Details Rated: Unrated; Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy; With: James Donald and Andrew Keir

This heady sci-fi thriller (released in the U.S. as Five Million Years to Earth) captivates with its dense plot involving a spaceship found in a London subway station. The dead, locustlike creatures on board (which somehow explain such mysteries as the origins of evil and human intelligence) exert a psychic influence that threatens mankind. Roy Ward Baker's pithy direction is capped by a parting look at battle-weary scientists Keir (as Professor Quatermass) and Shelley that has the dazed eloquence of mid-'60s Antonioni. Tip: Rent the equally good first two films of the series, The Quatermass Xperiment and Quatermass II, for a kicky triple bill. B

Originally posted Nov 07, 1997 Published in issue #404 Nov 07, 1997 Order article reprints

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining
Advertisement