Scream of the Banshee was granted its Syfy channel premiere as a notable 200th original feature – a co-production between SyFy and After Dark Originals, it certainly feels like the offspring of a late night romp between the two parents. Dismissing it as yet another cheap scare cash-grab wouldn’t be out of line, but there is one feature on this DVD that singlehandedly rescues the cash-strapped production – the commentary, with director Steven C. Miller and composer Ryan Dodson. While I can’t vouch for its authenticity, Miller’s tale of woe, having a hellish twelve day production schedule and a miniscule budget, is very compelling.
Miller has no reservations revealing that he was effectively out of the picture once the production ended. Banshee was then recut, color corrected (despite the fact that Miller frequently shot the Banshee in the dark in hopes of amplify that “what you can’t see” horror element) and outfitted with laughably bad CGI, and the end result is an occasional dull, frequently dumb creature feature that nevertheless shows a helmer who understands how to make a movie. Composer Dodson is mostly there to react to Miller’s various (frequently funny) complaints, as well as act grateful when complimented for the admittedly solid score.
Banshee opens with three Templar Knights running down the mythical creature in a 12th century Irish forest. Two men fall, but the third removes the Banshee’s head and traps it inside of a box, preferably for all eternity. There’s some tidbits about why the Banshee was captured, spouted mostly by Broderick Duncan (Lance Henriksen, who gets top billing despite his appearance being limited to several “internet” videos and a 10 minute standoff near the end of the film), a former college professor who uncovers the box in present day.
It falls (perhaps not by chance) into the hands of Professor Ilsa Whalen (Lauren Holly) and her students Otto (Todd Haberkorn) and Janie (Leanne Cochran). Opening the box releases the Banshee and the rest of the film is devoted to a variety of cheap jumps and scares. Isla bands together with Otto, Janie, her daughter Shayla (Marcelle Baer), and Duncan’s one time aide Samuel Page (Eric F. Adams) in an effort to track down the crackpot professor and find out what makes the Banshee tick – and how to stop it.
What makes the film interesting to watch, besides the occasional thrill punctuated by a blast of music, is that while the screenplay is fundamentally out of order – when one of the group loses the love of her life, she seems generally unfazed by the incident – you can see glimpses of skill in both shot choice and tension build up. Miller talks about attempting to shoot the film to avoid much tampering be done with it, but that’s not the case here. We’re likely never to see the version he intended for the screen, but the commentary acts as a soapbox of sort, though Miller is never whiny, rather good-spirited in acknowledging the faults of the film and seemingly eager to learn from the experience. Definitely recommended for fans of behind the scenes anecdotes. Don’t mind the film, turn on the subtitles and the commentary, and you likely to enjoy yourself.
DVD Bonus Features
The commentary and some trailers for upcoming After Dark/Lionsgate releases.
"Scream of the Banshee" is on sale July 26, 2011 and is rated R. Horror, Indie, Television, Thriller. Directed by Steven C Miller. Written by Written by Anthony C. Ferrante, Story by Anthony C. Ferrante and Jacob Hair. Starring Lance Henriksen, Lauren Holly, Marcelle Baer, Leanne Cochran, Garrett Hines.
