I've loved Equinox for years as an ad in the back of horror mag.
I eventually got the special Criterion DVD collectors edition of it one Christmas, which was a real revelation.
What a superb effort it was too, by a group of young film-makers with no money at the end of the Sixties.
Based on an earlier production called Equinox..A Journey into the Supernatural, written by Mark McGee, the 1970 version was written and directed by future sound editor Jack Woods [coincidentally the name of my Grandfather!].
The group of young movie hopefuls even included future special effects maestro Dennis Muren and other luminaries-to-be. As if that wasn't enough Forry J Ackerman was also involved, the Grandfather of the Monster Craze no less!
Essentially the story is about four teenagers who find an old book which brings forth demons and terrors. Sound familiar? It did to me and I often wonder if a young Sam Raimi saw it when he wrote The Evil Dead.
For me personally the most alluring collectable relating to Equinox is the original super 8 film stock released in a beautiful colour box by Mountain.
Equinox has also appeared as a VHS under the name The Beast released by Wizard Video, which had a simplified cover.
The Mountain Video VHS release returned the cover to something truly startling with this garish scene of the blue demon and two scantilly clad picnicers.
Equinox is well worth tracking down in your favourite format whatever that is.
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Interesting Aside:
The crouched positions of the youths in the above VHS case cover are a regular trope of horror.
Cowering people can be seen on many other covers such as these classics from the Sixties. Can you think of more?
Have you seen Equinox?
