Long before Alien, there was Quatermass. Hammer Films’ trailblazing 1955 science fiction thriller, The Quatermass Xperiment, has been painstakingly restored for a limited-edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release.
Oft hailed as one of Britain’s seminal genre works, The Quatermass Xperiment is also often credited with putting Hammer Films firmly on the international map.
It launched not just a new era of horror-tinged science fiction cinema but introduced a body horror template that countless others would follow. Now, 70 years after its original release, Hammer is giving this definitive alien possession movie the TLC it deserves.
An astronaut returns to Earth after a mission gone horribly wrong, only to slowly transform into something grotesque and alien…
Based on the 1953 BBC television serial by Nigel Kneale and directed by Val Guest, The Quatermass Xperiment channels the sense of unease that defined the early days of the Space Age. An astronaut returns to Earth after a mission gone horribly wrong, only to slowly transform into something grotesque and alien. As scientists and authorities scramble to understand, and contain the creature, the terrifying consequences of space exploration become clear…
When Hammer boldly leaned into the horror of space exploration, earning the newly-minted X certificate for adults-only viewing, they set a tone that would echo through the annals of science fiction, fueled by a sharp script, atmospheric direction, and a haunting performance by Richard Wordsworth as tragic astronaut Victor Carroon.
The 4K resurrection of The Quatermass Xperiment
Although the original film negatives have long been lost to time, Hammer’s restoration team has worked from the best surviving elements to produce a vivid 4K restoration, maintaining both the original as-filmed 1.37:1 academy aspect ratio and the wider 1.66:1 theatrical format. For the first time ever, the US version of the film, The Creeping Unknown, has also been painstakingly reconstructed from these new materials, and is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, for probably the first time in fifty years.
The result, we’re told, is a presentation that preserves the eerie, shadow-drenched look of Walter Harvey’s cinematography while revealing nuances that have been hidden for decades. Audio purists can breathe easy, too: the original mono track is included, along with a brand-new 5.1 surround mix for a richer, more immersive cinematic experience.
The Limited Collector’s Edition set includes five discs packed with content, as well as a lavish booklet packed with essays, images, and behind-the-scenes history. Among the set’s highlights are two brand-new documentaries, one chronicling the life and influence of Nigel Kneale, and another delving into the making of The Quatermass Xperiment itself; A behind-the-scenes featurette showing how the restoration was achieved, offering a rare glimpse at the meticulous care involved; Archival materials, including commentaries, featurettes, and even the original House of Hammer magazine comic strip adaptation.
The package also includes all surviving episodes of the original 1953 BBC television serial, which was performed and broadcast live from a small studio at Alexandra Palace, transferred and presented on Blu-ray for the first time.
Priced at £60, this Limited Collector’s Edition, is available exclusively via Hammer Films online.
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The Luxe Review 
Long before Alien, there was Quatermass. Hammer Films’ trailblazing 1955 science fiction thriller, The Quatermass Xperiment, has been painstakingly restored for a limited-edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release.
Oft hailed as one of Britain’s seminal genre works, The Quatermass Xperiment is also often credited with putting Hammer Films firmly on the international map.
It launched not just a new era of horror-tinged science fiction cinema but introduced a body horror template that countless others would follow. Now, 70 years after its original release, Hammer is giving this definitive alien possession movie the TLC it deserves.
Based on the 1953 BBC television serial by Nigel Kneale and directed by Val Guest, The Quatermass Xperiment channels the sense of unease that defined the early days of the Space Age. An astronaut returns to Earth after a mission gone horribly wrong, only to slowly transform into something grotesque and alien. As scientists and authorities scramble to understand, and contain the creature, the terrifying consequences of space exploration become clear…
When Hammer boldly leaned into the horror of space exploration, earning the newly-minted X certificate for adults-only viewing, they set a tone that would echo through the annals of science fiction, fueled by a sharp script, atmospheric direction, and a haunting performance by Richard Wordsworth as tragic astronaut Victor Carroon.
The 4K resurrection of The Quatermass Xperiment
Although the original film negatives have long been lost to time, Hammer’s restoration team has worked from the best surviving elements to produce a vivid 4K restoration, maintaining both the original as-filmed 1.37:1 academy aspect ratio and the wider 1.66:1 theatrical format. For the first time ever, the US version of the film, The Creeping Unknown, has also been painstakingly reconstructed from these new materials, and is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, for probably the first time in fifty years.
The result, we’re told, is a presentation that preserves the eerie, shadow-drenched look of Walter Harvey’s cinematography while revealing nuances that have been hidden for decades. Audio purists can breathe easy, too: the original mono track is included, along with a brand-new 5.1 surround mix for a richer, more immersive cinematic experience.
The Limited Collector’s Edition set includes five discs packed with content, as well as a lavish booklet packed with essays, images, and behind-the-scenes history. Among the set’s highlights are two brand-new documentaries, one chronicling the life and influence of Nigel Kneale, and another delving into the making of The Quatermass Xperiment itself; A behind-the-scenes featurette showing how the restoration was achieved, offering a rare glimpse at the meticulous care involved; Archival materials, including commentaries, featurettes, and even the original House of Hammer magazine comic strip adaptation.
The package also includes all surviving episodes of the original 1953 BBC television serial, which was performed and broadcast live from a small studio at Alexandra Palace, transferred and presented on Blu-ray for the first time.
Priced at £60, this Limited Collector’s Edition, is available exclusively via Hammer Films online.
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