A SIMPLE PLAN
An absorbing morality tale about ordinary men gone terribly wrong.
Should You Watch It?
A SIMPLE PLAN is an exceptionally absorbing thriller with performances that give its moral collapse real emotional weight. Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, and Brent Briscoe deliver Oscar-worthy work as three men whose discovery of $4.4 million turns ordinary temptation into deceit, murder, sorrow, and regret.
The film’s warning is clear: dishonesty can get out of control, and people may go to devastating lengths to avoid being caught. But the warning comes wrapped in a bleak world. The characters reject God, and the movie offers no spiritual or moral hope for them, either in this life or the next.
Adults who can handle the content and grim outlook may find this a compelling, worthwhile thriller; families with children or young teens should choose something else. The practical answer: see it only as an adults-only viewing choice.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn a small Minnesota town, responsible husband and expectant father Hank Mitchell discovers a crashed plane in the woods with his slow-witted brother Jacob and Jacob’s drinking buddy Lou. Inside the plane is a dead pilot—and $4.4 million.
Hank wants to turn the money over to authorities, but Jacob and Lou persuade him to hide it until spring. If no one comes looking, they plan to divide the money and leave town. Their simple plan soon becomes anything but simple.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a first-rate thriller, and A SIMPLE PLAN earns the rating through its pace, intrigue, and performances. The movie moves quickly while keeping you wondering what will happen next. Its complicated drama gives the characters’ moral unraveling lasting emotional force.
Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant as Jacob, while Brent Briscoe gives a wonderful performance as the quirky but shrewd Lou. Bill Paxton’s work as Hank may be less noticeable, but it is every bit as good; his performance makes the consequences of Hank’s immoral decisions especially powerful.
The Worldview
A SIMPLE PLAN is a cautionary tale about how dishonesty leads to self-destruction. Its characters are ordinary small-town people who commit murder for money, then lie and cover up their crimes as they try to escape the consequences. The film highlights the theme of getting caught for one’s sins and the lengths people will go to avoid being caught.
The movie’s characters ultimately are strongly pagan. They have clearly rejected God. Three of them attend a funeral where the divine Trinity is mentioned positively, but no change occurs in their actions. The story recognizes the destructive effects of sin, yet offers no spiritual or moral hope for its characters, in this life or the next.
Hank eventually realizes that his lies have not only figuratively murdered everything he ever loved, but have also destroyed his own spirit and joy of living. The film understands that sin devastates the soul, but it does not turn that realization toward redemption. Scripture says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mildly moral worldview with strong pagan elements of average small-town people who commit murder for money; 81 obscenities & 26 profanities plus other crude talk; moderate action violence such as man strangles innocent bystander, man points gun & gets shot, man shoots & kills woman, kidnapper kills policeman, man kills kidnapper, & two implied suicides; no sex; brief frontal nudity of pregnant wife; alcohol use & abuse including drinking while driving; smoking; and, miscellaneous immorality such as lying, covering up murder & other crimes, blackmail, & criticizing someone for not drinking lots of alcohol.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Hank begins with a desire to do what is right but gives in to pressure. Why can a seemingly small compromise become spiritually dangerous?
James 1:14–16 · Proverbs 4:23The men lie and cover up crimes to avoid being caught. How is confessing sin different from merely regretting its consequences?
Proverbs 28:13 · 2 Corinthians 7:10The money promises to rescue the men from their pointless, adrift lives. What kinds of things do people wrongly expect to give them purpose?
Matthew 6:19–21 · Mark 8:36The film offers no spiritual hope for its characters. What hope does the gospel offer to people whose sin has destroyed what they love?
Romans 5:8 · 1 John 1:9The Final Word
A SIMPLE PLAN is a gripping, beautifully acted thriller with a serious warning about dishonesty and self-destruction. Its strong profanity, violence, bleak worldview, and lack of spiritual hope make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. Families seeking another choice can begin here:
