Quatermass and the Pit (1968)- Are we human?

[ray gower]

synopsis
Workmen extending the London Underground, discover a war time bomb amongst an ancient burial site. Professor Quatermass is less convinced that the explanation is so simple, especially when he discovers the areas history.
So it proves as dark forces are released on the Earth that threaten not only mankinds future, but his history.

There are several possible themes for space Sci/Fi: Man finds Aliens (Alien, Star Trek etc). Aliens find Man (ET, Invasion of the Body Snatchers etc.). Quatermass and the Pit belongs to the third class: Man is Alien.

It is also one of the few horror films that have ever left an impression beyond the going home pint in the pub afterwards. To be quite honest it scared the living daylights out of me the first time I saw it in 1968 (The BBC version 10 years previously had the same effect as well).

Where as The Quatermass Xperiment and Quatermass II, both superb Sci/Fi shockers of their time, have been relegated in film terms to dodgy B's despite their strong stories and acting, the Pit is still more than capable of making the hackles of alarm stir!

Like the first two films, the Pit is full of solid character actors that carry the tension and building horror (the vision of the police sergeant near the beginning, disolve into a fearful wreck as he remembers stories from his childhood of the happenings in Hob's Lane must come as a classic from any support actor). The difference is that a little more money was spent on effects, but they are used sparingly and in sympathy with what the characters are doing.

Andrew Keir, the original Quatermass from the BBC series, is a far better Quatermass than Levey when it comes to feeling sympathy as he fights stupidity in higher circles.

[Dave]

I don't really remember 'The Quatermass Xperiment' or 'Quatermass II', but like you I have vivid memories of seeing this (probably later than 1968) and it also scared the living daylights out of me too. I say it must have been later than 1968, because I don't think I would have been old enough to be allowed to watch it then (though I do remember watching 'The Avengers' when I was very lucky.)