Cry of the Banshee Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Cry of the Banshee Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker May 20, 2026

AIP's 1970 horror film 'Cry of the Banshee' arrives on Blu-ray disc in this Limited Edition release courtesy of Hammer Films. Starring Vincent Price ("The Fall of the House of Usher'), Elisabeth Bergner ('The Rise of Catherine the Great'), Essy Persson ('I, A Woman'), and Hilary Dwyer ('Wuthering Heights'), and featuring lavish production values, the film would use Edgar Allen Poe's name for publicity's sake, though the author's work had little to do with the story that unfolds on the screen. Crafted from the original 35mm negative, the Director's cut of the film is viewable in 1.85:1 widescreen, or 1.37:1 fullscreen. A second Blu-ray disc contains the AIP or Theatrical Cut in 1.85:1 only. A solid assortment of on-disc supplemental features are included, as is a slipcover. These discs are Region B "locked". Therefore, if you are trying to enjoy this film outside of that territory, you will need to have a Region-free Blu-ray player in order to do so.

Please note: Much of the text below previously appeared in my review of the 4K UHD Limited Edition release of this title.

Vincent Price portrays Lord Edward Whitman, an Elizabethan magistrate who, through the cruel and merciless punishments he administers on a local coven of witches, unleashes a deadly curse upon his family. While he attempts to pass off the unusual killings of those around him as the work of a rabid dog, it becomes increasingly clear that something else stalks the land. Something supernatural. Can he and his family survive the Cry of the Banshee?

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, witches, and the dreaded Witchfinders who hunted them, were having something of a moment. Just two years before this film, Price portrayed Mathew Hopkins in Witchfinder General 4K. There, he roamed the countryside with a dedicated and dastardly henchman looking for those accused of being in league with Satan, using his positional power to rape innocent young women, and directing torture and murder on a massive scale with only the flimsiest of "evidence" as his justification. It's a nasty tale that, while there was the tease of something supernatural in the story, demonstrated that all of its horrors had a more terrestrial origin. 1970's Mark of the Devil 4K would again set the seemingly righteous on a bloody crusade against Satan's servants. Starring Herbert Lom as the vindictive Lord Cumberland and a young Udo Kier as his lovesick second in command, this would be a far bloodier affair, and one that would not shy away from rather vicious on-screen torture. All of the heinous undertakings in that film are amplified by the disturbing screen presence of Reggie Nalder, who clearly relishes every bloody act that he and those in his employ undertake in an effort to purge evil from the earth. Once again, though, there's nary a witch to be found, and, again, the true horrors and acts of evil are perpetrated by wrathful, lustful men who claim to be doing the Lord's work.

The presence of an actual coven of witches sets Cry of the Banshee apart from these peers. Interestingly, they and their leader, played by Elisabeth Bergner, are clearly depicted as the heroes of the film. They live peacefully enough with the others in the town, with their spells seemingly mostly medicinal in nature. It's not until Lord Whitman and his violent offspring assault them during one of their rituals that they are pressed into more dramatic and violent acts to avenge the wrongdoing and protect themselves from further harm. But, they're clearly the victims in this situation. And they should be concerned. Very concerned. Lord Whitmore and his sons are a vile bunch and during the film's runtime they perpetrate murder, sexual assault, torture, and incest with absolute impunity and without regret or remorse. While titled Cry of the Banshee, those who watch the film will notice we're treated to what sounds like a large dog or a wolf howling from time to time before blood is spilled. There's nothing that sounds like a banshee's wail, nor do we get a glimpse of a phantasmagorical woman. Once we finally see the supernatural killer on screen, it's quite clearly a werewolf, or this film's version of one, and not the female spirit from Irish folklore. But that aside, the story is riveting, the cast excellent, and Price, as is usual for him in this era, is masterful.

Cry of the Banshee Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

When last we saw Cry of the Banshee in the US market, it was part of Scream Factory's (an imprint of Shout! Factory) 2016 release The Vincent Price Collection III . Two cuts were included there, the Director's Cut in 1.85:1 that was sourced from an IP, and the AIP cut sourced from a color reversal intermediate, which was the only known surviving element at the time. My colleague, Jeffrey Kauffman, was quite complimentary of the Director's Cut's transfer, being particularly pleased with the level of detail it provided. It's easy to see why. That 1080p transfer did provide a good deal of facial, costuming, and environmental details. The Theatrical AIP Cut, which reorders scenes and is a rather different viewing experience, is another matter. The image for that cut on the Scream disc was less precise, and displayed a fair amount of dirt, scratches, and other issues.

