The Coming of the Black Dawn

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Details

Location

Bangor, Comber, Helen's Tower, Lisbane, Tullynakill Cemetery

Year

1965

Date

Length

24min 39sec

Audio

sound

Format

16mm

black and white

Source

Digitised as part of Unlocking Film Heritage

Courtesy

British Film Institute, Irish Film Archive, Noel Spence, Roy Spence

Rights Holder

Irish Film Archive, Roy Spence

It is illegal to download, copy, print or otherwise utilise in any other form this material, without written consent from the copyright holder.

Description

Something sinister this way comes in one of The Spence Brothers' earliest films.

One of only a handful of Spence Brothers' films shot in black and white, The Coming of The Black Dawn combines stark, but atmospheric visuals with a nerve-shredding soundtrack. Their debt to H.P. Lovecraft is made clear in the naming of the demon, Cthula. Landmarks such as Helen's Tower and Tullynakill graveyard lend a touch of menace to proceedings. 

 

Notes

Twin brothers Roy and Noel Spence have been making films like this for over fifty years; with subjects including crafty leprechauns, creatures from outer space, fifties rock 'n' rollers and the undead. You can enjoy many of these fantastical creations on BFI player. This film is courtesy of Roy Spence and is held in the Irish Film Archive.


Credits

Digitised as part of Unlocking Film Heritage

A Gothic Films production

Produced and Directed by Roy Spence

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