Cry of the Banshee (1970)

★ 5.3 1h 31m IMDb

Horror

In seventeenth century England Lord Whitman wages unending war on what he sees as the ever-present scourge of witchcraft, and many local villagers have suffered at his hands. But one victim uses her occult powers to curse his family, enlisting unknowing help from one of the household.

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Cast

Vincent Price as Lord Edward Whitman Died 1993 · Saint Louis, Missouri, USA Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and performances in horror films. His career spanned other genres, including fi...

Essy Persson as Lady Patricia Whitman Age 84 · Gothenburg, Sweden Essy Ingeborg Vilhelmina Persson is a Swedish stage and film actress most noted for her role in "I, a Woman" (1965). She started out on the theatre before being discovered by Swedish film director an...

Hilary Dwyer as Maureen Whitman Died 2020 · Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK Hilary Dwyer (6 May 1945 – 30 March 2020), also known as Hilary Heath, was an English actress, businessperson, and film producer. She was best known for her acting roles in films such as Witchfinder G...

Carl Rigg as Harry Whitman Age 84 · Eton, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Stephan Chase as Sean Whitman Died 2019 · UK

Andrew McCulloch as Bully Boy Age 81 · Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Director Gordon Hessler

Cast Vincent Price, Essy Persson, Hilary Dwyer, Carl Rigg, Stephan Chase, Marshall Jones, Andrew McCulloch, Michael Elphick, Pamela Moiseiwitsch, Joyce Mandre

talisencrw 7/10 Jun 25, 2016

Though it has its faults, this is a fine and enjoyable film from Vincent Price's Boxed Set III. It has a great and suitable ending as well. You'll especially be fond of this if you appreciated Price's diabolical character, slightly earlier, in 'The Conquering Worm'--it's a very similar shade from Price's acting palette.

Wuchak 6/10 Mar 02, 2020

***Madness in post-Medieval England with Vincent Price and Hilary Dwyer/Heath***

In Britain during the 1500s a cruel magistrate (Vincent Price) tortures & kills those he deems guilty of witchcraft with the help of his corrupt sons and they take pompous delight in it. This earns the ire of Oona, a witch leader, who conjures a sídhe that masquerades as a man to slay the official’s wicked family one-by-one.

“Cry of the Banshee” (1970) is an American International production (similar to Hammer horror) with the vibe of “Conqueror Worm,” aka “Witchfinder General” (1968), and “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961), but lacking the finesse of both. It also shares a couple of the stars of the former film, Price and the demure, but mind-blowingly alluring Hilary Dwyer (Heath).

Since the banshee or bean sídhe (from the Old Irish ban síde) means "woman of the sídhe" has come to denote ANY mystical FEMALE of Irish Isle who proclaims an imminent death by wailing and keening, I’m assuming that the witch Oona is the titular banshee. After all, the person that ends up doing the actual killing is a possessed DUDE or a demon masquerading as a DUDE.

While it’s hindered by a peculiar vibe and puzzling script (that makes more sense as the story proceeds), “Cry of the Banshee” is a must for fans of Price and Hilary Dwyer/Heath (as well as Patrick Mower), not to mention those who appreciate dark Medieval flicks that tackle witchcraft & witch-hunting with the required staples, like dirty Middle Age villages, torture chambers, eerie forests, satanic rituals, haughty lords, suffering serfs, etc. The serious, creepy tone involving twisted characters is a plus.

The film runs 1 hour and 31 minutes and was shot in Middlesex, England.

GRADE: B-/C+