Horror Movie Review: The People In The Walls (2024)

Imaginative, well written, impressively acted, and with some strong scares, The People in the Walls is a highly enjoyable horror from writer Gerald Crum and director Michael Crum.

It stars McKenna Smith as the teenager Rachel who makes the mistake of taking part in a new viral craze that is going around. One that involves asking the ‘people in the walls’ to come out. Naturally, the expected result is silly content for the TikTok generation, but Rachel finds out that there is far more truth to the existence of people in the walls than anyone knows when her friend Becca (Aleena Heritage) is killed during their attempt to call them out.

Some time later, Rachel and her family have moved to a new neighbourhood, but Rachel is still traumatised by the events that cost Becca her life. It certainly doesn’t help that no-one believes her. That is until she meets Nancy (Natalia Santacoloma) and Chris (Cole Crum), who have had their own run-ins with the people in the walls.

It appears as though they have their attention though, and the trio are going to have to put a stop to the monsters once and for all.

Telling the story in chapters, focusing on a younger cast in the lead roles, and adding layers of fantasy to the horror, makes The People in the Walls feel almost fairy-tale like. There is strong crossover between childhood fears about the boogeyman and adult terror around things like home invasion. Two contrasting ideas that combine perfectly because both deal with the unknown and allow the imagination to run wild.

The story is well written and well told, with the pacing nailed, and the ramping up to deliver a strong finish, perfected. The depth coming from a set of characters that are fleshed out and given strong reasons to be involved, right to the very end. It’s surprising just how investable both the story and characters are.

A lot of that has to land at the feet of a great cast who all play their roles with gusto and have great chemistry. McKenna Smith is fantastic in the lead role and makes her character extremely sympathetic. Though a massive amount of credit must also be given to Natalia Santacoloma and Cole Crum, with the latter adding some light humour to the experience.

Something that is certainly appreciated as The People in the Walls is a dark film, both in tone and from a visual perspective. Yet, darkness enhances the horror experience, adding a dreamlike feel to events, and really allowing the frights to build effectively. There’s a hell of a lot of talent on show here. From the way the film is shot and many of the effects, to how scares are delivered, and how sound (or a lack of, at times) is utilised to create even more tension. It often fees likes you’re watching a high budget/big studio release.

The People in the Walls overdelivers on what it promises in the end. Offering up a truly watchable and exceptionally enjoyable modern horror that combines the strongest of childhood fears with adult terror.