Review of The People Under the Stairs (1991) by John B — 01 May 2010

Wes Craven achieves more meaningful political commentary with this one brilliantly deceptive "horror" movie than Oliver Stone does in his last four projects. McGill and Robie star as camouflaged Ronald and Nancy Reagan who live inside a spectacularly complex mansion of social horror, all funded by money swindled from the lower classes around them.

There they physically abuse their "daughter" to keep her in line, imprison and mutilate young white males who refuse to behave well, plus butcher blacks and all other minorities for cannibal cuisine.

Into this stunning symbolism comes teenage would-be burglar Adams, who courageously fights back against both "Daddy" and "Mommy" - pet names that the Reagans still use for each other to this day - in ways wonderously atypical for a teenager in any fright film.

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