Cry of the Banshee

Cry of the Banshee

Year: 1970

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Gordon Hessler

HorrorHorror

In seventeenth‑century England, Lord Whitman obsessively hunts witchcraft, exacting brutal punishment on villagers he deems witches. When a wronged sorceress survives his purge, she curses his family, manipulating one of his household servants to unwittingly aid her vengeance.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Cry of the Banshee yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Cry of the Banshee (1970)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Cry of the Banshee (1970). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Elizabethan era (late 16th century)

The events take place during the late 16th century, a time of religious tension and witchcraft rumors. Trials and executions are part of the social fabric, with authorities using fear to enforce order. The period’s strict hierarchies amplify the impact of any crime or perceived heresy on individuals and families.

Location

Elizabethan England

Set in Elizabethan England, the story unfolds in a rural village under the watchful eye of a brutal magistrate. The environment blends courtly pomp with superstition-driven fear, where public punishment is a tool of control. The setting emphasizes a community where power and tradition dictate life and death.

🏛️ Elizabethan era 🗺️ English village

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

Main Characters – Cry of the Banshee (1970)

Meet the key characters of Cry of the Banshee (1970), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lord Edward Whitman (Vincent Price)

A wicked magistrate who uses his office to persecute perceived witches and enforce brutal justice. He embodies patriarchal power and cold calculation, steering the family's fate through fear.

👑 Tyrant ⚖️ Authority 🗡️ Violence

Lady Patricia Whitman (Essy Persson)

Whitman’s wife who challenges his actions and becomes entangled in the moral fallout of his cruelty. Her perspective reveals the personal cost of his tyranny.

💔 Domestic conflict 👑 Power 🗡️ Violence

Maureen Whitman (Hilary Dwyer)

Whitman’s daughter-in-law who has been in love with Roderick and joins the struggle against the coven's dark plans. She acts with courage but meets a tragic fate as the conflict intensifies.

💔 Family 🕯️ Courage 🗡️ Tragedy

Sean Whitman (Stephan Chase)

Whitman's oldest son who rapes Lady Patricia and participates in the witch-hunt hysteria, contributing to the family’s decline before the violence escalates.

👑 Rebellion 🗡️ Violence 🕯️ Sinister

Oona (Elisabeth Bergner)

Leader of the coven who summons a demonic spirit for revenge against the Whitman family. She embodies the occult threat and the ritual power driving the conflict.

🪄 Witchcraft 🔮 Magic 👁️ Power

Roderick (Patrick Mower)

A loyal servant possessed by the coven's demon, who begins to systematically kill Whitman family members. His arc centers on possession, manipulation, and murder.

👁️ Supernatural 🗡️ Assassin ⚰️ Death

Harry Whitman (Carl Rigg)

Whitman’s son from Cambridge who fights to stop the coven, ultimately sharing in the family tragedy as the conflict reaches its peak.

🛡️ Protector 🗡️ Sacrifice 🔥 Tragedy

Father Tom (Marshall Jones)

A priest who aids in confronting the coven and works to end the demonic threat affecting the Whitman family.

✝️ Faith 🕊️ Intervention 🗡️ Conflict

Bully Boy (Andrew McCulloch)

The Whitman family's driver whose fate intersects with the unfolding horror, adding to the string of killings and misfortune.

🚗 Helper 🗡️ Victim 💀 Death

Maggie (Quinn O'Hara)

A village resident who appears amid the fallout of the witch hunts and the Whitman family's crisis.

👥 Village 🗺️ Social 🧭 Rumor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

Major Themes – Cry of the Banshee (1970)

Explore the central themes of Cry of the Banshee (1970), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👑 Power & Tyranny

A central theme is how authority corrupts and enforces brutal justice. Lord Whitman uses his office to publicly persecute alleged witches, leveraging fear to maintain control. The film shows how power can justify cruelty and crush dissent within a close-knit community.

🔮 Witchcraft & Superstition

Witchcraft acts as the spark that fuels fear and shapes behavior. The coven led by Oona conducts ritual acts and conjures a demonic force to strike at the Whitman family. Superstition drives reactions, justifying violence in the name of protection.

🗡️ Betrayal & Tragedy

Family loyalties fracture as brutal acts escalate. Roderick, under demonic influence, begins a deadly campaign against the Whitmans, while others either resist or participate. The violence culminates in the deaths of Maureen and Harry, leaving the family in ruins.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Grim folk horror and supernatural vengeance like Cry of the Banshee

Stories of ancient curses and brutal violence exacting a relentless price.If you liked the relentless dread and supernatural retribution in Cry of the Banshee, this thread collects similar movies. These folk horror stories often feature witch hunts, ancient curses, and brutal consequences for human hubris, creating a terrifying and bleak viewing experience.

oppressivebrutalrevenge-drivensinisterfatalisticterrifyingfolk horrorgothic

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a simple but powerful cause-and-effect structure: a character or group commits a grave injustice, awakening a dormant supernatural force or drawing the ire of a coven. The story then methodically unfolds as a curse or vengeful entity systematically dismantles the transgressor's life, leading to a final, hopeless confrontation.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a commitment to creating a terrifying, fatalistic mood through folklore-inspired horror. They are united by high-intensity violence, a dark and unrelenting tone, and a focus on the terrifying consequences of meddling with forces beyond human understanding.

Movies with a bleak sense of doom like Cry of the Banshee

Character-driven tragedies where fate is sealed from the very beginning.For viewers who appreciated the fatalistic terror and hopeless finale of Cry of the Banshee, this thread finds similar films. These stories feature characters trapped by curses, oppressive systems, or their own destinies, leading to a devastating and emotionally heavy conclusion.

fatalisticoppressivedreadpsychological tormenthopelessterrifyingbleakdownward spiral

Narrative Summary

The narrative is a straightforward descent, often beginning with a mistake or a curse that sets an unstoppable chain of events in motion. The protagonist's journey is not one of overcoming obstacles but of gradually realizing the futility of their struggle against an overwhelming force, culminating in a bleak and definitive ending.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared emotional trajectory: a heavy, oppressive mood that builds towards an inevitable and hopeless conclusion. They prioritize a steady pacing that allows dread to fester and a high emotional weight derived from the characters' powerless struggle.

Unlock the Full Story of Cry of the Banshee

Don't stop at just watching — explore Cry of the Banshee in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Cry of the Banshee is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Cry of the Banshee Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Cry of the Banshee, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Cry of the Banshee Summary

Cry of the Banshee Timeline

Track the full timeline of Cry of the Banshee with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Cry of the Banshee Timeline

Cry of the Banshee Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Cry of the Banshee that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Cry of the Banshee Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Cry of the Banshee

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Cry of the Banshee: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Cry of the Banshee

Similar Movies to Cry of the Banshee

Discover movies like Cry of the Banshee that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.