If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

X-THE UNKNOWN is a low-budget film from Excelsior (the precursor of Hammer) which was clearly designed to cash in on the success of THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT (1953). With the obligatory American star, designed with foreign sales in mind (Dean Jagger), the action derives much of its interest from the way in which it contrasts the mundane life of a remote Scottish village with the abnormal forces operating within it.Life proceeds as normal - apparently. A group of National Service recruits are engaged in a routine exercise; the locals happily drink at the local pub; while two young scallywags (Michael Brooke, Fraser Hines) go out late at night to cause mischief. However none of them are quite prepared for the shock of encountering the 'thing' that feeds on energy, and appears to be resistant to any human attempts to repress it.The film gains much of its force from the contrast between such shocking events and the matter-of-fact way in which they are investigated. Leo McKern turns in an urbane performance as Inspector 'Mac' McGill, who maintains his sang-froid while people around him are becoming more and more hysterical with fear. Together with Dr. Royston (Jagger), he patiently tries to solve the mystery of what happens.In sociological terms, X THE UNKNOWN makes some trenchant points about the destructive effects of scientific discovery. If Royston had not decided to practice his experiments in the area, perhaps the Scottish village might have been spared. The point is trenchantly made by Jack Harding (Jameson Clark), after learning that his son Willie has died as a result of an encounter with the terror.Shot in atmospheric black-and-white on a low budget, Norman's film gains much of its force from the way it shows how people are affected by the terror within their midst. Making clever use of reaction- shots and atmospheric music, it is definitely worth a look.

Leslie Norman directed this science fiction film from Hammer Studios about British commandos in Scotland on maneuvers in a marsh who become ill from radiation. Dr. Royston(played by Dean Jagger), an atomic scientist from a nearby research station is called in to investigate, and discovers a strange new life form that seems to be a living radioactive mud from the depths of the Earth that needs more radiation to feed on, as it continues to grow in size, and will kill anyone who gets in the way. How to kill such an unusual life form? Effective film with good script and direction, and makes imaginative and plausible use of its unusual menace. Underrated thriller.

"X: The Unknown" marks the first, and thus legendary, first screenplay for noted genre writer Jimmy Sangster, one of the creative forces for Hammer Studios for the '50s, '60s, and '70s. It perfectly fits into the Atomic Age with its story of a rampaging thing loosed from the bowels of the Earth and going in search of the radioactive energy upon which it feeds. A leading scientist, Adam Royston (Dean Jagger), with the help of others, tries to figure out what authorities are dealing with and the means of stopping the menace. A top notch cast is well utilized in this reasonably intelligent and suspenseful sci-fi thriller that works as something of a precursor to "The Blob", especially in scenes where it finally becomes necessary to show the monster. And the special effects are in general pretty good. The makeup effects are especially great for the time as we get to see flesh melting off bodies. And the movie isn't particular about who it kills off, either. Taking place in rural Scotland, the atmosphere is strong and the tension undeniable. It gets our imagination going before finally paying off the premise, and the result is not nearly as cheesy as some viewers might fear. American star Jagger is fine in the leading role, and he does a good job at keeping us watching through various scenes of exposition. (Originally, Nigel Kneale's character creation Bernard Quatermass was to be the centre of the story, but Kneale objected to this.) Edward Chapman as John Elliott, Leo McKern as the intrepid Inspector McGill, Anthony Newley as a soldier, William Lucas as Elliott's brave son, and Michael Ripper as Sergeant Grimsdyke are among the wonderful supporting cast. One wouldn't know from the efficient final result that director Leslie Norman, brought in to replace Joseph Losey, really didn't want to make the film; cast and crew and Hammer executives found Norman disagreeable enough to never want to work with him again, despite the positive feedback the movie received. It's a testament to the talents of the filmmakers that they could still make a solid and gripping story despite this turmoil. It's good stuff and worth seeking out for Hammer enthusiasts. Sangster, who also served as production manager here, pleased the Hammer brass enough that his next project would be "The Curse of Frankenstein", and so a great writing career was born. Eight out of 10.

This is a British science fiction flick that gets better each time you watch it. If you are a Hammer Films fan, you have a treat in store; even if this film isn't in that vivid Hammer color everyone loves. British soldiers are on a training exercise near a Scottish village, when they come across a mysterious radioactive mud. An atomic scientist, Dr. Adam Royston(Dean Jagger)is flown in to investigate. What you soon have is a large bottomless crack in that muddy Scottish soil; and it allows a giant radioactive blob to surface that consumes everything in its path. Is humanity in peril? Atmosphericlly suspenseful. Besides popular character actor Jagger, the cast also includes: Leo McKern, Edward Chapman, Anthony Newley(yes, the singer), Peter Hammond and Michael Ripper.Note:It is said that director Leslie Norman was so not liked by cast and crew that Hammer never gave him work again.