Equinox premiered theatrically in Dallas, Texas on May 6, 1970. It later opened in Detroit on August 26, 1970, and in Los Angeles on March 31, 1971. Home media Not long after its original theatrical release, the film was made available in abridged Super 8 film reels designed for home exhibition. Equinox was released on DVD in June 2006 as release 338 in the Criterion Collection, including both the theatrical version and Muren's original production, the first time the latter was officially released. It also featured an introduction by the film's champion Forrest J. Ackerman. Critical response and legacy In his review of the film, Bill Gibron from DVD Talk wrote, "In a strange way, Equinox is The Evil Dead with Ray Harryhausen substituting for Sam Raimi. There are so many obvious connections that you have to imagine Sam and his clan came across this version somewhere in the formation of their film and starting taking stylistic notes. While it can't compare with Dead'''s decided darkness, Equinox manages to be an effective entertainment." Dave Sindelar from Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings gave the film a positive review, noting that "despite the obvious cheapness and the long shooting schedule which results in characters aging before your eyes", he felt the film was powerful and commended the film for its "compelling sense of Lovecraftian evil". Noel Murray from The A.V. Club rated the film a grade B, writing, "It's clear these guys had more ingenuity than resources, and watching Equinox is like a lesson in how to make something out of nothing." Dennis Schwartz from Ozus' World Movie Reviews awarded the film a grade C, stating that the film was "noted only for its great special effects". Author and film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, stating that the film "mixes movie clichés with good special effects". Due to the similarities in their plots, Equinox is believed to have inspired Evil Dead, though this has not been confirmed. In an article for the Criterion Collection, Brock DeShane quotes Tom Sullivan, special effects and makeup artist for the Evil Dead'' movies, about seeing the film. References Sources External links Backyard Monsters: Equinox and the Triumph of Love an essay by Brock DeShane at the Criterion Collection Equinox Equinox American supernatural horror films 1970s monster movies 1970s English-language films Films using stop-motion animation Films set in California Amateur filmmaking