The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) Blu-ray Review

Val Guest was an English film director probably best known for his time with Hammer Film productions. During his Hammer career he directed 14 films. In 1955 Hammer decided to produce a feature film The Creeping Unknown based on the 1953 BBC Television serial entitled The Quatermass Xperiment.

Now over the years this film has become a cult classic. Sci-fi films fans love this film. Now the good folks at KL Studio Classics are giving this film a deluxe Blu-ray treatment this cult classic so richly deserves.

A spacecraft returning to earth carries a frightening surprise on board. Two of the ship's three astronauts have mysteriously vanished, while the third is sick with an unidentifiable illness. While doctors try to help the third man recover, an investigation takes place to figure out just what happened to his comrades. As it turns out, the survivor's body has been taken over by an alien fungus that needs blood to survive. After the astronaut escapes from the hospital, he transforms into a monster, attacking everyone who gets in it's way. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard detective Lomax (Jack Warner, THE BLUE LAMP) and Professor Bernard Quatermass (Brian Donlevy, THE GLASS KEY), a determined scientist, attempt to track down the creature before it finds new victims. 

In the 1950s sci-fi films were known a lot for their campy stories and cheap looking monsters, but The Quatermass Xperiment is not like these types of films. The story is well crafted, Brian Donlevy is tremendous, but so is all the acting. Then there are the special effects. They are very believable, not campy at all!

The film has been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p in 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The audio soundtrack is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. There are also English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. 

This transfer is something special. There are only a few minor specks and lines in this print. As for the audio it is clean with no hiss or pops. I was so impressed with how good this film looks on Blu-ray. Especially when you think this film is almost 70 years old. Simply stunning! But Kino Lorber added some very cool bonus features to this Blu-ray release. Take a look at what is included. 

* NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Screenwriter Gary Gerani
* Carpenter on Quatermass: On-Camera Interview with Legendary Director John Carpenter
* The Quatermass Xperiment: From Reality to Fiction Featurette
* The Quatermass Xperiment: Comparing the Versions Featurette
* Interview with Director Val Guest by Hammer Film Historian Marcus Hearn
* Audio Commentary by Director Val Guest, Moderated by Marcus Hearn
* Trailers From Hell with Ernest Dickerson
* Alternate Main Title
* Theatrical Trailer
* Reversible Blu-ray insert and slipcover

The absolutely stunning looking transfer of this film is enough, but the bonus features take this release to a whole other level. Not one but two audio commentaries, interviews, featurettes, and two different kinds of artwork. I love that!

It is so awesome to see The Quatermass Xperiment on Blu-ray! My hope is that Kino Lorber will release the entire Quatermass trilogy on Blu-ray! Maybe in 2024 we will get Quatermass 2 and Quatermass and the Pit. That would be a physical media fans dream come true.

If you love 1950s Science Fiction films as much as I do you are going to love this new Blu-ray of The Quatermass Xperiment. Head over to Deep Discount and order your copy today!

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 being the best) KL Studio Classics Blu-ray of The Quatermass Xperiment receives....