The Quatermass Xperiment [1955]

PRESS

1955

Today's Cinema vol.85 no.7335 [22 August 1955] p.8 [UK]
"Compellingly gruesome and exciting filmisation of the successful television serial of the same name [...] Experienced direction gets the maximum eerie effects and tension from by-now well-known subject. Vigorous, convincing performances, notably from Brian Donlevy as a determined space scientist, and Richard Wordsworth as the man who became a monster. Brilliant technical effects do a great deal to sustain the illusion." - D.R.

Variety 7 September 1955 p.6 [USA]
"[A]n extravagant piece of science fiction [...] Despite its obvious horror angles, production is crammed with incident and suspense [...] Production qualities are better than average for this type of picture [...] This is unrelieved melodrama without any femme interest. It draws its entertainment from a series of wildly improbable happenings. There is an occasional over-plus if (sic) horror close-ups of the victims [...] Donlevy plays the scientist with a grim and ruthless conviction. Jack Warner gives a realistic interpretation of a Scotland Yard detective. Richard Wordsworth, with only one word of dialog, makes a valuable contribution as the survivor. Margie Dean is completely colorless as his wife. Val Guest's vigorous direction is matched by other competent technical credits." - Myro

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.22 no.261 [October 1955] p.150 [UK]
"The monster proves [...] more acceptably alarming than most of the Things in science fiction and in his more human stages Richard Wordsworth's tortured grimace and menacing make up suggests a pathetic as well as a horrific figure. The film moves at the pace of a smart thriller [..] and it follows the line of American pictures such as Them! in combining outlandish incident with a brisk and prosaic narrative manner. The final scene of electrocution in the abbey is gruesomely but unconvincingly managed; otherwise The Quatermass Experiment firmly maintains its chilling grip." - author not credited

1997

Filmfax no.61 [June / July 1997] pp.54, 55 [USA]
"Richard Wordsworth [...] gave a brilliant performance. His gaunt, tortured appearance added immeasurably to his role." - Richard A. Ekstedt

2003

Starburst no.299 [May 2003] p.64 [UK]
"Opinions are divided as to Brian Donlevy's portrayal of Quatermass, and it does seem unlikely that an American would head the British Rocket Group, but the drama is solid and the story gripping." - Jan-Michael Rudzki

Sight and Sound vol.13 no.8 [August 2003] p.69 [UK]
"There's a hint of Ed Wood about this cult Hammer Horror pic [...] From the rocket that plunges into a field in the opening sequence to the electrocution of a creepy crawly in the final scene, the special effects aren't impressive. What does register more strongly is Richard Wordsworth's anguished performance as a gaunt astronaut with a withered arm who is being eaten away by a parasitic organism." - Geoffrey Macnab