Year: 1970
Director: Jack Woods
Country: US
Language: English
The 60's & 70's brought about filmmakers who had seen the pictures of yesteryear and wanted to break all the sacred rules of film-making. Americans Dennis Muren, Mark McGee, and David Allen were as rabid in their love of the Cinema as many of their European counterparts were at the time, although they were inspired by Monster Movies like King Kong (1933) rather than emotional dramas like Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without A Cause (1955). Their fandom would inspire themselves to create their own monster movie, albeit on a far more minuscule budget.
Four friends are attacked by a demon while on a picnic, due to possession of a tome of mystic information. Told in flashbacks by the sole survivor.
Equinox was made on a miniscule budget of $6,500 & gained a reputation as a midnight movie during its theatrical run. Influenced by the work of Ray Harryhausen, the technical master of Jason and the Argonauts would give great praise for the film's exquisite use of makeup and practical effects. This picture was said to have inspired Evil Dead. Although that cannot be 100% confirmed there are many striking similarities between both pictures.
Equinox's economical yet sophisticated use of stop-motion and cell animation is the main reason it is still admired and studied today. There is some lack of refinement, no doubt this looks primitive by today's standards, but ultimately the effects are important because they add to a fairly odd yet engaging story. The acting both adds and takes away from the film. At times the over-the-top ham by the leads is distracting, but during other times it adds to the charm of this memorable B-flick.
If you're looking for a Creature Feature and have seen everything The Golden Age of Hollywood has to offer then I certainly recommend this one. Even if it seems silly by the standards of today, I guarantee that it will be entertaining at the very least.
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