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The People Under the Stairs

  • 1991
  • R
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,443
83
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Official Home Video Trailer
Play trailer1:09
7 Videos
65 Photos
ComedyHorrorMystery

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.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.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
  • Writer
    • Wes Craven
  • Stars
    • Brandon Quintin Adams
    • Everett McGill
    • Wendy Robie
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    37K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,443
    83
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writer
      • Wes Craven
    • Stars
      • Brandon Quintin Adams
      • Everett McGill
      • Wendy Robie
    • 192User reviews
    • 153Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos7

    The People Under the Stairs
    Trailer 1:09
    Watch The People Under the Stairs
    The People Under The Stairs
    Trailer 0:51
    Watch The People Under The Stairs
    The People Under The Stairs: Fool Meets Alice
    Clip 2:27
    Watch The People Under The Stairs: Fool Meets Alice
    The People Under The Stairs: Dog Attacks Fool
    Clip 2:39
    Watch The People Under The Stairs: Dog Attacks Fool
    The People Under The Stairs: Fool Escapes From The Basement
    Clip 3:01
    Watch The People Under The Stairs: Fool Escapes From The Basement
    The People Under The Stairs: Actress Wendy Robie Remembers The Bathtub Scene
    Featurette 2:28
    Watch The People Under The Stairs: Actress Wendy Robie Remembers The Bathtub Scene
    The People Under The Stairs: Special Make Up Effects Team Interview
    Featurette 1:37
    Watch The People Under The Stairs: Special Make Up Effects Team Interview

    Photos65

    Yan Birch and A.J. Langer in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Sean Whalen in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Brandon Quintin Adams in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Brandon Quintin Adams and Everett McGill in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Wendy Robie in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    A.J. Langer and Wendy Robie in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Wes Craven in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Ving Rhames and Brandon Quintin Adams in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    A.J. Langer in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Everett McGill in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    Wendy Robie in The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    The People Under the Stairs (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brandon Quintin Adams
    Brandon Quintin Adams
    • Fool
    • (as Brandon Adams)
    Everett McGill
    Everett McGill
    • Man
    Wendy Robie
    Wendy Robie
    • Woman
    A.J. Langer
    A.J. Langer
    • Alice
    Ving Rhames
    Ving Rhames
    • Leroy
    Sean Whalen
    Sean Whalen
    • Roach
    Bill Cobbs
    Bill Cobbs
    • Grandpa Booker
    Kelly Jo Minter
    Kelly Jo Minter
    • Ruby Williams
    Jeremy Roberts
    Jeremy Roberts
    • Spenser
    Conni Marie Brazelton
    Conni Marie Brazelton
    • Mary
    Josh Coxx
    Josh Coxx
    • Young Cop
    • (as Joshua Cox)
    John Hostetter
    John Hostetter
    • Veteran Cop
    John Mahon
    John Mahon
    • Police Sergeant
    Teresa Velarde
    • Social Worker
    George R. Parker
    • Attic Cop
    Yan Birch
    Yan Birch
    • Stairmaster
    Wayne Daniels
    • Stairperson 1
    Michael Kopelow
    Michael Kopelow
    • Stairperson 2
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writer
      • Wes Craven
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Wes Craven chose Wendy Robie and Everett McGill to play the parts of Mommy and Daddy after seeing them play husband and wife on the TV series Twin Peaks (1990).
    • Goofs
      When Fool hits Daddy with the "iron" poker, it snaps in half and is obviously made of thin wood. Fool stops briefly, and looks off set in surprise, before continuing with the scene.
    • Quotes

      Leroy: You seen Spencer?

      Fool: I seen Spencer, alright.

      Leroy: You find anything?

      Fool: Something found him. He's dead, Leroy. I think scared to death.

      Leroy: Y-you sure?

      Fool: You thought he was white before, you should see that sucker now!

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Cape Fear/Strictly Business/All I Want for Christmas/Liebestraum/The People Under the Stairs (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Do the Right Thing
      Written by David 'Redhead' Guppy & Markell Riley

      Performed by Redhead Kingpin (as Readhead Kingpin) & The F.B.I.

      Courtesy of Virgin Records Ltd.

