Customer Reviews
Good, but watch the others first. 
2005-11-20
This was the first of the Quatermass films that I saw. Then I went back and watched the first three, which are much better. They're not quite sci-fi, not quite horror, not quite thriller, but all three mixed together. If you like X-files type conspiracy and invasion stories, Quatermass should be checked out. Start with, if you can find it, the Quatermass Xperiment. Then move on to Quatermass 2, and finally Quatermass and the Pit. These three are all excellent Hammer Films.
Quatermass and the exploration of inner space 
2005-09-30
For years British science fiction has incorporated many of the traits of the nation: anti-authoritarian, individualistic, eccentric and scientific. From H.G. Wells through to the most recent reincarnation of Doctor Who these themes have been very common.
Quatermass and the television show Doomwatch have in mmany ways led the way for the rest of the shows to follow and have also gone to the most extreme view of what may be to come.
Many other reviewers have plundered the plot but very few have looked at the overiding ideological positions adopted by the creators of Quatermass. The familiar themes which charaterised this series of movies is very much in the vein of Wells and Wyndham the apolyptic vision, a society degenerating where the rule of law has broken down, anarchy in the UK, all of which can be found in some of the works of J.G. Ballard, and to soem extent Mike Moorcok. For stark contrast the Planet People, a pseudo-hippy movement without the drugs, breeze through the movie portrayed as having become rather mindless lotus eaters who are easy prey for the force yet can also kill and destroy.
Scientists are seen as having interferred with nature, a position closely associated with the green movement especially the Fundis in Germany. Quatermass qua as a scientist, is scorned for his views and his apparent contribution to the general sense of decay. Yet it is he who, working with the self same bueaucrats he clearly distains, strives to discover the evil nature of the force and to overcome it. Given the tremendous economic, social, political and environmental upheavals taking place in the 1970's it is not surprising that this mini-series carries a distinct socialist tone, not least of which are the pay cops, a parallel with the fire brigades of Farenheit 451, who are driven by the going rate in the market if they are to provide assistance. The movie is concerned too of the issues of youth versus old age and only barely touching on the question of euthanasia, still taboo even now.
All in all there is much food for thought in this movie aside from the scale and spectacle. It is instructive to compare and contrast this sort of movie with the general SF competition of the time where good always prevails over evil and losses tend to be relatively less.
The series carries a message of hope but it is not clear on which basis the hope rests: is it on science or is it on a naieve fundamentalist rejection of modern societies or simply put, getting ourselves back to the garden?
Quatermass has set the example for others to follow. They may have more gore as in 28 Days Later, but in many respects much of British Science Fiction has gone on to develop ideas found in it's reels.
To me science fiction has never been about science per se but merely a set of posible alternatives, call it a multiverse if you will. Not all futures may be rosy but regardless there is a strong belief in the human spirit and human ingenuity all tied to freedom being strong enough to see us through. This Quatermass, in my view shows us much more of that human spirit and the capacity to defeat adversity, and that is it's greatest strength.
a '70's british SCI FI gem 
2005-09-09
By the way, this was not a BBC production, but rather done by Thames Television (the commercial TV company for the Greater London area - now defunct and their place taken by Carlton Television). The fact that this show was done by commercial TV rather than the BBC is very surprising - normally the BBC would be the ones to touch such heavy material, rather than a commercial show that was concerned by viewing figures. (Commercial TV here in the UK is always bland and banal).
I live in the UK and I remember watching the original and it transfixed me - I had never seen anything like it - no happy smiley ending, the hero dies (as do lots of other people) - there is no visible enemy even! I loved it then and it was great seeing this again. This is a must see for people who like their SciFi cerebral.
Dated and silly 
2005-07-03
OK, I wasn't expecting the crown jewels from an old TV production, but that's no excuse for the plot being so vague. Science fiction movies are supposed to explain what's going on (aside from "2001" maybe), but all we can ever figure out is that some alien presence is sucking something out of teenagers (angst?). Supposedly there's some kind of beacon buried underground in various places, but do the authorities ever dig one up? Nope. The ending is ultra cheesy and makes little or no scientific sense at all.
The acting is, well, ham-handed is a fair description. Quatermass is a silly old poof, I have no idea why the authorities ever consult him in the first place. In the plot he's supposedly some kind of former guru, but he doesn't really add much to what they already know or guess.
The best thing about the flick is the atmosphere, the breakdown of society, the planet people, that's not bad. But it's been done before (and after), and it surrounds a rotten core. For curiousity seekers only.
Gripping, intelligent science fiction. 2004-03-15
It's a given among science fiction aficionados that the three theatrically released Quatermass films are among the best of British science fiction. This rarely seen, final installment of the series does nothing to tarnish its reputation. Available up till now in a severly truncated version, the complete 4-hour mini-series is now available, and well worth getting.
