The People Under The Stairs
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Movie Reviews of The People Under The Stairs
Movie Review: The People Under the Stairs Review from The Massie Twins
Summary: 3 Stars
Wes Craven's The People Under the Stairs presents a unique idea for a horror film, but isn't quite able to pull it off. Phenomenal acting by the damnable ghetto owners and an unlikely 13-year-old hero add to the singularity, but the repetitious hunting through the walls of the prison-like house of horrors and the lack of victims makes the film more of an adventure than nail-biting horror. It's a fun little film, but not nearly ambitious enough to rank amongst the best of Craven's works.
13-year-old Poindexter (Brandon Adams), nicknamed "Fool" by his friends, is looking for an uncomplicated way to help his family pay for rent and his mother's operation. When older accomplice Leroy (Ving Rhames) and his buddy Spenser hatch a plan to rob the house of the seldom seen family that owns the entire ghetto area where they all reside, Fool is in for more than he bargained.
Dressed in electrician's garb, Spenser manages to con his way into the mysterious home of "Mom" and "Dad" to look around. But when he doesn't come back, Leroy and Fool break in - only to discover that the sadistic parents have stored away dozens of zombie-like tortured captives in their enormous basement. Battling Prince, the ravenous guard dog, the shotgun-toting Dad and the knife-wielding Mom proves to be the horror of a lifetime as Fool and a young prisoner girl named Alice struggle to escape the fortress of fright.
The highlights of the film are Everett McGill and Wendy Robie who embody the terrifying Mom and Dad with such over-the-top depravity that audiences can't help but laugh and shiver. Dad parades around in bondage gear yelling up a storm, claims to serve a greater good, and allows little Alice to live provided she stays mute and blind to the atrocities around her. In his attempt to nab the perfect boy child, he keeps the lobotomized rejects locked away in the basement - but one has escaped, and now clambers through the crumbling walls of the house, aiding Fool and Alice in their plight. Mom is equally crazy, intent on killing anyone who sets foot in the house, and making sure the doorknobs are electrified, metal shutters are sealed, windows are barred and deadly booby-traps are in place.
The People Under the Stairs is a combination of a grand escape adventure and a slasher flick; there are moments of bloody violence, but ultimately Craven has chosen to stick with suspense and mystery to keep the viewer glued to the edge of the seat. Although much of the film is too exaggerated and over-the-top to be scary, the suspense garnered from helpless children trying to elude armed adults is undeniably effective (think of Misery, in which James Caan is reduced to a defenseless nature). It may not stand out as the best of Wes Craven's body of horror films, but it's grown on audiences over the years - enough to coerce Hollywood into making a sequel, tentatively set for 2010.
- Mike Massie
Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 4 Stars
This was a great movie that brought back old memories. I just wish this came in Full Screen. The widescreen format kinda takes away from the flick but it is a great add to any movie collection. Movie Review: My favorite movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this movie back in 1997 when I was in 5th grade visiting a friend. I didnt get to see the whole movie at the time, but I couldnt forget it from then on. One day, I remembered the name of it and looked through my mom's VHS video buying guide (before the internet) and found it! I was so happy! I have now seen the movie multiple times and even own a DVD version. This is one of my most favorite movies! Movie Review: Classic Wes Craven flick
Summary: 5 Stars
Wes Craven has had quite an odd career when you really break down his filmography. He's made so many classics, but he can also be very uneven and make some very weak movies. At times it seems Wes Craven is very hit or miss from one movie to the next. But his status as an Icon of the horror genre is very deserved for all he has done for horror movies. And in my opinion The People Under the Stairs is one of Craven's best of his career.
It took Wes a long time before he broke the big time while Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes are seen as classics; they weren't mainstream when first released. It wasn't until 1984 with A Nightmare on Elm Street when he really had big success and after that it seemed he was hit or miss. Bad deals and studio politics did play a part in that, but here everything that makes Wes Craven great is presented in this movie.
I love the idea of the backwoods killers only not set in the backwoods The People Under the Stairs is set in an average neighborhood over-looking the ghetto. This isn't a straight up horror movie it's also a comedy and even in some bizarre way a twisted fairy tale. While this isn't my favorite Craven movie hands down in my top 3 of his movies. Despite the comedy the movie is sort of creepy at times. And even in the comedic scenes that is also what elevates to being creepy.
While a movie like The People Under the Stairs isn't the most realistic something like this is sort of possible. Craven apparently got the idea from reading a newspaper about a couple of people who kept their children locked up and never allowed to leave the house. And how many times how we heard about a person or in this case a couple who were seemingly normal that did these terrible things behind closed doors? So in that regard this movie is sort of possible, but of course it plays out differently in cinema.
The script was written by Wes Craven and it was excellent; the characters are great even the ones with lesser screen time are well written for and his villains are great. Craven is a good writer for the most part the only problem that can be seen is some of his dialogue is dated based on certain words he uses, but I always thought Craven had a really good grasp on his characters when writing and I loved what he did here. He took a basic concept we've seen done so many times since the 60s and put a nice spin on the idea.
As director Craven creates a great deal of suspense and tension and was able to mix the comedy in and not ruin the atmosphere of his movie, which often happens when a filmmaker tries to mix the two together. More often than not it breaks up the tension. A lot of the running time takes place inside a house and to Craven's credit he manages to always keep it interesting and never lets the pace slag at all. He creates a great nightmarish world with some excellent suspense and tension and again with some good touches of comedy that work very well in the movie.
The cast is excellent and is filled with many known actors, while some of them you may not know by name, but you know by face. The acting is very solid. Some are serious and some a bit campy, it's tough in this kinda flick. Too serious might hurt, but too campy can as well, but the actors all are excellent and play their roles perfectly.
Brandon Adams delivers an excellent performance as Fool, normally I dislike kids in horror movies I can actually count on one hand how many horror films with a child was in the lead that I felt worked. And Brandon Adams is one of those kids that is the exception. He delivers a solid performance and was quite likeable as well in the role of the young hero trapped in the house and trying to stay alive.
The villains were played by Everett McGill credited only as Man and Wendy Robie credited only as Woman. Both actors are brilliant. They manage to be both really creepy and really funny at the same time and never once does it not work. They are a little silly at times and over the top, but it's very believable. I think the fact at times they're kinda funny and over the top only add to their creepiness. I really loved both performances and they both help really elevate this movie so much.
A.J. Langer in I believe her first feature film is excellent as Alice. She's quite sympathetic and really provides a top notch performance and Ving Rhames delivers a fun performance as Leroy. Kelly Jo Minter best know to horror fans from A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child gives a solid performance as Ruby and Bill Cobbs is solid in the small role of Grandpa Booker. But it's Sean Whalen as Roach who simply steals the show.
What I love about The People Under the Stairs is that there is actually a lot of social commentary and not just some horror flick. It deals with child abuse, racism and how the poor are treated in the United States. There really is a lot more happening than you might think. Some of this might be lost on some viewers, but The People Under the Stairs is a much smarter horror movie than its given credit for.
While The People Under the Stairs is a popular flick in Craven's career I also feel it's quite often over-looked. I rarely give 5-stars, even movies I love and consider all time favorites I often give 4-stars. But I really think this movie is deserving of the 5-star treatment. It's a little creepy, a little funny and a strong social message delivered. The People Under the Stairs is Wes Craven at his best.
Movie Review: The People Under The Stairs
Summary: 5 Stars
If you like horror ,thriller, or scary movies then this one's a good one for you.Do you like to see crooks eventually get the revenge they deserve? Do you like to see innocent captives eventually get their freedom again? If you do then you should like this one too.