Cry of the Banshee 4K 1970

In the 19th century, there lived a folklore researcher in England named Denham. He was famous for listing as many English spirits as possible in his book *Denham’s Treatises*. Among them was the Banshee.

Wait, who is that?

Here’s some background: In different parts of the United Kingdom, this spirit is known by several slightly different names—Banshee, Baoban Si, Bean Nig. But the essence of this creature is the same—it is a family spirit belonging to a specific clan, whose appearance and wailing foreshadow the death of a family member.

Not a bad character, quite intriguing. But there are very few movies about it, and the ones that exist are somewhat lacking.

In this movie, I didn’t see this Banshee at all. Well, the characters shouted a couple of times: “It’s the Banshee crying, we’re doomed!” So what? The movie is actually about witches and the merry life in the “enlightened” 16th century.

I’d call the film itself a fairy tale set in the Middle Ages with a mystical twist.

The plot, you could say, is as old as time. Once upon a time, somewhere in England, there lived a gentleman who oppressed the people.

He oppressed them, oppressed them, oppressed them, and kept on oppressing them until he went too far. The local population couldn’t take it anymore and begged the Devil to send them a champion. Well, sometimes in such matters, the Devil is the only one who can help.

“Cry of the Banshee,” however, I must admit, is a heavy film. There are no rivers of blood or horrific scenes of violence here, but it weighs heavily on the psyche. The unknown person—who was obviously in the director’s chair—imposes his will so forcefully and oppresses the viewer so intensely that I would be afraid to recommend this movie to sensitive people.

I know, I know—you can’t expect a lighthearted, cheerful movie about the Middle Ages and witch hunts, but it doesn’t have to be this oppressive.

So if you were hoping to have some fun—forget about it.

All in all, the movie isn’t bad. It’s just heavy—that’s all.