Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs – Best Horror Movie You Never Saw

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

In the latest episode of our Best Horror You Never Saw video series, we take a look at the 1991 political horror-satire The People Under the Stairs (OWN IT HERE / WATCH IT HERE), written and directed by Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street), and starring Brandon Quintin Adams, Everett McGill, and Wendy Robie!

The film itself is an extremely prescient look at class disparity and a biting condemnation of modern American conservatism…while also being a fun, bloody romp full of gimp-suited, shotgun wielding maniacs, an eerie mansion full of kooky booby traps, and basement dwelling cannibals! It's a great mix that keeps the political messaging front-and-center, while also not coming off preachy or didactic.  

Here's the official synopsis:

When young Fool (Brandon Adams) breaks into the home of his family's greedy and uncaring landlords, he discovers a disturbing scenario where incestuous adult siblings have mutilated a number of boys and kept them imprisoned under stairs in their large, creepy house. As Fool attempts to flee before the psychopaths can catch him, he meets their daughter, Alice (A.J. Langer), who has been spared any extreme discipline by her deranged parents. Can Fool and Alice escape before it's too late?

Anyway, this is a great film for those who can vibe off of its very particular wavelength, so we'd love it if you could check out our newest episode to help spread the word! And for more video content, please subscribe to our recently launched YouTube channel JoBlo Horror Videos!

CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR PRIOR EPISODES!