“The will to survive... it's an odd phenomenon. Roney, if we found out earth was doomed - say, by climatic changes - what would we do about it?”
“Nothing. Just go on squabbling as usual.”
Welcome to Harbour Highlights, a series of cult and classic favourites, handpicked by the staff of Harbour Lights. This month, Mat takes us five million miles to Earth (to quote the US title) for the classic Hammer sci-fi horror Quatermass and the Pit.
When a mysterious skull is dug up at an Underground station, Professor Bernard Quatermass believes it to not be that of a prehistoric man, but rather that of a five-million-year-old alien. What follows is a terrifying tale of spectral visions, telekinetic attacks, three-legged monsters and perhaps even the Devil itself – all tied into the origins of humankind!
Based on the BBC TV serial and following on from Hammer’s previous adaptations of Quatermass stories in the 1950s, Quatermass and the Pit remains the definitive tale of space scientist Professor Quatermass. A ten-year gap between this and the previous film, as well as a new cast helped the film stand out as a standalone film and become a B-movie classic, taking the styles of films such as The War of the Worlds and infusing it with the unique sensibilities of Hammer Film Productions. Much beloved by sci-fi horror aficionados, it remains a fun and thrilling experience.
