One of the surprisingly few horror movies to feature a Banshee. Lauren Holly plays a university professor, who - with a couple of students - is working on an artifact cataloging project. An anonymous delivery containing an ancient armoured gauntlet and a hand-drawn map of 'section 3' - a rarely used university storage area - leads to the discovery of a false wall, behind which is a large metal box. Before you know it these genius's have released the spirit of a screaming Banshee (captured in Ireland by the Knights Templar in 1188 AD). But this Banshee doesn't warn of impending death; she goes around actively killing people with her scream. But in order to die, YOU have to scream too. If you can stop yourself doing that, you're fine! Well, you're not dead, at any rate.
This is an After Dark/Syfy co-production - and looks it. A prologue of slow-mo Templars on horseback hunting-down the Banshee is pretty atmospheric; but once the action shifts to present day it all starts to look very low-budget. Honestly, it could pass for an episode of Warehouse 13, or any of those supernatural shows (I could believe this was conceived as a pilot). The general plot is okay, but the details are lacking, with much unexplained. The dialogue too is REALLY bad in places (and not helped by some 'variable' acting). Earlier designs of the Banshee are good, but as the film nears its climax she becomes more monster-like in appearance (again, no explanation), and looks embarrassingly bad. And whilst most of the effects are practical, there is some AWFUL CGI.
This would have been better made in the late 80s/early 90s. It could fit right in with the vibe of Evil Dead or Night of the Demons (it would just need more gore, better makeup - and probably nudity!). Very poor. 3/10.
