Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Clarissa Mora The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

seance-64749 Quatermass and the pit 1967 is a film which I've watched many times. Why? Because it's the type which you don't get bored with! No need to mention film plot as many user reviews do. It has quite a tad going for it too. The casting is indeed re principle characters fine. A thought provoking sci-fi horror which is memorable. In my opinion this one would come in top TEN re Hammer films! Yes I have it on DVD.

JLRVancouver A 5-million year old Martian colony ship containing the remains of the original insectoidal crew is found buried beneath London. Disturbing the ship causes a release some kind of paranormal energy that causes visions of the horned Martians, violent compulsions, and psychokinetic disturbances, so the area (Hob's Lane, 'hob' as in 'hob'globin for example) is reputed to be cursed. Despite hero Quatermass' warnings, the army dismisses the ship as an unexploded experimental weapon from WW2 and allows the press to bring in generators. The ship, which was programmed to compel the original Martian crew to preserve the colony at all costs and to destroy any different life forms (apparently a continuation of the eugenic genocide that destroyed their home world), fully awakens and drives the local humans to embark on an orgy of destruction and murder. Earth is saved by an astute guess as to the nature of the Martian technology and a convenient crane. Overall an imaginative and intriguing set-up let down by a weak ending - the astute guess was not based on much data, so comes across as a bit of a Deus Ex Machina, and the crane was just tooooo convenient (and the heroic martyrdom of James Donald's character is a bit silly – what did he think he was going to do, perched on the edge of the massive construction crane – shift it with his weight?). Despite the limitations of the climax and some dodgy special effects, "Five Million Years to Earth" (aka "Quatermass and the Pit") is a great example of the cerebral (relative to most concurrent American releases) science fiction movies to come out of Britain in the 50s and 60s. Overall, a clever spin on the classic premise of aliens being the inspiration of our racial memories of devils and demons (for other examples, see A. C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" or the third doctor serial "The Dæmons" (1971)) and well worth watching for both the story and Andrew Keir's excellent portrayal of the iconic (in some circles) 'Bernard Quatermass' character

Prichards12345 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.

morrison-dylan-fan Despite having heard about the series for a number of years,I have somehow never got round to seeing any of the films/TV shows that feature the Quatermass character.Taking a look on Amazon UK for Hammer Horror DVDs,I was delighted to spot Studio Canal's DVD/Blu edition of a Hammer Quatermass film,which led to me getting ready to jump in the pit with Prof. Bernard Quatermass.The plot:Working on an extension of the London Underground,I group of workers uncover a number of strange looking skeletons.Called in to identify the mysterious remains, Paleontologist Dr Matthew Roney announces that he believes that the bones are 5 million years old,and that they belong to an extremely early version of the apemen.As Roney and his assistant Barbara Judd recover the skeletons,they find a large metal object,which appears to be an un-exploded bomb.Dismayed over his plans for the colonisation of the Moon having recently been taken over by the army, Professor Bernard Quatermass visits the "bomb site" with Colonel Breen watching over his shoulder.Pushing aside the bomb theories,Quatermass tells everyone that he believes the object is of alien origin.Reserching the area with Judd,Quatermass finds out that strange historical events have taken place in the area,which has involved residences seeing creatures that look similar to the skeletons that Roney has recovered.Fearing that something has been uncovered which should have remained buried,Quatermass is horrified to find the army determined to open the strange object.View on the film:Before I get to the film,I to say that Studio Canal give the title a perfect transfer,with the audio being sharp & the vibrant colours popping across the screen.Showing remarkable restrain from showing the monster until the very end,director Roy Ward Baker & cinematographer Arthur Grant create a superb,tense Hammer Horror atmosphere.Placing most of the movie in t'pit,Baker and Grant use excellent tracking shots to fully display the claustrophobic location,and to also create a deep feeling of dread,as Baker closely follows the team digging up the secret.Although some of the special effects do have a rubber "bounce",Baker covers the screen in bright golds and shining greens,which along with giving the effects a nice slimy texture,also makes the teams increasingly dangerous discoveries stand out in the pit.Adapting his TV creation for the big screen,the screenplay by Nigel Kneale offers a tremendous mix of Sci-Fi chills and tense Adventure movie investigation.Slowly revealing the hidden terror,Kneale cleverly puts Quatermass in an explorer position,which along with letting each new discovery build on the chilling atmosphere,also gives Kneale the chance to give the terror a strong foundation,as Quatermass finds himself unable to stop the army opening the object,and pushing the film into an explosive, bravely tragic Disaster movie final.Despite not being Baker's first choice for the role, (with the studio rejecting his suggestion of Kenneth More) Andrew Keir gives a wonderful performance as Quatermass,thanks to Keir giving Quatermass a perfect balance of excited single-mindedness over the discovery,and a burnt at the edges, frantic desperation,over stopping the mystery from being unleashed.Giving the film a touch of elegance,the very pretty Barbara Shelly gives a charming performance as Barbara Judd,who Shelly shows is unable to withstand the strange attraction that the object has on her,whilst Julian Glover (who did his own stunts!) strikes the film with a stiff upper lip shine as Colonel Breen,who is desperate to join Quatermass in t'pit.