#10 - Equinox (1970)
(dir. Dennis Muren/Jack Woods)
I picked this one because I read an article that described it as "the third best Evil Dead movie". Obviously it isn't actually part of that series, but the similarities are unmistakable, and I have no doubt that this was a huge influence on Sam Raimi. Four friends set off to a cabin in the woods to meet their teacher Dr. Waterman, but when they arrive they find the cabin destroyed and the professor missing. While searching for him, they stumble across an ancient book in a creepy cave that contains ancient writing and drawings of demons. Unfortunately, a sinister force is searching for the book, and proceeds to hunt them down.
It really does seem like a proto-Evil Dead, right down to the low budget and impressive special effects. The creatures effects are straight out of a Ray Harryhausen film, and while they are of course dated, they are still really fun. There is a lot of creative camerawork too, with frequent off-kilter angles that really enhance the look of the film, and once again remind me of Raimi. The majority of the film is really just some teenagers standing in a field, but the effects and cinematography really make this feel like a much higher budget studio film.
Most of the film's brilliance can be credited to Dennis Muren, who is one of the all-time great special effects artists. He has won 9 oscars for his work on films like Star Wars and Jurassic Park, and even at this early stage in his career, his talent really shines. This isn't a perfect film, but if you are curious about the origins of the Evil Dead films, and enjoy classic stop-motion special effects, I highly recommend this one.
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