Cry of the Banshee

1970
X
1h 31m

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

YOUR RATING

In 1500s England, a cruel witch-hunting magistrate, who often tortures innocent villagers for his entertainment, runs afoul of a witch who conjures a banshee to kill the magistrate and his family.

Play trailer2:28

2 Videos

59 Photos

Folk Horror Horror

In 1500s England, a cruel witch-hunting magistrate, who often tortures innocent villagers for his entertainment, runs afoul of a witch who conjures a banshee to kill the magistrate and his f... Read allIn 1500s England, a cruel witch-hunting magistrate, who often tortures innocent villagers for his entertainment, runs afoul of a witch who conjures a banshee to kill the magistrate and his family.In 1500s England, a cruel witch-hunting magistrate, who often tortures innocent villagers for his entertainment, runs afoul of a witch who conjures a banshee to kill the magistrate and his family.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos2

Trailer 2:28

Official Trailer

Clip 2:24

Cry Of The Banshee: A Curse Awakens

Clip 2:24

Cry Of The Banshee: A Curse Awakens

Photos59

+ 53

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Celebrated as the 100th film of Vincent Price's career. The cast attended a party to celebrate this, according to an interview with Sally Geeson given on Talking Pictures TV.

Goofs
One of the characters sees a piebald rabbit, which turns into a gray rabbit when it is picked up. When it is returned to the ground and it runs away it has reverted to the original rabbit.

Quotes
Roderick: Winter's coming in and the wolves coming with it.

Crazy credits
The end credits are divided into "The Establishment, "Witches", and "Villagers".

Alternate versions
The original US release from AIP was a re edited and cut version. AIP created a new title sequence (dumping the Terry Gilliam animated titles) and removed some violence and nudity, as well as shuffling a few scenes around. This version was rated PG and was also released on VHS on the HBO / Thorn label as well as to TV in a version with even more cuts. In 1995, Orion released an EP speed VHS tape and went back to the original negative, releasing the original UK version, seen for the first time in the US. The DVD version is also uncut and has been rated R by the MPAA.

Connections
Featured in Deadly Earnest's Nightmare Theatre: Cry of the Banshee (1978)

User reviews72

Review

Featured review

4/10

Needs More Banshee

This is a nasty bit of business made by AIP during that dreary period where the colorful, fun horror movies of the '60s were giving way to the darker, grittier movies of the '70s. It stars Vincent Price, easily the biggest name in horror in the '60s. Despite the title, there's no banshees in this movie. It's about an evil magistrate (Price) who abuses and kills people in his village in the name of witch hunting. Similar at this point to another (better) Price vehicle from around this time called The Conqueror Worm. But the similarities end there as the main plot is about some witches summoning a demon or something to seek revenge on Price and his wicked children. No banshees to be found. Lots of sexual stuff, though, and not all of it consensual. There's even a song about rape in the movie. So...yeah...more banshees and less rape, please. This is an ugly, cheap, and unpleasant exploitation movie. It's not fun enough to be entertaining and, as for horror, it couldn't scare a five year-old. One interesting little bit of trivia is that Terry Gilliam did the opening credits. They're done in that same style Monty Python was famous for.