The premise of 'Quatermass' has to do with an alien 'force' (a beam of energy), originating from a distant part of the universe, which "harvests" human beings. It seems that the beings behind this 'force' visited Earth 5,000 years previously, leaving a collective fright among the human population. As a result of that event, the early peoples constructed megaliths (Stonehenge, Ringstone Round, etc.) to mark places where the aliens landed, and where they left transmitters or beacons under the earth. As the film begins, we see a world in decay. Social and environmental calamaties have been rife, with barbaric tribalism resurgent. Young people seem to be in the grip of some kind of collective madness, compelled to mass at these megalithic locations. It seems that that the alien 'collectors' are drawn to the physiology of younger humans (this assumes great significance as the film progresses). The young, anxious to leave behind this bleak environment, believe they will be taken to another planet (they call themselves 'Planet People').
When large crowds of the young arrive at the various locations, a strange beam emanates from the sky to the location. Puff, they are all gone, leaving only charred dust. This is, as we learn, the "gathering time" for this 'harvest'. Quatermass (well played by John Mills) discovers the truth, and and sets out to combat the malevolent force. He's also searching for his granddaughter, who has run away and joined the Planet People. This subplot assumes a key role during the film's ending.
While this was a television release, it does an outstanding job (within its budgetary limits) of depicting an unsettling world. Nobody does a better job of creating a socially and environmentally depressing setting than the Brits. Reminiscent of the milieu portrayed in such films as 'A Clockwork Orange', the ominous feel generated by the film is hard to match. While much of the film occurs during daytime, this simply adds to the unnerving effect created.
This is the kind of science fiction that does not rely on glitzy special effects or fast-paced action. Rather, it draws the viewer in and dispenses the chills slowly, building the suspense and horror methodically. This is truly the thinking person's science fiction.
I agree with another reviewer that it would be nice for Anchor Bay to release this on DVD. However, even within the technical limitations of videotape (and the age of the production itself), the film transfer is remarkably good. Scenes where the sky is "sick", for example, show subtle transitions from blue to a putrid green. If it ever is released on DVD, I'll snatch it up. In the meantime, however, it is enough just to be able to finally see this engrossing film in any format. If you're a fan of the other Quatermass films, you will want to add this to your collection.
Quatermass the Legendary '70's sci-fi classic 2007-05-27
This is one of the best science fiction films I've seen so far. Personally, I find it fascinating, as it is about a cult where the young generation of that day is drawn to cirtain spots on the Earth, where they are compelled to call to a transporter, which is a large beam of bright light that then comes down and takes them up to another planet somewhere far out in space. Those who are not part of the cult, but are caught up in the beam are destroyed rather than taken to this planet. It's a great science fiction adventure!
Only for the diehard archivist 
2007-02-04
This was a ghastly, tedious, nihilistic embarrassment. Leaden pace, spotty bad acting, questionable character motivations in many parts. And you have to ask yourself why on earth the (annoying) Planet People would have followed that non-charismatic complete butthead of a leader. Certainly the nadir for the Quatermass series. Perhaps the director does not speak science fiction, but some language alien to it.
False Advertising 2006-09-08
Buyer beware. The flash page intices you with the prospect of receiving The Quatermass Experiment (The Creeping Unknown), 1956 - in addition to the 1979 TV version, Quatermass. Forget about it. Shameful false advertising. Amazon: take down the false advertising. Have you no shame.
Saved by the smell 2006-08-08
I haven't seen the original BBC series, or the Hammer "Quatermass" films, but this Thames mini-series will have me searching for them. This reminded me a little of Max Headroom -- well-written story-driven science fiction; it's the story that kept me watching four hours straight -- the special effects are hobby store cheap.
All of the world's youth are becoming "Planet People." They're making pilgrimages to places like Stonehenge where they expect to be transported to another planet. They sing songs and chant things, like "Soon" and "Planet."
The scientists in the story think the Planet People are mad, until some get beamed up, or vaporized, at Ringstone Round. The Planet People feel validated. The scientists are irritated -- they suspect the Planet People are being harvested.
Quatermass is trying to find his granddaughter and get her rehabilitated before she gets beamed up, or vaporized.
Come to think of it, the whole show is kind of like "Footloose," told through the parents' eyes -- if the parents were scientists instead of religious fundamentalists, and it took place in the future. This time, though, in the end, it's not love, but the bomb that brings everyone together.
yawn 2006-05-29
As a fan of British television & science fiction, I have heard about Quatermass for years, but did not have the chance to see it until I found this set. I was really looking forward to it, but what an incredible disappointment.
This is among the most boring, leaden paced pieces of junk I've ever seen. I could find nothing to recommend here. The script moves at a snail's pace, and the characters themselves seem only mildly interested in what is happening to them.
To be fair, this is a recreation of the original character from the 50s, done in the 70s. Such recreations rarely work well, as Hollywood has repeatedly proven in recent years.
I also consider the marketing of this as a box set a real rip off. The entire four part mini-series is all on disc one. Disc two has the theatrical version, which is just the exact same production, with about a third of the scenes edited out. Why would anyone need or want two copies of the same story. (Even the edited version is still painfully slow and unengaging.) There is also a fair documentary on Stonehenge (tangentally related to the plot). This is the only worthwhile part of the set, but it is just a watch once and never again program.
I honestly can not imagine where the praise for Quatermass comes from. What I saw on these discs was an utterly worthless waste of time and money. For hard-core fans only.
