Equinox (film)

Infobox Film
name = Equinox


image_size =
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director = Dennis Muren
Jack Woods
producer = Jack H. Harris Dennis Muren
writer = Mark Thomas McGee
Jack Woods
narrator =
starring = Edward Connell
Barbara Hewitt
Frank Bonner
Robin Christopher
music = John Caper, Jr.
cinematography = Mike Hoover
editing = John Joyce
distributor = Tonylyn Productions
released = Flagicon|USA October 1970
runtime = 80 min.
country = United States
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:15940
imdb_id = 0067055

"Equinox" is a 1970 American horror film. Originally made in 1967 under the title "The Equinox... A Journey into the Supernatural" it was directed by Dennis Muren, and stars Edward Connell as Dave, Barbara Hewitt as Susan Turner and Frank Bonner as Jim Hudson. The plot revolves around four teenagers who head into the woods to look for the lost scientist Dr. Arthur Watermann. A forest ranger watches over the teenagers, who in reality is Asmodeus. When the teenagers stumble upon an ancient book, Asmodeus sends a variety of monsters to retrieve the book from them at all costs.

"The Equinox... A Journey into the Supernatural" was picked up for distribution by producer Jack H. Harris, who shot new footage for the film with Jack Woods and released it in 1970 as "Equinox".

The film includes a cameo from Fritz Leiber as Dr. Watermann.

Production

While studying business at Pasadena City College, Dennis Muren spent $6500 to make "Equinox", which at that time was a short science fiction film. Tonylyn Productions, a small film company, liked the film enough to distribute it. Tonylyn hired film editor Jack Woods to direct additional footage in order to make "Equinox" into a feature-length movie. When the feature-length "Equinox" was released in October 1970, Muren was credited as a producer in spite of having directed much of the film and creating the special effects himself. The movie made enough money for Muren to recoup his $6500 investment.

Legacy

"Equinox" is assumed to have inspired "Evil Dead",who|date=May 2008 yet this has not been confirmed. It was seen by members of the crew of "Evil Dead" before production:

"I had seen "Equinox" at least twice in drive-ins before making "Evil Dead". I don't recall having discussed it with [Evil Dead director] Sam Raimi, but the similarities are remarkable. I think they come from the low-budget nature of both films. That is, a few characters, an isolated, inexpensive location, and ambitious special effects. All in all, "Equinox" did inspire me to continue my goal of making movies. 'If "they" can do it...'"

—Tom Sullivan, special effects and make-up artist for the "Evil Dead" movies, as quoted from the booklet included with the Criterion DVD set, "Backyard Monsters: "Equinox" and the Triumph of Love" by Brock Deshane.

There are also similarities to "The Spiderwick Chronicles", a 2008 fantasy film adaptation of Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's bestselling series of the same name. The 2008 film also features a scientist uncle who chronicled the details of secret creatures in a book that is sought after by an evil demon goblin. There is also a woman who is deemed insane an institutionalized because of her experiences. There is also a scene where the goblin king tries to strike a deal with one of the twins to betray his family. The same scene occurs in Equinox with one of the men.

DVD release

"Equinox" was released on DVD in June 2006 as release 338 in The Criterion Collection.

External links

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* [http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=338&eid=479&section=essay Criterion Collection essay] by David Allen
* [http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=338&eid=480&section=essay Criterion Collection essay] by Brock DeShane