If you read about Misery, this happened in the same night, so the 2 ladies watched along with me. I was nervous as I have highly recommended this movie to numerous people, but everybody has different tastes, blah blah blah. Speaking of different tastes, when did Chex Mix change the flavor for the Bold party blend? In the 90’s, it tasted different. I know this new taste has been around for a while, but when and why the hell did they alter something so good?
The People Under the Stairs may be the best, least popular Wes Craven flick. I think pound for pound, it holds up with his big movies like The Hills Have Eyes, Last House on the Left, and yes, the original Nightmare on Elm Street. I’m not saying it’s better than all of them, but at least holds it’s own. This is early 90’s horror at it’s finest, and it should be noted, one of the few epic horror movies made from say 90-97ish. Us horror fans didn’t get many good movies during that time. We got Candyman. We got good Stephen King. And I am sure there are a few I am overlooking, but it was a fairly awful stretch for horror. So you got some this tale involving urban characters because that is what the early 90’s was ALL ABOUT. Boyz in the Hood, Menace II Society, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac (He was an awful rapper, decent actor), and so many more. So you have these poor folk, a white dude (Spencer), a black dude (Leeroy) and a black boy (Fool), and they need money to help out the family, don’t wanna lose their home, mom may need an operation, all sorts of shit. So they decide they gonna go for the big hit. This is like Ocean’s 11, minus the star power, and in the hood. As they break in, they realize that things are not right. The family that lives in this house are composed of parents whom I believe had some incestual relationship, and their daughter who lives by stricter rules than Carrie White. Oh, and there are people living under the stairs, through the walls, it’s crazy. The house has so many neat corridors. The house in and of itself may be the lead character. By the way, the boy who played Fool was also in the Might Ducks. If him, Leeroy and Spence had used the flying V, maybe they wouldn’t have had a bad time. The people under the stairs are initially considered spooky, but you find out what truly happened, and then they ain’t so bad.
The dad truly steals the show with his over the top ridiculousness, like he will make you laugh. The mom is also equally ridiculous, but more mean than anything. All in all, a fun movie that I am happy that my mom took me to see. I am not going to over romanticize this movie, but I am giving it a higher mark than most. I am giving it a 7.5 and I feel that maybe I have gotten more out of it than most will, but I have always truly loved this movie. Thank you Wes Craven!
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- Universal Pictures (presents)
- Alive Films
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