The People Under The Stairs Movie Review (1991)

In this underappreciated Wes Craven classic, Fool, Leroy and Spencer break into the home of the landlords who are forcing Fool and his family out of their home. It is believed that there are gold coins in the landlord's house and while Leroy and Spencer are out for themselves, Fool is hoping to use his cut to help save his home. After Spencer goes missing, Fool and Leroy search for him resulting in Fool becoming locked in the basement and discovering not only Spencer's body but the true horror of the house - people living in the walls and the cellar.

Now, let's get something straight. This isn't Jerry Seinfeld's landlord. No one here is getting upset over a reverse peephole. These landlords are violent, child abusing psychopaths who will stop at nothing to keep their home and secrets under wraps. The brother is a leather wearing, shotgun toting lunatic, while the sister gives off Joan Crawford 'Mommie Dearest' vibes. They wanted the "perfect boy child" and found issues with all of them they ran across, which resulted in the removal of some parts of their bodies and discarding them in the cellar. Now they have a daughter, Alice, who is treated like a prisoner and not allowed to go outside or even really speak.

After being caught, Fool is thrown to the people under the stairs in hopes that they'll kill and eat him. He escapes and finds his way back to Alice and they end up in the crawl space behind the walls before making it to the attic where Fool jumps out the window and runs home. Fool calls the authorities and sends them to the house because he made a promise to Alice. When they don't find anything, Fool takes things into his own hands in an attempt to rescue Alice. In their attempt to find a way out, the people under the stairs escape, giving Alice a chance to stab the sister while those under the stairs attack and finish her off. The final standoff between Fool and the brother ends when Fool blows him up with the dynamite that's around the house.

~TJ