Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - Quatermass and the Pit

Starring James Donald, Andrew Keir, Barbara Shelley and Julian Glover

Written by Nigel Kneale and directed by Roy Ward Baker

And now for the thrilling conclusion of the QUATERMASS trilogy in which Quatermass STILL doesn't get any guys into a rocket and onto the moon. But, he does fight monsters while dealing with skeptical army brass, so it's just another day at the office for ol' Quatermass.

Only it's a different Quatermass! Well, the actor's different, anyway. This time out Andrew Kier has replaced Brian Donlevy, apparently because the writer of the series never really liked Donlevy's portrayal, anyway. You might remember Kier from DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS as a better-than-average Van Helsing replacement. So, he has what it takes for the role. His interpretation of the character is a little kinder and less socially awkward professor -- we lose some of the crankiness and misanthropy Donlevy brought to the role, which I think is a big part of what makes Quatermass a memorable character. Still, it's not a distracting change, and for the most part, QUATERMASS AND THE PIT is a worthy sequel.

In this one, excavators discover weird skulls and skeletons and stuff in the London Underground, predating anything similar that's every been dug up before. As scientists get involved, further digging turns up a strange metal object, so in comes the military. More digging later and I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's an alien spaceship!

The lead military dude is not convinced, however, and he's played by Julian Glover, who has fought both Indiana Jones and James Bond. He's not even convinced when Quatermass weigh in with his opinion: aliens. Not just aliens! Martians. And they're here to take over the world.

Of course, not if Quatermass has anything to say about it. One thing leads to another and it isn't long before the entire city is being torn apart by Martian psychic energy, regular citizens are under Martian mind control, and a huge Martian monster towers over everything.

While this Quatermass production is probably the biggest in scope and most ambitious, it is also probably the least of the series. While it's still entertaining, it lags somewhat in the middle, and the ending, without giving too much away, is oddly bitter and downbeat, with a very strange end credits sequence in which a stunned Quatermass just looks tired and worn out from always having to save the world.

I still think Quatermass is ready for a remake -- maybe even a TV series. Who should play him, though? Hugh Laurie? Bring this character back, give him a big budget, and get his rocket men on the moon once and for all.