When his landlord threatens to kick his family out on the street, a young boy named Fool lets himself get roped in to a scheme to rob the landlord’s house. Shenanigans ensue when the burglars break in but can’t get out…
Just because I won’t do these little articles on the big Horror franchises, doesn’t mean I won’t praise lesser known works by the creators of them. The People Under The Stairs is a 1991 Horror/Comedy from Wes Craven, the writer and director better known for the Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream franchises. I’ve gotta say, I don’t really see the Comedy part of this one, but that’s what it says under genre.
I’ve heard of this movie, but for some reason I’ve never watched it before deciding to do this review. This movie almost seems more like a modern fairy tale than a straight-up Horror movie. Don’t get me wrong, it’s plenty disturbing, but there are plenty of elements that are just plain surreal. For instance, I really don’t think that the police would just smile and nod at Man and Woman’s explanations, given the sheer volume of gunshots heard in the house throughout the movie. And the giant shotgun blasts in the walls. If anything, the movie really comes across like a really messed up retelling of Hansel and Gretel as much as anything.
Everyone involved brings their A game in this movie, though. It’s Wes Craven, so of course the writing and directing is going to be there. The man was a legend for a reason, after all. Brandon Quintin Adams was great as Fool. I have to say that I was a little unsure going in because child actors can be kind of hit or miss, but he was awesome. Everett McGill and Wendy Robie were also phenomenal as Man and Woman (that’s what their characters are credited as). They were genuinely unsettling as the antagonists. If I had seen this when it first came out, they would have scared the heck out of me!
I’m also glad this came out when it did. As it made over $24 million dollars on a budget of $6 million, no doubt some studio exec would be pushing for a sequel…or two…or three. It didn’t need one, and it works well for what it is. Though apparently Wes Craven was working on a TV series adaptation of it at the time of his death. So there’s that, I guess.
If you’re in the mood for a fun if somewhat flawed little urban fairy tale this Spooky Season, check it out!