It seems somehow quaint, now, but way back in 1970, this one scared the daylights out of me. The televised trailer (everything was black and white in them days) was downright spooky. I absolutely, positively had to see this one. And I did. And I wasn't disappointed. Nor am I disappointed to see it now, three decades on. It holds up for what it is: a low-budget but imagination-rich tale of terror. Thanks to the local library, I was made privy to the extras-rich, no doubt digitally remastered DVD rerelease of this one. I am even more in awe of what director Dennis Muren wrought than I was when I was a kid. The behind-the-scenes extras are truly mind-boggling. (The only complaint I feel compelled to register is this: the original version of EQUINOX is included in this two-disc set... but the soundtrack is out of sync!) If anyone out there in cyberspace wants to make movies- or to find out how timeless masterpieces are made- the best advice I can give them is to seek out movies like EQUINOX.

I first saw this film a little while ago under the title of The Beast. The first viewing of it I wasn't sure what to make of it. I love the stop motion and all of the special effects but something about the movie didn't catch my interest. When Criterion decided to release this on DVD with both versions of the movie and a whole lot of extras I thought I would give it another chance. I am happy I did because this was a truly fun film that paved the way for movies like Evil Dead or Phantasm.

The storyline might sound familiar. A group of four friends (2 guys, 2 girls) plan a trip to a log cabin out in the middle of nowhere. When they get there they discover the log cabin has been destroyed. After then exploring around they find a few very odd things. A random castle on a hill and a strange old man that gives them this very old book. After this they discover an invisible barrier leading to another world. Soon there are creatures that want to kill them and take the book.

A second viewing was in order. I am glad I did. I believe the version I saw, entitled The Beast, was the 1970's version. Watching the original 1967 version seemed a bit better.

The special effects in this movie are excellent. For me, I am right at home with a movie like this. The stop motion was true eye candy to watch and after you see the first monster you are pretty much in for a fun ride.

A can tell that Sam Raimi probably liked this movie when he was younger and wrote a similar story for his cult phenomenon The Evil Dead. The whole storyline with the book and a group of friends going out to a log cabin was obviously inspiration for Raimi. Even at the beginning of Evil Dead when they are showing images of the book floating in what appears to be fog was very similar to that of a scene in The Equinox when they are explaining what the purpose of the book was. A little bit of similarity with this movie and Phantasm with the portal to another world and how that other world looked upon entering it.

This movie is really a movie for fans of the stop motion genre. If you like Ray Harryhausen this is a must see. 9/10

There are visuals in this cheaply made horror film that will truly creeps the viewer out, particularly the pit that is apparently an entrance to Hell, a hole in the ground filled with what looks like red volcanic lava surrounding areas, and someone falling into it. Obviously not a movie to watch right before you go to bed, but interesting nonetheless because it's an experimental film where a lot of the ideas work but if a few cheesy moments make it seem silly in like respected. A few of the good things. The claymation stop movement demonic creatures are well done, reminding me of monsters from those terrific Ray Harryhausen movies, if not as sophisticated. A tentacled creature wraps itself around the house, and a supposedly dead scientist (whom the group of young adults are searching for) keeps reappearing, even after they've found him dead. He's running from something, and it seems to have something to do with the demonic book they've discovered.

In general, I don't like movies on demonic topics like this, because they take me into a spiritual place I do not want to visit. But when they are well done, I can't help but enjoy them. Not much of a fan of "The Exorcist" as I am of "The Omen", yet I can enjoy those fun TV movies that dealt with devilish topics, especially if it involved a private girl's school or someone consumed by their vanity and wanting eternal life. This one isn't like any of those films for those types of movies that I mentioned, perhaps I felt these adults were rather idiotic for even trying to pursue any further knowledge of what's going on, but overall, it was fun to watch.

There's the character of the sheriff who appears, seemingly concerned for these young people at first, then approaching a woman who's by herself. Why she didn't think "Why is this man approaching me with his hands outstretched?" and run away is beyond me. But he opens up his mouth in an obscene manner, starts drooling and before long, they are kissing. Of course the presence of her cross distracts him, and it made me laugh hysterically of how awful that scene was. I don't think this could be dismissed as just an experimental student film. A lot of it really freaked me out, and some of the film really is excellent. But the acting is amateurish, and when the girl who was the subject of the drooling sheriff starts snarling and attacks one of the others, I fell apart with giggles. The use of music really adds to the mood, and I'm glad I didn't bypass it in my viewing.