The Dunwich Horror (1970)

At a small university, a strange young man (Dean Stockwell) attempts to procure a copy of the Necronomicom. It's a book supposedly containing spells to conjure up the "old ones", a race from another dimension but a professor (Ed Begley) refuses him access to the book outside of the library. Instead, the young man lures a student (Sandra Dee) to his home in the small village of Dunwich where he has plans to use her in his attempt to open the gate that will release the "old ones". Based on the classic H.P. Lovecraft short story, the film takes great liberties with the original source material but it's still recognizable as Lovecraft's work although it seems an attempt to ride on the coattails of ROSEMARY'S BABY's success. As directed by Daniel Haller, the movie is handicapped by its low budget which precludes the necessary special effects to make the film effective. Instead, we're treated to colorful psychedelic camera tricks when the Dunwich "horror" appears. As a horror film, there's an effective unsettling ambience which is enough to guide us through the film's erratic maze. There's a superb credit sequence designed by Sandy Dvore accompanied by Les Baxter's effective underscore. With Sam Jaffe, Talia Shire, Lloyd Bochner, Barboura Morris and Joanne Moore Jordan.