X: The Unknown (1956)
Genre: Scifi / Horror
Duration: 81 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Joseph Losey and Leslie Norman
Stars: Dean Jagger, Edward Chapman and Leo McKern
IMDb score:
6,1 (3.690)
Releasedate: 21 September 1956
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
X: The Unknown plot
"It rises from 2000 miles below the earth to melt everything in its path!"
The British army conducts an exercise on a remote Scottish island, but the soldiers realize that something else is lurking in their vicinity. Soon they are attacked by some sort of radioactive monster that soon afterwards begins to infest a small Scottish village.
Actors and actresses
Dr. Adam Royston
Inspector McGill
Peter Elliott
John Elliott
Maj. Cartwright
Sgt. Harry Grimsdyke
LCpl. 'Spider' Webb
Pvt. Haggis
Lt. Bannerman
Pvt. Lansing
Reviews & comments
arno74
-
- 8700 messages
- 3342 votes
Atmospheric and fairly low budget sci-fi horror. During a military mine search exercise, a mysterious underground energy source is discovered on the training ground. I watched this mainly as a 50's Sci-Fi and as such it's very enjoyable. The acting is very solid and the atmosphere is good. The 'kills' largely happen off-screen, although there are some kind of gore scenes that are particularly well done. I thought it was a great video and a bit underrated here on MM. More than 3*
Translated from Dutch · View original
as
-
- 3548 messages
- 5932 votes
Actually a Quatermass film adaptation in everything. Only writer Nigel Kneale withdrew from the production and Prof. Bernard Quatermass: Dr. Adam Royston. That's how things can go. Yet both films by Val Guest (The Quatermass Xperiment and Quatermass 2) have a lot more atmosphere and better execution.
Fortunately, this X: the unknown is not a long one. In addition, there are some great creepy melt scenes (ala The Blob, which was only made 2 years later). They still fit quite well. Not a classic, but it is certainly entertaining.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
-
- 2355 messages
- 2117 votes
After the successful The Quatermass Experiment, Hammer started looking for a sequel. Due to disagreements with the writer of that film, the gun had to be changed. This means that this X the Unknown was not a sequel but a science fiction work with its own face. The approach was relatively original for that time. While many monsters entered outer space, the makers of the film sought out beneath the Earth's surface. It is interesting to know that this film also precedes the American classic The Blob and may have served as inspiration. In any case, I think this is a very enjoyable film. The suspense is well built and with a limited budget they still manage to get the most out of it. The gore is well developed and depicted. They are a few flashes but still the salt and pepper of the film. The music is as good as you would expect from James Bernard. The acting is what it should be. The Scottish location and accent provide wonderful added value. Great for fans of this type of work.
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
How Serious Film Fans Are Watching in 2026 — And Why the Home Setup Has Never Mattered More
How Much Money Has the Portrayal of Casinos Brought Into the Movie Industry?
The Death of the CGI Safety Net: Why We’re Craving Real Stakes Again
How Media Business Insights Shape Online Casino Marketing Strategies in 2026
More to explore
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Horror / Scifi, 1956
3 comments
The Curse of the Werewolf
Horror, 1961
3 comments
The Nanny
Drama / Thriller, 1965
3 comments
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Mystery / Horror, 1959
2 comments
Quatermass 2
Scifi / Horror, 1957
3 comments
Tarantula
Scifi / Horror, 1955
3 comments
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
