his brother’s life, which blurs the line between ally and threat. The twins-like deception and impostor dynamics drive much of the suspense and reveal the danger of misreading appearances. The teenage characters must discern truth from trickery to survive.
-
02
Isolation
Set in a remote rural environment, the characters are cut off from help, increasing vulnerability. The forest, empty store, and secluded campsite create an atmosphere where danger can lurk unseen. Isolation amplifies fear as trusted spaces become sites of horror. Escaping the killers becomes a matter of endurance and wits.
-
03
Deception
Deceit drives the plot from the outset, with warnings from Pig and Garth that turn out to mask a deeper threat. The killers' disguises and fake roles complicate loyalty and safety, leading to shocking twists. The characters must navigate layers of manipulation to reach the truth. The ending leaves questions about what happens when deception outlives the moment of revelation.
What Kind of Film Is Simon Says?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A relentless and brutal slasher film that traps its characters in a claustrophobic forest, generating high tension through graphic violence and a deeply unsettling atmosphere of being hunted by a methodical killer.
- claustrophobic
- anxious
- oppressive
- brutal
- unsettling
- gruesome
- survival horror
- psychopathic killer
- stalking
- deception
Content notes: graphic murder, dismemberment, stalking, psychological torment.
Quiz
How well do you remember Simon Says? Test yourself on the story.
