Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

For me Quatermass and The Pit is the best of Nigel Kneale's Quatermass stories. The concept behind it, which literally gives us an explanation for all recorded supernatural phenomena in human history, is a staggering conceit of cosmic imagination and thought. Like H.P. Lovecraft, Kneale views the human race as nowhere near as important as we think we are in the scale of things; yet succeeds in instilling his story with a humanising warmth.The central idea - that the human race is just a Martian colony by proxy, has been borrowed by everything and everybody from Star Trek to Stephen King to Prometheus. But the idea is never more convincing (and alarming) than when it is on display here.Though I think it's a shame that Andre Morell never got to reprise his role as Quatermass from the original t.v. series, we are more than compensated with the presence of Andrew Keir, who has the warmth and humanism totally lacking in Brian Donlevy's earlier showings as Quatermass. He doesn't even get top billing - that goes to James Donald, another fine actor probably best known today for his appearances in Bridge on The River Kwai and The Great Escape.The story has been recounted many times in the review pages here, with it's labyrinthine plot development, growing sense of wonder and dread as the "thing in the pit" is gradually uncovered, and its skillful handling by Director Roy Ward Baker all helping to make this one of Hammer's best efforts. The final effects filled half-hour of course, has dated somewhat; and the film's one misstep is the ludicrously silly looking Martian Purge, which was done much better on the t.v. show. But this is a small quibble when set against Pit's many merits.I really can't recommend this film highly enough for first time viewers. A treat for the intellect with a true sense of cosmic fear.

FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH is what I call a "Sci-Fi Shocker." Part Shocker (in the Fright Film sense) and part Science Fiction, it begins with the discovery of an ancient artifact in a London subway system. Said artifact just happens to be located in Hobbs End (Shades of John Carpenter's IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS!), where, legend has it, Strange Things have been going on for so long that the area is said to be Haunted. This "combination of genres," if you will, has always been one of the things that made FIVE MILLIONS YEARS TO EARTH stand out in my mind: two genres for the price of one- and the ghostly images of the Aliens themselves (Shades of John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS!) remain as eerie Today as the day they were unearthed.

Like all the best science fiction Quatermass and the Pit begins with a meaningful idea, not just an excuse for special effects and spectacle. This third big screen outing for the iconic Doctor Quatermass has tube tunnel diggers in London uncover a mysterious ship which has been buried under the city for 10 Million Years. The officials begin to panic, fearing a dormant Nazi aircraft but Quatermass has a hunch that the origins of the craft are something far, far more sinister.I did enjoy the theories and questions posed by this movie, and the production design, for the most part, is quite impressive. However I was disappointed by the design of the Martians and the dream sequence set on Mars. The cheapness of these effects really dismantles the film and lessens the overall effect of the premise. There are some great moments though, and the final effect of the giant Martian face over London is quite a striking image.According to Joe Dante, the effects of the TV version (made 9 years earlier and on a lesser budget) are superior, and I would like to see this version to compare. As it is Quatermass and the Pit is a notable sci-fi flick and never once boring. If only they invested more time and effort in those effects...

Not as good as the masterful TV series, which is sci-fi television at its finest, but it almost is and the best of the Quartermass films. I'd go as far to say that it's one of Hammer's better films as well.Personally, Quartermass and the Pit's only fault are the rather anti-climactic and too hastily-paced ending and the on-the-cheap-side special effects especially at the end with those fake-looking aliens, the rest of the film's production values are very well-done so not sure why the quality dips at this point. The colour photography is very good though and doesn't dissipate the mystery or atmosphere at all, the setting is as spectacularly imaginative as it was in the series and the special effects generally while nowhere near as strong as those in the TV series are generally above average. Tristam Carey's music score has the right amount of eerie intensity and rousing ambiance, while Roy Ward Baker's direction is wisely careful but still very strong and Nigel Kneale's script is very true in style to his writing for the series, retaining the intelligent handling of complex and daring themes, the ability to provoke thought while not trying to do too much or undermining the mystery.The story is engrossing and continues to fascinate and resonate emotionally translated to screen, again while not making the mistake of covering too many ideas. There's a lot here and it's ambitious stuff, but it didn't feel too much thankfully. The mystery is intriguing, it's very suspenseful and scary with some memorable and quite shocking deaths (i.e. Roney's) and the disquieting atmosphere is incredibly effective, helped by beautifully measured pacing, Baker's direction and that it doesn't try to hide or exceed any budget limits. The characters are still engaging, and the acting while not quite up to their definitive TV counterparts is still very good and worthy, Andrew Keir and Julian Glover being particularly excellent.Overall, another Hammer winner and goes with the series very well indeed, if not as good as it. 9/10 Bethany Cox