While it comes across as a British spin on INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, what QUATERMASS 2 most brings to mind is an old, Pertwee-era episode of DOCTOR WHO; I'm thinking something like The Green Death, perhaps. There are too many similarities to be purely coincidental: a remote, scientific institution hiding dark secrets; faceless guards under the influence of some malign influence; unfriendly villagers; cheesy special effects; the dedicated scientist hero and his various companions. It goes without saying that if you're a DOCTOR WHO fan then you'll love this.
I saw THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT some years ago and I remember it feeling very different to this movie. It was smaller scale, more homely, more intimate. QUATERMASS 2 feels more like it's trying to be an American movie, with stuff taking place on a much larger scale. The conspiracy storyline is very hackneyed these days but it's handled with wit and decent pacing here and as a whole this is a nice early outing for the newly-horrifying Hammer, even it is the lesser vehicle to both the first film and X THE UNKNOWN. The film is notable for Brian Donlevy's gruff, hard-headed turn as Quatermass and for the appearance of many familiar British supporting players, including Percy Herbert, Charles Lloyd Pack and Michael Ripper. There's also a decent, semi-serious role for Sid James to sink his teeth into, too!
I saw THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT some years ago and I remember it feeling very different to this movie. It was smaller scale, more homely, more intimate. QUATERMASS 2 feels more like it's trying to be an American movie, with stuff taking place on a much larger scale. The conspiracy storyline is very hackneyed these days but it's handled with wit and decent pacing here and as a whole this is a nice early outing for the newly-horrifying Hammer, even it is the lesser vehicle to both the first film and X THE UNKNOWN. The film is notable for Brian Donlevy's gruff, hard-headed turn as Quatermass and for the appearance of many familiar British supporting players, including Percy Herbert, Charles Lloyd Pack and Michael Ripper. There's also a decent, semi-serious role for Sid James to sink his teeth into, too!