Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - Quatermass 2

QUATERMASS 2 (1957)

Starring Brian Donlevy, John Longden, Sid James, Bryan Forbes, William Franklyn and Vera Day

Written by Nigel Kneale and Val Guest, based on the 1955 TV serial by Nigel Kneale

Directed by Val Guest

The QUATERMASS trilogy is the only other series of sequels in Hammer's horror filmography outside of DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN and the MUMMY. Not as familiar a name as those other three, huh? Still, a pretty cool character -- a rocket scientist who just wants to put men in space but keeps getting interrupted when he's embroiled in fighting monsters for the government (and for the good of mankind). He's the sort of guy who probably would be a mad scientist, if he wasn't always saving the day. Although he seems to get less mad (as in crazy) as the series goes on but continues to be just as mad (as in cranky) the whole time. He's sort of the House MD of rocket scientists -- cranky, always right, no one believes him. I reviewed the first QUATERMASS movie, THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT in a previous Horrorfest, so here we're starting with part two, the aptly (if boringly) named QUATERMASS 2.

Brian Donlevy reprises her role as Quatermass who has ambitions to build a base on the moon, only to find out there's a similar base right on Earth in a seemingly abandoned village nearby. Mysterious guards with machine guns protect the area, and strange meteors are falling from the sky, causing gross skin deformities when they release gas onto people. Quatermass' own assistant is infected, and captured by the mysterious guards, and Quatermass goes on a journey to alert the authorities, most of whom don't believe him or are in on the conspiracy, whatever it might be.

Without going into too much detail, I will say that aliens from outerspace are attempting to take over the Earth, turning humans into their slaves. These aliens are massive blob-like creatures that tower as tall as skyscrapers and finally reveal themselves to stomp across the countryside in a memorable climax.

I feel like the QUATERMASS movies are prime for remakes -- watching this one unfold, I was struck by how modern it seemed in its pacing, action, variety of characters coming together in unexpected ways. Maybe Hugh Laurie could even play Quatermass, who knows. He's definitely an interesting character, and it's especially interesting to have a monster/sci-fi series like this center around the interesting main character instead of centering around the monsters and saddling the viewers with bland heroes. Quatermass is logical and wise while also being impulsive and decisive, taking massive risks to do what he thinks is right. It's a good mix for a hero.