The People Under the Stairs

Name: The People Under the Stairs
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Comedy
Released: November 1, 1991
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 57
Cast: A.J. Langer, Bill Cobbs, Brandon Quintin Adams, Conni Marie Brazelton, Everett McGill

1991

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

United International Pictures (UIP) | Release Date: November 1, 1991 | R

Starring: A.J. Langer, Bill Cobbs, Brandon Quintin Adams, Conni Marie Brazelton, Everett McGill, Jeremy Roberts, Kelly Jo Minter, Sean Whalen, Ving Rhames, Wendy Robie

Summary: Two adults and a juvenile break into a house occupied by a brother and sister and their stolen children. There, they must fight for their lives.

Director: Wes Craven

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas

A terrifically effective scare show, a virtuoso work of cinematic terror incorporating superior cinematography and production design -- and, most important of all, comic relief. [04 Nov 1991, p.F6]

Noel Murray

It’s that intuitive fusion of whiplash-inducing plot twists and political anger that makes The People Under The Stairs so fascinating, even when the humor’s too blunt or the scares too soft. Read full review

Empire S. C. Davis

This movie-movie gem scores on levels few horror films ever have. Not just a disturbing ride but also a hard-hitting political statement. Read full review

Cleaver Patterson

Though it may not be one of Craven’s very best efforts, it does create a sense of tension seldom felt in horror cinema. Read full review

Vincent Canby

Though the new movie has its share of blood and gore, it is mostly creepy and, considering the bizarre circumstances, surprisingly funny. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Craven aims for an archetypal confrontation between childlike innocence and wicked step- parent cruelty, but the results are more grim than Grimm. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The People Under The Stairs doesn't play like a fairy tale; there's nothing fantastic about it, and the happy ending, in which money seems to equal happiness, rings terribly false. Read full review

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User Reviews

Derogatory796

Jan 9, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The people under the stairs is Wes Craven at his wittiest & scariest. This movie is really scary & clever. Every Craven movie is a classic & this movie is up there with his best work. This movie is about a young colored boy who lives in the ghetto. In order to avoid his family being evicted from their apartment he decides to join two theives who want to rob the greedy landlords who own his apartment block. All 3 of them get inside the house, but once they do they get much more trouble than they expected. Everyone who breaks into the house never leaves the house, they are butchered. Overall this is one of Craven's most underrated movies.… Expand

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