Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist: Limited Edition – Cauldron Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1975
Directors: Angelo Pannacciò, Luca Damiano
Writers: Giulio Albonico, Aldo Crudo, Franco Brocani, Angelo Pannacciò
Cast: Richard Conte, Françoise Prévost, Elisabeth Tulin, Patrizia Gori, Jean-Claude Vernè, Mimma Biscardi, Franco Garofalo, Sonia Viviani, Salvatore Baccaro

Release Date: April 8th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 8 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $42.99

"After photographing a naked woman at a waterfall, and discovering she was absent from all photos, Peter (Jean-Claude Vernè) returns to the scene only to find a mysterious “Tahal” pendant that initiates a hysterical and sex-crazed possession. As Peter spirals into baffling madness, people start to die in inexplicable ways prompting Peter’s nun sister, Elena (Patrizia Gori, Cry of a Prostitute), to call an exorcist (veteran actor Richard Conte — The Godfather, in his last role) to rid him of the insidious demon!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Un urlo dalle tenebre was scanned in 2K from the original uncut camera negative by Variety Films. Restoration, grading, and audio remastering commissioned by Cauldron Films."

Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.4 GB

Feature: 26.7 GB

The source appears to be excellent; the flesh tones look healthy, the colors are accurate, the image clarity is sharp, and both the black levels and compression are solid. Additionally, the image maintains an organic appearance.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. That said, the Italian language track sounds more robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with actress Elena Fusco titled Angelo, A Portrait (25 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with composer Giuliano Sorgini titled Exploitation Symphony (15 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Maurizio Centini titled Delivering the Devil (22 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with script supervisor Silvia Petroni titled Half a Film (10 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with film historian Eugenio Ercolani titled Introducing the Devil (24 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth, reversible cover art, a slipcover, a CD that comes with Giuliano Sorgini’s 19-track score, and a 28-page booklet with an essay titled A True Mystery: the Films of Angelo Pannacciò written by Alessio Di Rocco, an essay titled Pannacciò’s Exorcist written by Alessio Di Rocco, a track listing for the score, information about the transfer, and promotional images and rare photos.

Summary:

A teenage boy becomes possessed by a demon after finding a mysterious “Tahal” pendant.

Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist had two directors. Luca Damiano, who started the film, was replaced by Angelo Pannacciò (known for Sex of the Witch). Though the former was replaced, some of his footage remains. In addition to taking over Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist and filming additional footage, the movie also reuses scenes from Prisoners of the Mind, a film produced by Angelo Pannacciò. That said, combining footage from three sources makes for a confusing narrative.

Italian cinema is recognized for its clones of successful Hollywood films, and Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist serves as a prime example of this trend. While the title itself suggests a connection, there are several moments in the film that echo themes from The Exorcist. Although the comparisons to The Exorcist are valid, it is important to note that Italian cinema has a rich history of demonic possession films that dates back to Brunello Rondi's Il Demonio. Other notable Italian demonic possession films besides Il Demonio are Beyond the Door, Lisa and the Devil, and The Antichrist.

Despite Italian genre cinema’s ability to create miracles out of minuscule resources, far too many of these films look cheaply made. This is especially clear when it comes to Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist’s special effects. Crudely executed are these special effects, including moving furniture, objects flying through the air, and slit throats. Another area where Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist is lacking is its uninspired visuals.

Something Italian genre cinema understood well is that you needed recognizable actors to help sell the movie. The cast features two notable names; Richard Conte (Tony Arzenta) in the role of the exorcist and Françoise Prévost (I Promised to Pay), who portrays the mother of the boy who is possessed. Richard Conte’s top billing is a bait and switch; his character does not arrive until the last 20 minutes. When it comes to the performances, no one leaves a lasting impression.

The narrative is too predictable, right down to its jump scares, which are never a surprise. Another drawback of the narrative is that it moves too slowly, and it is unable to ever build any momentum. Even its big set piece, the exorcism, is underwhelming. The only area where Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist comes out ahead is Giuliano Sorgini's (Let Sleeping Corpses Lie) exemplary score, which does a superb job reinforcing the mood. Ultimately, Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist is a film that most will find a chore to get through.

Cries and Shadows: The Return of the Exorcist gets an exceptional release from Cauldron Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras.

Note: This Blu-ray/CD set is strictly limited to 2000 copies.

Written by Michael Den Boer