good back-story, and good acting

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.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The success of The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) was the factor that alerted the hitherto obscure British film studio Hammer that the future for them might be with horror movies. This follow up movie – incidentally, the first sequel to use '2' in its title – merely cemented this notion and by the end of the decade Hammer's hugely influential cycle of horror movies was truly underway. At this earlier stage in the mid-50's though, the fashion was not yet for Gothic horrors filmed in glorious colour but for sci-fi/horror in traditional black and white. With its story of a meteor shower that ultimately results with people being taken over by alien entities, it not only indicates the influence of the earlier Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) but more generally shows itself to be a product of the Cold War years, where people suddenly become roboticised by external forces (which was essentially what many folks from the day thought those dastardly communists were doing).Its lower key British sensibilities, setting and plot-line make it feel like a definite precursor to the sci-fi series 'Dr Who', which would kick into gear at the beginning of the next decade. Similar to that, Quatermass 2 is an imaginative piece of work which benefits from a creative script from genre specialist Nigel Kneale. Val Guest who directed the first instalment returns here again, as does Brian Donlevy to reprise his role as the somewhat prickly title character. Less expectedly it also features 'Carry On' legend Sid James in a role which by his subsequent standards is very serious.I think this sequel may in fact surpass the original. It seems to have a little more budget and it makes that count. The production is still a modest one but makes use of its locations, especially the power plant where the action orbits, while the big finale is pretty well executed with some nice special effects. I think over and above that, it has an effective slightly downbeat atmosphere which suits this story well and, on the whole, this can certainly be considered one of the upper bracket science fiction films of its day.

Hammer Studios follows up their solid feature film version of "The Quatermass Xperiment" with this tense and intelligent sci-fi thriller. Brian Donlevy returns as Professor Quatermass, who is making a routine trip to his observatory when he nearly gets into a traffic accident with some panicky youths. While he and a young associate, Marsh (actor / director Bryan Forbes) scout the area, they come upon an elaborate installation similar to the lunar project that Quatermass himself is working on. Eventually Quatermass gets wind of the fact that certain locals are being turned into "zombies", so to speak, and being forced to work for an alien intelligence."Quatermass 2" is good fun for any fan of this genre or of the character. It's co-scripted by director Val Guest (who'd previously done "The Quatermass Xperiment" and character creator Nigel Kneale, based on the TV production. It has an excellent forward momentum, beginning with a breathless opening and gradually increasing the tension. The tale is (for this viewer, anyway) not quite as creepy as the first one, and it has an exposition heavy script, but it's faultlessly performed by its strong supporting cast. John Longden now plays the role of the police inspector Lomax, played by Jack Warner in the first film. Donlevy is a tough, no- nonsense hero, softened a little bit this time around, but still the kind of guy who doesn't mince words. Sidney James adds a dose of comedy relief as the wary reporter Jimmy Hall. Also doing creditable work are William Franklyn, Tom Chatto, John Van Eyssen, and ubiquitous Hammer actor Michael Ripper.It's a particular joy to see Quatermass and Lomax joined in the fight to rescue humanity by many angry locals. This adds to the excitement of the big finish. The stark black & white photography by Gerald Gibbs is most impressive, and Philip Leakey does the convincing makeup effects. There are some monster creations that show up near the end that are at the least pretty amusing.Considered by some to be superior to "Xperiment", and followed 10 years later by the very interesting "Quatermass and the Pit".Eight out of 10.

In 1957 1 shilling and 9 pence was the price of one of the better seats in a cinema. I was too young to be allowed to see the film at the time of its release and the recent screening on BBC 2 is the first time I've seen it - 50+ years after its release - perhaps the first time it has been screened on British television? Its high rating of 7 and many enthusiastic reviews from the US confirm that it is an important British film of the time with a wide - and lasting - appeal.The opening is something of a teaser but the pace flags somewhat after that for the first 10 minutes or so then with the revelation of the unlimited seriousness of the problem, the pace gets faster and faster and film more and more gripping.Not as polished as "Invasion of the Body-Snatchers" but Nigel Kneale's creative ideas and screenplay ensure, not first time, that even nearly 60 years on this is still a rocket ride.

Just like its predecessor, this is a movie that surprises within its genre. '50's science-fiction/horror wasn't exactly known for its class or greatness but some of the exception from the '50's to this were also some great classic ones at the same time. Just think about "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "The Thing From Another World" for instance. What those movies all did was taking its genre serious and approach it from a scientific and also more classic horror approach. So instead of having straight forward monsters we have an actual build-up, with solid written story and characters to like and feel for."Quatermass 2" is also a movie that approaches the genre with some more class than many of its fellow genre pieces from the same time period. It's a movie that mostly relies on its mysterious build up and eerie atmosphere. It has some great moments in, though it also is being quite ridicules at times. But this also has to do with the fact that of course by todays standards the '50's science-fiction flicks look all so terribly outdated now days.It's an Hammer film from the period that the Hammer studios were not only solely known for its horror productions. The movie also does have some of the, what later would be, typical Hammer film moments in it. Basically Hammer films were all some early exploitation flicks but in its beginning period it still showed some more class and also had some obviously more serious intentions still with its movies.The acting in the movie is really great. Brian Donlevy reprises his Dr. Quatermass role again and he was great to watch again. The role of Lomax is this time being played by John Longden, who also did a real great job.It's a good looking movie with its atmosphere. The movie is shot in black & white, which enhances the mystery and also tension of the entire movie. It's a movie that really is build on its atmosphere and mystery. It does use some special effects but it does this to a minimum. It's really not the type of science-fiction movie you would expect from one that got made during the '50's.Just like its predecessor, a great little '50's gem.7/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/