The People Under the Stairs (1991)

My favorite of Wes Craven's films, The People Under the Stairs is quite the rare gem. It is super fun to watch and I guarantee that if I had seen it in 1991 it would have been my favorite movie. There is something to be said about the fact that after watching it for the first time over 20 years later I am impressed.

A young boy from the ghetto breaks into his landlord's large suburban home in hopes of saving his family from eviction but finds that once inside, he cannot escape. The bulk of the plot takes place inside this nightmarish, labyrinth-like house owned by a psychotic couple.

The film is classified as horror but to me the experience is more of a fantasy/adventure although it lightly touches upon some horrifying topics (incest/child abuse). It is full of classic, oddball creepiness (cannibalism/booby traps) but the scenes are goofy and innocent enough to be enjoyed even by children.  The acting is great all around and the roles played by the demented couple (Everett McGill and Wendy Robie) are particularly over-the-top. Sean Whalen has an unforgettable role as well.


"Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil"