The success of the first two Quatermass adaptations launched Hammer, so it’s a surprise it took them so long to do the third. (This originally aired on TV in 1958 - I think they waited too long - the film was not a success at the box office.) Andrew Keir is a very strong Quatermass, much more believable as a boffin than Brian Donlevy. Unfortunately, he shares hero duties here with the less strong James Donald as Rooney; more star power in this role would have helped. Barbara Shelley is on hand, once again playing an anxious, worried type. It’s very British sci-fi – all stiff upper lips, and logic, with a sexy girl and elder guys, and military officers. Plenty of imagination and intelligence – it lacks humour and heart, and takes a while to get going, but there are several great sequences and a full-on apocalyptic finale.
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