Cry of the Banshee 4K 1970 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

England, 17th century. Lord Whitman is waging a bloody war against witchcraft, and many villagers have fallen victim to his cruelty. Determined to destroy the lord’s family, the High Witch summons the Banshees.

Review 4K Movie

Another film by Gordon Hessler and Vincent Price. In my opinion, the filmmakers decided to follow a familiar path. The film’s plot structure resembles the artistically successful film *The Grand Inquisitor* (which also starred Vincent Price and Hilary Heath).

Vincent Price once again played a cold-blooded villain. Incidentally, this role is effectively a continuation of his role in *The Grand Inquisitor*—the characters are incredibly similar. However, comparisons can also be drawn to *The Mask of the Red Death* and Roger Corman’s *The Well and the Pendulum*. Essentially, these films are about destructive power.

As in ‘The Mask of the Red Death,’ 'Cry of the Banshee' addresses the themes of crime and punishment, and retribution for one’s deeds. The film depicts the lawless lifestyle of an influential landowner and head of a large family. By staging constant bloody orgies, he resembled Prince Prospero (surely you’ve read Edgar Allan Poe’s *The Masque of the Red Death*) and the characters of de Sade.

This time, punishment will come from the Banshee—a mythical creature summoned by a witch’s curse.

It remains only to add that of the three films starring Vincent Price and Gordon Hessler, *The Banshee* struck me as the most interesting and well-crafted. As for the scenes of violence, they are quite worthy of de Sade’s film adaptations—the frankness is so well balanced with respect for the viewer (we’re only given hints of what’s happening—there’s no need to shock; it’s simply a matter of setting the right tone).