Cry of the Banshee

Cry of the Banshee

Year: 1970

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Gordon Hessler

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsGraphic violence and brutal revengeGory gruesome and slasher horrorCreepy chilling and terrifying horror

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.

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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

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Cry of the Banshee Summary

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Cry of the Banshee Summary

Cry of the Banshee Timeline

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Cry of the Banshee Timeline

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Cry of the Banshee (1970) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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