6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Professor Quatermass, trying to gather support for his Lunar colonisation project, is intrigued by mysterious traces that have been showing up.
Starring: Brian Donlevy, John Longden, Sidney James, Bryan Forbes, William FranklynHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.75:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.75:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A sequel to 1955’s “The Quatermass Xperiment,” 1957’s “Quatermass 2” returns actor Brian Donlevy to the titular role, this time sending the good professor out to investigate the appearance of strange meteorites and inspect the inner workings of a mysterious refinery. Val Guest returns to directorial duty, coming up with another reason to remain with the older detective and his particular sense of defiance when it comes to government orders and alien invasions.
Billed as a "New 2K scan of the only surviving film print," "Quatermass 2" comes to Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.75:1 aspect ratio) presentation. The source has some rough patches, with a few missing frames and periodic scratches, and speckling is common. Day-for-night photography gives the feature an oppressively dark look at times, but clarity is better when outside of extreme processing demands. Detail survives, isolating facial particulars, including Donlevy's agitation, with a thin coating of sweat visible in most close-ups. Locations retain depth, delivering a full view of the refinery setting. Costuming also sustain textures, dealing with office wear and tougher militaristic uniforms. Alien events are appropriately goopy.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is a bit more chaotic than clear, with surges of scoring threatening distorted highs. Instrumentation isn't precise, but the feature's suspense needs are met. Dialogue exchanges are satisfactory, with speed and emphasis preserved. Sound effects are acceptable, capturing alien activity and gunfire, which handles with a louder snap. Some mild fluctuations in volume are encountered along the way.
"Quatermass 2" doesn't improve on the original feature, but it manages to sustain an interesting level of concentration on weird science and troubled characters. It's talky, but retains effective moments of horror, with Guest saving most of his action for the finale, making sure the audience leaves with a sampling of mayhem to go with an era-specific slice of government paranoia.
Special Edition | The Creeping Unknown
1955
1959
1957
Five Million Years to Earth
1967
Standard Edition
1953
1988
1953
1956
Warner Archive Collection
1951
1956
1953
1978
2K Restoration
1958
1958
Collector's Edition
1978
Space Vampires / Space Zombies
1968
Warner Archive Collection
1958
1987
10th Anniversary Special Edition
2008
1957