X the Unknown

1956

1h 20m

Sci-Fi

List

67%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

An atomic researcher (Dean Jagger) in Scotland links radiation burns to throbbing mud from the center of the Earth.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...a particularly British kind of horror; with an invisible monster that the professor hopes to combat with invisible radiation waves, there's quite literally nothing to see here...

Rated: 3/5

Feb 13, 2021

Full Review

MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

After a series of prolonged climaxes, with its potential victims staring directly into the camera and shaking with fright, the "Unknown" finally emerges as a type of rolling rubber mattress, disappointingly unhorrific in content and appearance.

Mar 3, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Despite its absurd storyline, it's a surprisingly entertaining film that won't deaden your brain cells even if it's a trashy B film sci-fier.

Rated: B

Oct 7, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 10, 2005

Full Review

Randy Shulman

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

Rated: 3/5

Mar 18, 2005

Full Review

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Fairly dreary sci-fi of the oozing monster stripe with a strong lead.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 23, 2003

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James R

I have loved this Movie since the first time I saw it on a Saturday afternoon creep show.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/24

Full Review

Valerii Ege D

Predecessor of the Blob movies. Unfortunately, maybe because of the budget, not showing the monster nearly the whole movie makes the movie a bit boring. A lot of face-to-face talks, less action.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

Doug H

All stand clear! Dean Jagger's here! It's the Dean Jagger show! Ho ho, ho hum.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie scared me badly back when I was 7....Later, I re-watched it and really enjoyed it. It is well written and the characters are well done with good acting. One scene should be in all film/acting classes- Where the two young boys run into "X" in the night- Perfectly done human-nature vignette. If you hear a brief description of the movie plot it sounds ludicrous....But the movie works well and the scenes of people's encounters with "X" are better than the scenes at the end of "Raiders" (After seeing the movie you will know what I am referring to)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I love this wonderfully silly film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Truly abysmal low low budget Quatermass rip-off with none of Nigel Kneale's intelligence, and pedestrian direction by Leslie Norman. Poor Dean Jagger, fresh from being serenaded by Crosby and Kaye in White Christmas, is lumbered with most of the terrible script. Even good actors like Leo McKern and Edward Chapman sink without trace, but you'll probably be asleep before you notice.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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Leslie Norman

Director

Joseph Losey

Director

Dean Jagger

Dr. Adam Royston

Leo McKern

Insp. McGill

Edward Chapman

John Elliott

Marianne Brauns

Zena

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Synopsis

An atomic researcher (Dean Jagger) in Scotland links radiation burns to throbbing mud from the center of the Earth.

Director: Leslie Norman, Joseph Losey
Producer: Michael Carreras
Screenwriter: Jimmy Sangster
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 20m