The Whip and the Body
Director: Mario Bava
Actors: Daliah Lavi, Christopher Lee, Tony Kendall
PlotIn a gothic castle by the sea, the sadistic nobleman Kurt Menliff returns home after a long absence. His arrival reopens old wounds within his family, particularly with his younger brother Christian, who is now married to Kurt's former lover, Nevenka. Kurt's presence rekindles a dark and twisted relationship with Nevenka, which is marked by both passion and violence. Tensions escalate as eerie occurrences and eerie sounds suggest that there might be a supernatural force at work, bringing long-buried secrets and guilt to the surface.
As strange events continue to plague the household, suspicions arise among the family members regarding Kurt's intentions and the legitimacy of his return. The family members are trapped in a web of psychological torment and fear, leading them to question their sanity and safety. Spiraling into a nightmare of love, hate, pain, and pleasure, each character is drawn into a hauntingly beautiful yet terrifying confrontation with their own demons. When lines between reality and the supernatural blur, the family's very survival hangs in balance amidst an atmosphere filled with dread and mystique.
Writers: Ernesto Gastaldi, Ugo Guerra, Luciano Martino
Release Date: 10 Dec 1965
Runtime: 87 min
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Italy, France
Language: Italian
Home Video Reviews
Kino-Lorber's Blu-ray of 'The Whip and the Body' showcases Bava's gothic masterpiece with stunning cinematography and an uncompressed darkly romantic score.
Read our review of The Whip and the Body Blu-ray La frusta e il corpo to find out more