For their new Blu-ray release, Hammer's 1080p presentation is sourced from the 35mm original negative which was then extensively restored, with issues regarding image stability, density fluctuation, dirt, and scratches being resolved. The opening credits for the AIP cut were sourced from an alternate scan. The image on display here is enjoyable and appears filmic in motion. Grain is present and typically resolves naturally. Skin tones are most usually very healthy across the board, only rarely taking on a slightly reddish tone. Colors are well saturated, and though the costuming in the picture prefers to stay more in the realm of earthier tones, reds, such as found in the guard's uniform's, a minstrel's attire, and Lord Whitman's waistcoat all present with satisfying level of pop. Fine detail is typically high, with viewers able to observe the intricacies of women's jewelry and embroidery and beadwork on garments worn by the ruling family. Rugs and tapestries display age and wear. The image possesses solid depth and dimensionality. Blacks are satisfyingly deep, though occasionally they can consume costuming and environmental detail. A few minor concerns aside, though, the image is quite attractive overall and a step up from the previous Blu-ray from a decade ago.

Screenshots #1-13 are from the widescreen Director's Cut, while #14-21 are from the fullscreen presentation.

Cry of the Banshee Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Scream Factory disc provided viewers with a DTS-HD Master 2.0 Mono track which was favorably received upon its release. Hammer's new treatment offers viewers two options; a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track, along with a newly created DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Consistent with other Hammer releases, AI was used to strip dialogue out of the final mono soundtrack, and then by pushing sound effects and music to the surrounds to craft the 5.1 mix. While the 2.0 mix is available for both versions of the film, the 5.1 mix is only paired with Director's Cut.

I started viewing the Director's Cut with the 5.1 track, but veered away from it after about 40 minutes. The mix added little to the presentation, and, in my opinion, sounds and dialogue did not transition from front channels to surrounds very smoothly. As characters, in particular, moved through the field, those handoffs tended to be either jarring or startling. I switched to the 2.0 track and started the feature over and enjoyed a much more pleasing viewing experience. Dialogue is crisp and clean. While lacking a strong bass presence, the track does well enough with the midrange sounds and those in the upper registers. Even in more crowded scenes such as dinner with the Whitman family or those in the rambunctious tavern, voices and sounds are well-defined and precise. Music is handled well, with strings being delicate and woodwinds offering deeper notes. The track is largely without issue or defect, as I only noticed a few stray pops and crackles that can be heard at around the 25-minute mark as Maureen Whitman converses with Father Tom. It's a solid and era-appropriate companion for the film.

Cry of the Banshee Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

A fair amount of on-disc supplemental materials are spread across two discs.

Disc One

• 2025 Commentary with Chris Alexander - Available as a companion to the widescreen Director's Cut, author Chris Alexander begins by commenting on the quote from Poe's "The Bells" which has nothing to do with the film, and Terry Gilliam's opening credits. He shares his love for the film, the differences between the two versions of the film, and the darker nature of the Hessler-approved Director's Cut. Price's style and performance receives a fair amount of airtime, AIP's cuts, the original score, his exposure to and experience with the film, and the grim realism that pervades the feature. Alexander is clearly a fan of the film, and he provides an informative and informal track across a wide variety of topics.

• Curse of Ages (13.29) - This 2025 interview with Kim Newman finds him looking quite relaxed and providing viewers with an explanation of AIP's obsession with Edgar Allen Poe, before turning his attention to the film and the cast. He gives Price's performance a fair amount of attention prior to discussing female leads Hilary Dwyer and Essy Persson. He eventually moves on to the changes made by AIP, including the removal of Terry Gilliam's opening credits animation work, and the rescoring of the film as a whole.

• Image Gallery (7.59) - Posters, lobby cards, and the like are seen here, and auto-advance in silence.

Disc Two

• Theatrical Trailer (2.28) - A vintage, unrestored trailer.

• TV Spot (0.58) - A vintage, unrestored ad.

• Radio Spot (0.32) - A vintage radio ad.

• A Devilish Tale of Poe (17.52) - In this archival interview with Director Gordon Hessler, he begins by discussing his entrance into his film career working with Alfred Hitchcock as a story reader before moving up to be a producer for his television series. He addresses his first directorial effort, The Woman Who Wouldn't Die, which she shot in three weeks. He eventually settles in to a discussion of this film, talking about his preparation for Cry of the Banshee, the influence of the Druids, the inversion of the film's conflict, the changes to the script they undertook, and working with AIP. He shares his thoughts on Vincent Price being pigeonholed into horror films, the film's location, and more. The interview is interspersed with clips from the film and a variety of stills.

Cry of the Banshee Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hammer has done exemplary work in restoring this film from Price's expansive body of work, and Cry of the Banshee looks better than ever here. Providing two cuts of the film and two different aspect ratios should please fans, allowing them to continue to enjoy the film in the manner with which they are accustomed, though my preference runs toward the Director's Cut in 1.85:1 with the DTS-HD Master 2.0 track. With meaningful archival and new supplements, fans of the film will have a fair amount to enjoy once the credits roll. A dark and violent picture, fans of Vincent Price and vintage horror will find a great deal to enjoy in 1970's Cry of the Banshee: Limited Edition, and the film comes very highly recommended.