Horror fans can look forward to a thrilling New Year! Legendary film studio Hammer Films is pleased to announce the launch of Hammer Presents – an expertly curated collection of British horror films.
Hammer Presents will shine a light on the remarkable work of Hammer’s peers, honouring the success of fellow storytellers and showcasing the films that contribute to the prestige of British horror. In doing so, the iconic British film studio – the films of which are currently being restored by award-winning film, TV and theatre producer and longtime Hammer horror fan John Gore – is now bringing even more restored classic films to fans, further celebrating Hammer’s rich legacy in horror cinema.
With world‑class high-definition restorations from award-winning Silver Salt Restoration – itself a John Gore Studios company – the Hammer Presentscollection will see the technical quality which fans have come to expect from a Hammer release enabling them to appreciate their favourite horror films anew, or to discover them for the first time.
Each Hammer Presents release will include exciting additional features that highlight the film’s context and craft, enabling fans to really appreciate the restored material. The new Hammer Presents range will sit alongside Hammer’s wider home entertainment releases of Limited Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-rays.
John Gore, CEO of Hammer Films and Executive Chairman of John Gore Studios, says “The Hammer Presents Collection celebrates the full legacy of British horror. For decades, the Hammer name has been synonymous with the genre, so it feels fitting that we are now expanding our restoration programme and becoming curators of other classic British horror titles. Cry of the Banshee is the ideal film to launch this new collection — Vincent Price comes to Hammer at last!”
The first film in the Hammer Presents collection, Cry of the Banshee, starring horror icon Vincent Price, will be released on 9th February 2026. It is a classic 1970 horror directed by Gordon Hessler (Murders in the Rue Morgue) and makes its worldwide debut as a brand-new 4K restored version.
Cry of the Banshee has been newly restored in 4K by Silver Salt Restoration from the original film negatives and presents Hessler’s original director’s cut in both widescreen and full-frame aspect ratios, as well as AIP’s re-edited theatrical version, all with English subtitles. More vibrant and detailed than ever before, this new two-disc edition is available in a limited O-card with brand new artwork and new special features include a commentary, expert interviews and original assets. This release is just the first of many exciting titles to come from Hammer Presents next year.
Vincent Price delivers a fiercely sinister performance that heightens the film’s atmosphere of dread. Also starring Elisabeth Bergner, Hilary Dwyer, Essy Persson, Hugh Griffith, and Patrick Mower, the film is a superb blend of period setting, folk-horror elements and escalating vengeance creating a gripping portrait of superstition and consequence.
Often classified as folk horror, it tells the story of a tyrannical magistrate who tortures innocent villagers for his own gratification. His cruelty sets in motion a violent chain of events when a local witch calls forth a banshee tasked with bringing about his downfall. The film’s tension builds as the forces he unleashed turn back upon him and those he loves.
