 Coquillon relocated from Africa back to the UK in the mid-1960s.His ability to work speedily and utilize natural light brought him to the attention of writer Alfred Shaughnessy, who recommended Coquillon to director Michael Reeves for "Witchfinder General" (1968), the first of several horror films that he worked on as Director of Photography for American International Pictures.In 1971, Coquillon began a fruitful working relationship with Sam Peckinpah, first serving as cinematographer for the controversial director's critically acclaimed "Straw Dogs".