    User reviews192

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Wes Craven's masterpiece favorite horror film of mine - Home Alone only for adults I love it to death!
    Wes Craven, the director of The Serpent and the Rainbow and Shocker, locks you inside the most terrifying house on the street. The People Under the Stairs (1991) is Wes Craven's masterpiece along side A Nightmare on Elm Street, New Nightmare, Scream, Shocker and The Serpent and the Rainbow. This is a Home alone for only adults. I wish I would see this movie as a child, but sadly I haven't. I never knew about this movie or that it exists. I just realize something Home Alone 2: Lost in New York copied the scene from this movie. When Kevin throws a brick on Marv that scene was copied from this movie in which Fool throws a brick on man's had in the attic. This is a horror comedy that it is well acted, well written and really incredible awesome! I love this film to death! I own it on Blu-ray in my collection and I still love it. This is a great horror movie. Very creative and interesting story line along with characters that are very interesting, at times, very comedic. This movie is one of Craven's best I highly recommend this.

    This film is in my top 10 Wes Craven favorite movies and it is my fifth favorite movie from Wes Craven that I love it to death. Starring Brandon Adams who played Jesse Hall in The Mighty Ducks 1 and 2 movies. Everett McGill from Silver Bullet and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory. I saw this on demand and I thought it was well played out although the parents were just plain freaks in their own way. The story line was just excellent and the settings gave it more of an eerie feel to it, although the children were an excellent addition, the whole beginning scenes really didn't need to be in there.

    Plot: Two adults and a juvenile burglar break into a house occupied by a brother and sister and their stolen children and become trapped. Trapped inside a fortified home owned by a mysterious couple brother and sister, a young boy is suddenly thrust into a nightmare. The boy quickly learns the true nature of the house's homicidal inhabitants and the secret creatures hidden deep within the house.

    I love the story, the idea from richer vs poor, you have a lead that it is a kid Brandon Adams is the star and the hero of the film. That is very unique, it is very unique. In every neighborhood there is one house that adults whisper about and children cross the street to avoid. Now Wes Craven, creator of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" takes you inside.

    I love this movie to death: It is different than Home Alone. A young boy breaks in to a house by the landlords to steal the golden coins to support his poor family including his dying sick mom with his partner/ sister boyfriend Leroy (Ving Rhames) unaware the house is full of booby traps and no one get's out, no one ever has. Fool has to fight for his life while it is impossible to get out of the house because he is locked from inside. You have full of booby traps, monsters in the basement, ugly mad dog and two psychos in the house chasing fool which is scary. I think Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) would s**t in his pens, if he would be in this house. A.J. Langer is absolutely gorgeous, awesome in this movie seriously she is so beautiful and gorgeous that my jaw drop.

    I love the scene in which Leroy defends Fool and shouts to Fool "run Fool" when brother and sister killed him with a shot gun. It also has a heart. Another scene that I love is after Fool escapes from the house later he learns the secret about the landlords, he comes back to the house for Alice who he gave her a promise. The characters, especially the main hero are decent written by Wes him self.

    This movie is intelligent and really brilliant. You have to put brains in this movie, because it is so intense. Brandon Adams was fantastic as the main hero Fool. Everett McGill as the psycho brother was great and creepy in a lethal, while Wendy Robie was a great psycho sister in the house.

    I also love the music song Do The Right Thing by Redhead Kingpin And The FBI. Wes Craven directed this movie perfectly. His script was perfect and the direction locations were fantastic in the movie. Wes Craven for me was a master of horror and I miss him so much. The People Under the Stairs is a classic horror film and I really do wish I would have watch it as a child.

    R.I.P. - Wes Craven (1939 - 2015) I really miss you and thank you for all the Freddy movies, thank you for all horror franchise and movies like are: A Nightmare on Elm Street, New Nightmare, Scream, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Shocker and The People Under the Stairs. Thank you for all your work Wes. I love you so much I wish you could done more horror movies, I really love them.

    This movie get's my perfect 10/10 for been one of my favorite Wes Craven horror movies of all time.

    The People Under the Stairs is a 1991 American horror film written and directed by Wes Craven and starring Brandon Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A. J. Langer, Ving Rhames and Sean Whalen.

    10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval Studio: Universal Pictures Starring: Brandon Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A. J. Langer, Ving Rhames, Bill Cobbs, Kelly Jo Minter, Sean Whalen, Jeremy Roberts Director: Wes Craven Producers: Shep Gordon, Wes Craven, Marianne Maddalena, Stuart M. Besser, Dixie Capp, Peter Foster Writer: Wes Craven Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 42 Mins. Budget: $6.000.000 Box Office: $24,204,154
    helpful•42
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    • ivo-cobra8
    • Oct 26, 2016

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Wes Craven's the People Under the Stairs
    • Filming locations
      • Thomas W. Phillips Residence - 2215 S. Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, California, USA(Robeson Funeral Home)
    • Production company
      • Alive Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,204,154
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,522,250
      • Nov 3, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $31,347,154
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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