Quatermass 2 (1957) - Revisión en 4K Ultra HD

      Quatermass 2, 1957.

      Directed by Val Guest.

      Featuring Brian Donlevy, John Longdon, Sidney James, Bryan Forbes, Vera Day, Michael Ripper, John Van Eyssen, Charles Lloyd Pack.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Professor Quatermass, seeking government backing for his lunar colonization project, uncovers that the British government is significantly ahead of him and that an alien menace has already infiltrated society.

      You must commend Hammer Films, as their collector’s editions truly cater to enthusiasts. After thoroughly searching their archives for every possible asset for last month’s 4K UHD release of The Quatermass Xperiment—including Super 8 edited versions and BBFC censorship cards—they now present the sequel, Quatermass 2, in a similarly extravagant package that's both visually stunning and quite overwhelming.

      Professor Bernard Quatermass (Brian Donlevy) is fervently seeking governmental support for his moon colonization initiative, yet he becomes sidetracked by reports of peculiar rocks falling from the sky, which emit a gas that inflicts burns, leaving behind a strange V-shaped scar. When Quatermass and a colleague investigate one of these meteorites at a secret government facility that astonishingly resembles his lunar project model, his colleague suffers burns, and armed henchmen, all bearing similar scars, force Quatermass to leave the site. This drives him to seek assistance from higher authorities, but upon noticing scars on government officials, he realizes he must be cautious about whom to trust.

      Written by Nigel Kneale and adapted from the 1955 TV serial, Quatermass 2 immediately evokes comparisons to Invasion of the Body Snatchers from the previous year, with its alien invasion narrative serving as a metaphor for Cold War anxieties and the looming threat of communism, compounded by government cover-ups and concerns about trustworthiness. Brian Donlevy effectively captures Professor Quatermass’s serious demeanor, which adds to the absurdity of his circumstances, making these implausible scenarios all the more entertaining. This stylistic choice resonates with later filmmakers like Stuart Gordon, whose character Herbert West maintains a serious tone amidst the chaos of reanimated corpses in Re-Animator, highlighting the absurdity in a positive light.

      In Quatermass 2, the anticipation leading up to the eventual reveal of the monster is particularly captivating, as Quatermass and his colleagues visit the government facility where the guide—portrayed by Hammer veteran John Van Eyssen with an impressive English accent—claims the venue is meant for food cultivation and processing. Skeptical, Quatermass's colleague sneaks off to explore one of the giant golden domes, leading to a chilling moment as he reappears covered in a burning black goo (Ridley Scott likely drew inspiration from this film). Unfortunately, the narrative predictably veers into more conventional territory thereafter, as the conspiracy elements lose their weight and the climax devolves into typical sci-fi action, with protagonists confronting a giant, muck-covered creature that slithers past artificial backgrounds (George A. Romero and Stephen King likely noted this as well). It’s well-crafted and may have been shocking to audiences of 1957; however, considering the strong foundation laid by the dubious government backdrop, the resolution feels somewhat like a letdown.

      As these collector’s editions show, the main feature's quality is not always the primary draw, and this extensive edition finds Hammer culling every last piece of Quatermass 2-related content from their archives. The five-disc collection includes two 4K UHD discs and three standard Blu-rays, offering three versions of the film: the 1.66:1 UK Theatrical Cut, the fullscreen 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version, and the widescreen 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version, allowing you to select your favored format.

      Additionally, you receive the second part of The Legend of Nigel Kneale: Enemy from Space (the first part featured on The Quatermass Xperiment disc), the featurette Doubling Down: Uncovering Quatermass 2 detailing the film's production, a short documentary about Brian Donlevy, various archival interviews with director Val Guest, all six episodes of the Quatermass II TV series, a new audio commentary featuring Toby Hadoke, Nigel Kneale's biographer Andy Murray, and artist/film historian Stephen R. Bissett, as well as archived audio commentaries from Val Guest, Nigel Kneale, Hammer specialists Marcus Hearne, Ted Newsom, and Constantine Nasr, along with writer/producer Dr. Steve Haberman. Furthermore, there is a 176-page book containing reproductions of original promotional materials and articles, art cards, posters, and an exquisite leather-like digipak to house it all. Trailers, BBFC cards, and Super 8 edits are also included, making this a comprehensive