RICHARD PHILLIPS-JONES looks at a not-so-obvious icon of Brit-horror, the 1970s Public Information Film<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is one of the most iconic figures in British horror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He only appeared once, in a film made in 1973, and yet he put a chill up the spine of an entire generation for many years after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was not the creation of Hammer or Amicus, and yet his sole appearance was probably repeated on television more times than their collected works put together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remarkably, the film he appeared in was a mere minute and a half long. Perhaps more remarkably, his tale of terror was not aimed at an adult audience, but at children, and was never submitted to the BBFC for a certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He entrapped the unwary by appearing, unannounced between children’s programmes, especially in the school holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is the Spirit Of Dark And Lonely Water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The figurehead of a campaign to discourage children from swimming in or playing near potentially dangerous waters, he was put on the screen by the Central Office of Information’s film unit, whose job was to produce Public Information Films, educating the nation on everything from correct use of pedestrian crossings to the safe handling of hazardous materials, from farm safety to fire awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spirit in question was voiced by Donald Pleasance, a piece of casting which would prove to be a master stroke, perhaps aiding the longevity of the film, which continued to be shown well into the 1980s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The esteemed actor’s increasing identification with the horror genre, especially after the release of Halloween, only added to the chilling effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n