The Quatermass Xperiment (a.k.a. The Creeping Unknown in the United States) is a 1955 British science fiction horror film from Hammer Film Productions, based on the 1953 BBC Television serial The Quatermass Experiment written by Nigel Kneale. The film was produced by Anthony Hinds, directed by Val Guest, and stars Brian Donlevy as the titular Professor Bernard Quatermass and Richard Wordsworth as the tormented Carroon. Jack Warner, David King-Wood, and Margia Dean appear in co-starring roles. J. Elder Wills was the Art Director, Phil Leakey handled Makeup, and the Special Effects were by Les Bowie.

Plot

The British-American Rocket Group, headed by Professor Bernard Quatermass, launches its first crewed rocket into outer space. All contact is soon lost with the rocket and its three-man crew: Carroon, Reichenheim and Green. The rocket later returns to Earth, crashing into an English country field. Quatermass and his assistant Marsh arrive at the scene. With them are the local emergency services, Carroon's wife Judith, Rocket Group physician Dr. Briscoe and Blake, a Ministry official who chides Quatermass for launching the rocket without official permission. When the rocket's hatch is opened, Carroon stumbles out in shock, only able to say the words, "Help me". Inside the rocket, Quatermass and Marsh find only the fastened but empty spacesuits of Reichenheim and Green.