"The Quatermass Xperiment" of 1955 was a magnificent milestone of British Sci-Fi Horror, whose success single-handedly boosted the great Hammer Studios' status as Britain's Horror producer No. 1. "Quatermass 2", which was also directed by Val Guest, is a fantastic sequel that even surpasses the original in its suspense, creepiness and macabre premise. Brian Donlevy returns as Professor Bernhard Quatermass, who is, in the meantime, planning to colonize the moon. When he hears about mysterious meteorite showers in the countryside, his investigations lead him to a colony that resembles his own plans for the moon colonization...
I do not want to give too much away, but fans of "The Quatermass Xperiment" can be assured to love this. The film shares the ingenuity of its predecessor, but even surpasses it in plot, atmosphere and suspense. The film follows an ingenious, macabre premise, and the ideas are executed in an awesome manner. The script to this sequel was written by the original inventor of "Quatermass" and writer of the foregoing BBC-series, British Sci-Fi genius Nigel Kneale. The storyline is very intriguing and throws some intelligent political and social aspects in the generally very eerie Sci-Fi Horror film. The effects are very good, and while the film also has its slower parts, there is quite a lot of action. Brian Donlevy is once again great as the eponymous Professor Quatermass. The husky, pencil-mustached Donlevy, who mainly played tough guys in his earlier roles, doesn't seem much like a scientist, but rather like a hard-boiled detective. However, I find him to be awesome in the role of this, rather unorthodox professor. Overall, "Quatermass 2" is a true must-see for Horror/Sci-Fi fans in general and Hammer fans in particular (As are the 1955 original and the, even superior, 1967 sequel "Quatermass and the Pit". The "Quatermass" franchise is regarded by some as the absolute highlight of Hammer's legacy; personally, I still prefer their greatest Gothic Horror films, such as (most parts of) the "Frankenstein" and "Dracula" series, "Twins of Evil" or "Vampire Circus" (my personal favorite). It is undeniable though that the "Quatermass" films are milestones and absolute must-sees for everyone interested in Sci-Fi and Horror cinema.
I do not want to give too much away, but fans of "The Quatermass Xperiment" can be assured to love this. The film shares the ingenuity of its predecessor, but even surpasses it in plot, atmosphere and suspense. The film follows an ingenious, macabre premise, and the ideas are executed in an awesome manner. The script to this sequel was written by the original inventor of "Quatermass" and writer of the foregoing BBC-series, British Sci-Fi genius Nigel Kneale. The storyline is very intriguing and throws some intelligent political and social aspects in the generally very eerie Sci-Fi Horror film. The effects are very good, and while the film also has its slower parts, there is quite a lot of action. Brian Donlevy is once again great as the eponymous Professor Quatermass. The husky, pencil-mustached Donlevy, who mainly played tough guys in his earlier roles, doesn't seem much like a scientist, but rather like a hard-boiled detective. However, I find him to be awesome in the role of this, rather unorthodox professor. Overall, "Quatermass 2" is a true must-see for Horror/Sci-Fi fans in general and Hammer fans in particular (As are the 1955 original and the, even superior, 1967 sequel "Quatermass and the Pit". The "Quatermass" franchise is regarded by some as the absolute highlight of Hammer's legacy; personally, I still prefer their greatest Gothic Horror films, such as (most parts of) the "Frankenstein" and "Dracula" series, "Twins of Evil" or "Vampire Circus" (my personal favorite). It is undeniable though that the "Quatermass" films are milestones and absolute must-sees for everyone interested in Sci-Fi and Horror cinema.