Help identify early-90s dark fairy tale with rope monster and evil queen

I'm trying to identify a dark fantasy film I saw as a child in the early 1990s or possibly earlier. It felt like a fairy tale with monsters. One monster lived on a staircase and had two large ropes or cords sticking out at each end. The main character pulled on these ropes and heard shuffling sounds until blood appeared, causing the monster to fall. Later the evil queen ordered the monsters to fight or spit on the main character, but they refused, saying they would be poisoned. If anyone recognizes this film, please let me know. Thanks!