The People Under The Stairs (1991)

Not too long ago I was writing about "ideal" PG-13 films. These are movies that are perfect for middle schoolers to watch at sleepovers. They push the content boundaries enough to make kids feel grown up without getting too violent or sexy. But where do you go from there? Do you go head-on into Cannibal Holocaust? Perhaps? But there can also be a step in-between, and I think The People Under the Stairs fits the bill perfectly. In a lot of ways it should be PG-13, with its insanely over the top adolescent POV, but there's also just enough language and gore to make that rating a no-go. If Krampus is a film for 6th graders, this is a film for 8th graders. Leave your copy somewhere that your kid can easily "borrow" it and think they're getting away with something.