Movies: The People Under the Stairs

While attending last year's Halloween Horror Nights, I noticed that they had a "People Under The Stairs"-themed haunted house. The actual haunted house was okay - though I don't like houses that plunge you into perpetual darkness since it makes it hard to see the craftsmanship and detail of the house itself. The most compelling part of the attraction, though, was the fact that the most evocative clips from the movie were played nonstop while we waited in line.

"The People Under the Stairs" is one part "Home Alone," one part "Goonies," and two parts "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," splashed with a dab of early '90s Spike Lee social consciousness. It's almost like horror master Wes Craven took a bet on the weirdest movie he could make, and then made it. The events of the film offer a good illustration of escalating weirdness.

There are some problems. In the latter parts of the film, you feel less like you're watching a gory live-action fairy tale and more like you're seeing a "Home Alone" sequel. The story never feels cohesive, so it's difficult even after a recent viewing to describe the actual "plot" of the movie. Basically, you can sum up the premise as "kid gets stuck in scary house with deranged individuals inside."

Thankfully, the child actors do a decent job in the movie, especially "Fool," the protagonist. It's sometimes rare in a horror/thriller to have a truly sympathetic main character - who hasn't found Hannibal more compelling than Clarice, or Freddy cooler than the people he kills? Here, though, Fool's coming-of-age journey and endless heroism are never boring for the audience.

Rating: 7/10