Classic sci-fi with intelligent plotting, great performances, and a truly sinister air that touches the human psyche. What if we - the human race - were the product of a dying martian species, apes altered and given psychic characteristics so that, in some form at least, they could survive? A unexploded missile, discovered to be an alien craft, brings these latent inherited characteristics to the fore, resulting in truly horrifying scenes as those not affected are purged by the 'hive', those who share an alien psychic bond.

Can Professor Quatermass and Dr Roney save the day and undo the nightmarish devastation wrought by the 'possessed'?

This is one of those movies gifted with an ageless brilliance. Atmosphere drips from every scene, the performances are flawless, the plot is all too plausible and develops in ways that truly deliver the horrified crawling at the base of the spine that so many 'true' horror movies fail at. Even 40 years on the effects satisfy, perhaps even more so since they are charming reminders of a bygone age of cinema.

Sheer brilliance, if you are a fan of sci-fi or horror then this is a must watch, true horror and a plausible nightmare from the darkest reaches of the human mind await.

Note from Ramius: Indeed Quatermass and the Pit is one of the finest examples of early sci-fi horror and stands as one of the best Brit sci-fi movies of all time in my opinion. The special effects look dated by modern standards but the story and the acting quality elevate this one big time. Recommended without reserve!