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A construction site becomes the center of speculation as a mysterious object is uncovered not long after some pre-human remains. Legendary Professor Quatermass is called into assist in the find which he posits might have otherworldy roots with disturbing links to our own past. The mystery unfurls and the unsettling truth is revealed, a truth that bears a chilling parallel to our present.
"Quatermass and the Pit" was a six-part serial for the BBC and the third installment following the beloved Professor Bernard Quatermass. It's also arguably the best of the lot. Certainly the one that had most influence on the works of others and for good reason. Even now, about six decades later, the series manages to evoke an ominous atmosphere and a prevalent sense of the mystifying. Given the severe limitations of budget this is quite the impressive feat.
Yes, indeed, "Quatermass and the Pit", like most of it's BBC brethren is marked by its economical production but rather than push those limits to breaking point this serial makes the most out of the viewer's imagination. Therein lies its true lasting power and its remarkable hold on the psyche of those who watch it. Coupled with its memorable lead and its palpable sense of inevitability, the series has remained one of the most lauded achievements of its time.
It truly is a sight to behold how much can be achieved with mere suggestion, dialogue, and clever exposition. That six 34 minute episode fly by at such a steady clip with the scantest of visual cues to whet the hearty appetite it stirs up is absolutely remarkable. At a run time of about three hours and half, however, it becomes a gargantuan feat.
For this we have to thank Nigel Kneale's bountiful imagination. As a writer he managed to walk a tightrope between the feasible and the inane, always expertly managing to make the most outrageous suggestions absolutely credible or, at least, pregnant with the insinuation of some form of calamitous dread. Such is the case here as the serial presents us with a narrative rooted in our past but with ties to the stars. Instead of inspiring unintentional guffaws (as would, say, a Doctor Who episode) we are driven to the edge of wonder and possiblity.
It was Kneale's calling card to bridge the chasm between science and mysticism and here he is in top form. "Quatermass and the Pit" begs the question: What if the Devil was real but he wasn't what we thought he was at all? Worse yet: where do we fit into the picture? The answers are chilling and surprisingly prescient to date. Hell, as the serial makes clear, the matters it tackles have always been relevant to the human race.
With a fantastic Andre Morell playing Quatermass, a fine supporting cast, an excellent script, and production that never feels overstretched, "Quatermass and the Pit" achieves a lot with so little. More importantly, it isn't a product of its time doomed to stay there perpetually. No, in fact, it is timeless and worthy of all the praise heaped upon it.
It might not be in the taste of most modern audiences concerned with huge effects bonanzas but for those seeking something ambitious that stirs up the imagination while dragging you along frightful corridors "Quatermass and the Pit" is a MUST SEE. It was later remade into a very well received movie by Hammer Films in the 60's and, notably, was the inspiration for John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness, both of which are excellent in their own right. 9/10
