The People Under The Stairs
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Movie Reviews of The People Under The Stairs
Movie Review: "Don't Bruise Her Face...."
Summary: 3 Stars
I have been on a Wes Craven kick here recently. After having re-read the book on his career, I have started to pull out the old tapes I have of some of his films and re-watched them, after reading about them again in the "Screams And Nightmares" book. I originally saw this film when it was released in theaters in 1991, and saw only a few times since then. After re-discovering this film and seeing it for the first time in years and as an adult, I can honestly say that it was a nice surprise. The movie is a lot better and more fun than I remembered. This effort from Craven harkens back to his earlier 70's work like "The Last House On The Left" and "The Hills Have Eyes", mainly because it's a little seedier, darker, and more brutal than other stuff he has done in the 80's and today. Craven also wrote the script and it's a pretty tight and convincing tale he has weaved. The movie centers around a young boy of 13 named Fool(Brandon Adams),who is worried about the financial and living situation of his pverty stricken family who live in the slums in the ghetto. To make matters worse, the family's rent is due and his mother is very ill. To help his family, he agrees to go with his sister's boyfriend(played by Ving Rhames in a very early role),to attempt to rob the very wealthy landlords of the building they live in. The landlords are people who are only referred to as Man(Everett McGill), and Woman(Wendy Robie). Two very creepy and obviously unstable people. Once Fool and Ving are in the house, they quickly learn that once you get in, you aren't getting out. This sets off the real terror and fun of the film. Young Fool is stuck in these people's house of horror that come with booby traps, secret panels, hideaways, torture devices, a killer dog, and some really interesting occupants under the stairs. Who are they and what exactly is their story?. Well, I will let you find out when you see the film. All watched over by the deranged couple who call themselves "Mommy" and "Daddy". A.J. Langer, who plays their daughter was in"My So Called Life" and "Three Sisters". She co-stars in the film as Alice, the unfortunate daughter of the loony couple locked up in the house and mistreated. This may be one of Craven's best and most overlooked films. The world he has created under the roof and within the halls of this house and thr story of the man and woman, is frighteningly real. He makes it seem as if you are in the house yourself running for your life and trying to get out. The details and the photography is so vivid and engrossing, it really makes it one of Wes' biggest audience participation type films. McGill and Robie are a sight to behold. McGill, known for baddie roles in films like "Licence To Kill" and "Under Siege 2", really makes a three dimensional character out of his role of "Man". Same goes with Robie in her role of "Woman". She really makes this lady cold and evil. They are a lot of fun to watch. I also heard rumors years ago that Wendy Robie was actually a man. I never thought much of it, but after seeing the film recently, I can see it. It may not be true, but I heard a rumor. See for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Brandon Adams is also a talented young kid who, like everyone else in the film, makes his character real. He was quite good. The films has a great balanc of dark and peverse humor that fits well. The movie also, and obviously, was hitting on some issues like the big man beating down the little people and the little people taking a stand. As well as how normal looking houses in nice, normal looking neighborhoods can sometimes house the most horiffic things that nobody would ever think. Wes did a really nice job with the characterization with this film, and it is one of the tighest films he has directed. It's not a classic, but it's a lost little film that sets out to do a job and gets the job done.
Movie Review: one of the better Wes Craven films
Summary: 4 Stars
I thought this movie was pretty good...very gruesome...I liked the Dog and the wacked out mom/lady in the movie...I recommend People under The Stairs to anyone who has not yet seen it...an underrated Craven classic !Movie Review: best film ever
Summary: 5 Stars
peope under the stairs has all the right things to make a good filme the story is full of twists with some grate acting by the cast.the action is fast and not over the top like some films.and best of all its a wes craven film.Movie Review: Doesn't age well
Summary: 2 Stars
I thought this movie was made in the 80's when I recently watched it, but low and behold its early 90's (although an arguement can be made that early 90's is still the 80's). Anyway, I rented this a couple nights ago after reading other amazon reviews about how this movie is so terrifying and so on... I'm afraid I can't agree. Now maybe I've just been spoiled with such good horror such as 28 days later and the ring, but this movie did not age well. I think it completely falls apart when the kid goes BACK to the house after escaping to rescue that girl. I found myself saying... "no movie, please end, don't go back to the house! I don't want to sit through another half-hour!" The mom and dad were pretty annoying. The comedy fell on its face most of the time...Movie Review: Classic Cult Horror
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been waiting soooo long for this movie to be released on DVD. This bizarre horror film has a very dark side similiar to Flowers In The Attic but also a comic side. This is one of my all time favorite films.