A group of young adults head into the woods outside Los Angeles to have a picnic at their professor’s cabin, but they find themselves discovering an ancient book that accidentally brings forth some frightening beings. "Equinox" seems to combine elements of "Mysterious Island" from 1961, the writing of HP Lovecraft, and the quirky, inexpensive style often found in episodes of The Twilight Zone. Originally conceived as “The Equinox... A Journey Into the Supernatural,” it was a 71-minute film created for $6500 by Dennis Muren and Mark Thomas McGee in 1967. After catching the eye of a producer, another director came on board to shoot additional scenes – roughly 11 or 12 minutes’ worth – to expand the project into a full-length feature with a revised title. This process took some time, which accounts for its release in 1970. Jack Woods directed the added footage and also appears as an oddball park ranger. The special effects during the final portion of the movie are surprisingly effective, especially considering the budget, with the stop-motion animation calling to mind "Planet of the Dinosaurs" from 1977. A standout effect is a giant green figure created using forced perspective techniques. Although the professor’s cabin isn't really central to the plot, this film helped pave the way for the familiar “cabin in the woods” horror setup, alongside films like "Night of the Living Dead" released around the same time. You could even argue that earlier movies like "The Killer Shrews" from 1959 fit into a similar category. The movie touches on themes of good versus evil and clearly served as an influence for Sam Raimi’s first two “Evil Dead” films in the 80s. However, the middle portion drags considerably, and aside from the ranger character, the main actors aren't particularly engaging; the female characters especially are flat and forgettable. One of the younger cast members is Frank Bonner, who later became known for playing Herb Tarlek on WKRP. The film’s runtime is 1 hour and 22 minutes, and most of the filming took place in areas north of Hollywood, including Tujunga Canyon, Bronson Caves within Griffith Park, and La Cañada-Flintridge. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB