Story: Poindexter, aka Fool, is about to lose his home, because he and his mom and sister Ruby are being evicted. But family friend Leroy (Ving Rhames) has an idea; why not just rob their landlords the Robesons? Leroy and his buddy Spencer found a map to a “treasure” hidden in the Robeson’s mansion. Only two problems: the Robesons are batshit crazy, and they’re not the only ones in their house….

Scares: The Robesons calling each other Mommy and Daddy. *shudder* Aside from that, this is more camp than horror. Whee!

Splat factor: Some here and there, when The People – or the Robesons – dispatch someone. Prince the dog eats a body part here and there, too.

Closing scene “shocker”: A tied-up with a bow kind of happy ending. At least for the good guys.

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul): Absolutely original.

Trick or Treat?: This is one of those late 20th century horror films that was terrifying when it opened, and has blossomed into a fun campy ride. How camp? On a scale from Schindler’s List to Mommy Dearest, this is one wire hanger away from full-tilt gonzo.

Fool is the only smart one of the thieves. Irony! But it’s also probably because all that bright-ass kente cloth Leroy is wearing may have dulled his senses (tip: earthy tones in kente are gorgeous. Close-to-neon are so 80s for a reason; they’re blinding.)

Roach (Sean Whalen), a boy-child that has escaped the basement and now roams in-between the walls, is a cool modern-day Renfield, and Whalen is still well known among genre fans for this role. (Caveat: I went to school with Sean. Though he’s awesome IRL, my school time friendship doesn’t play a part in my opinion. He really is great in this role.)  You know who else is great? Everett McGill (Silver Bullet) as Daddy, in all his whacked-out splendor. Running around in a gimp suit hunting Roach? No problem. Because that’s normal. Yippee!

Roach approved.

With The People Under the Stairs, director Wes Craven hints at the fun to come with the Scream series, and echoes the inbred family shenanigans of The Hills Have Eyes. That said, fans of straight up horror may be disappointed with the camp and goofy strangeness. I thought it was a retro hoot, and feels like a good fit for tweens that can handle the occasional severed limb prop.

A perfect addition to a Halloween horror marathon – or anytime camp-fest – especially if it’s early and things haven’t settled down yet (it’s so enjoyably nuts no one will have trouble keeping up), or late at night when everyone is in a drinking-game haze (ditto).

Score: 

3 out of 5 pumpkins. Didn’t absolutely love it, but I’d totally watch it again. And again.