X the Unknown (1956): cast, story & where to watch
1956 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1956, X the Unknown is a horror, mystery and science fiction film directed by Joseph Losey, running about 81 minutes. “It rises from 2000 miles below the earth to melt everything in its path!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Army radiation experiments awaken a subterranean monster from a fissure that feeds on energy and proceeds to terrorise a remote Scottish village. An American research scientist at a nearby nuclear plant joins with a British investigator to discover why the victims were radioactively burned and why, shortly thereafter, a series of radiation-related incidents are occurring in an ever-growing straight line away from the fissure.
Who’s in it. X the Unknown stars Dean Jagger as Dr. Adam Royston, Leo McKern as Inspector McGill, William Lucas as Peter Elliott and Edward Chapman as John Elliott, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, X the Unknown has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch X the Unknown page.
If you liked it. Fans of X the Unknown tend to enjoy Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, The Shining and Alien.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch X the Unknown (1956)?
- In GB, X the Unknown is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is X the Unknown worth watching?
- X the Unknown holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy horror, mystery and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in X the Unknown?
- X the Unknown stars Dean Jagger, Leo McKern, William Lucas, Edward Chapman and John Harvey.
- When was X the Unknown released?
- X the Unknown was released in 1956, with a runtime of about 81 minutes.