The Ruins
written by Scott Smith

A Simple Plan is predominantly a moral tale which deals with issues of greed, the American dream and the nature of good and evil. The main characters are depicted as everyday people who have "normal" values and ambitions, and thus their actions are intended somewhat as a cautionary tale. The value of human life quickly becomes the highest priority perverted by the pursuit of easy wealth, after which all else follows in attempts to hide wrong-doing.