Really Surprised!

Overrated

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

*Spoiler/plot- X, the Unknown, 1956. On a secret atomic energy British instillation, some mysterious local murders occur with horrific results to the bodies. The scientists investigate to find a strange underground living 'putty' that is attracted to all things radioactive, but kills.*Special Stars- Dean Jagger, Edward Chapman, Leo McKern, Anthony Newley, Ian MacNaughton, *Theme- Be careful about opening that door for our atomic age. *Trivia/location/goofs- B & W. A Hammer film from UK. Originally to be a sequel to the big film, Quatermass Xperiment ('55) but the scientist was renamed and re-cast. Look for the British pop singer, Anthony Newley in one of his first screen roles. The film's performers and production staff was affected by the era's Hollywood Blacklist.*Emotion- A wonderfully watchable, enjoyable, and dramatic film. The plot is well produced and easy to follow so the viewer. They can experience some terror and mystery. I would like to own this film.*Based On- Atomic bomb fears and speculation.

Apparently this was supposed to be the fourth instalment of the Quatermass series and you can definitely see the influence here, British location, American scientist character in order to give it some transatlantic appeal, bumptious military types, disbelieving bureaucrats (Dr Beeching?) and young and handsome earnest assistants. This time however the threat does not come from outer space but in a neat twist from inner space, a prehistoric creature that feeds on radioactive energy and has now emerged as the development of nuclear power/weaponry has finally provided it with enough food source to return to the surface. A great concept which unfortunately the special effects can never live up to, I envisioned something more akin to Morbius' creature of the 'Id' from The Forbidden Planet. Speaking of which this must have been quite shocking in its' day, the sight of the creature's victims melting away must have been truly disturbing to a 50s audience. They also kill the kid which must have been taboo at the time. One thing that stuck in my craw a little was the nurse who was rendered mute after witnessing her lover's death, I half expected someone to exclaim 'Well of course she's hysterical, she's only a woman'. Underpinning this all is an early form of environmentalism, atomic energy had been sold to the masses as the great white hope but now people were beginning to have second thoughts as the grieving father's rant against the scientist illustrates. That the creature resembles an oil slick may also be a metaphor of sorts. The ending is somewhat underwhelming, the creatures defeat depending on a tyre getting out of a rut and you wonder if there wasn't supposed to be another scene before the titles run but all the same it's an interesting and entertaining film.

Writer Jimmy Sangster, the man behind Hammer films such as Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein, and Paranoic, watched earlier this evening, also penned this sci-fi/horror/mystery gem. Sangster, sadly, departed our presence last month, but his legacy of films lives on.Scottish troops are practicing with uranium when one discovers a mysterious opening in the ground. Oscar winner (Twelve O'Clock High) Dean Jagger plays the scientist called in after the discovery. I really liked him in Elmer Gantry and Bad Day at Black Rock, as well as the General in White Christmas. The monster is hokey, and the science is probably bad, but it was fun anyway.

This is a British science fiction flick that gets better each time you watch it. If you are a Hammer Films fan, you have a treat in store; even if this film isn't in that vivid Hammer color everyone loves. British soldiers are on a training exercise near a Scottish village, when they come across a mysterious radioactive mud. An atomic scientist, Dr. Adam Royston(Dean Jagger)is flown in to investigate. What you soon have is a large bottomless crack in that muddy Scottish soil; and it allows a giant radioactive blob to surface that consumes everything in its path. Is humanity in peril? Atmosphericlly suspenseful. Besides popular character actor Jagger, the cast also includes: Leo McKern, Edward Chapman, Anthony Newley(yes, the singer), Peter Hammond and Michael Ripper.Note:It is said that director Leslie Norman was so not liked by cast and crew that Hammer never gave him work again.