The Whip and the Body Blu-ray Review
La frusta e il corpo
Score: 51
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
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.
Disc Release Date
Video: 45
Kino-Lorber's Blu-ray presentation of 'The Whip and the Body' offers a naturally filmic 35mm print with minimal processing, delivering fine detail and clarity improvements over DVD. However, the 1080p/AVC encode suffers from deep shadows, age-related imperfections, and a slightly faded color palette.
Audio: 55
Kino-Lorber's Blu-ray of 'The Whip and The Body' impressively offers three uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 mono audio tracks in Italian, English, and French. While the Italian track delivers the most natural soundstage, all tracks showcase Carlo Rustichelli's memorable score well, despite some minor hiss and flat dynamic range.
Extra: 46
Tim Lucas's insightful and comprehensive audio commentary dissects 'The Whip and the Body' while providing rich contextual information on the cast, crew, and production history. Additionally, high-definition trailers for several Mario Bava films enhance the viewing experience.
Movie: 71
Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release of Mario Bava's "The Whip and the Body" showcases vivid cinematography, meticulous set design, and a haunting atmosphere, blending gothic horror with proto-slasher elements. The technical excellence and strikingly macabre visuals make this an essential addition to any Bava aficionado's collection.
Video: 45
Kino-Lorber's Blu-ray release of "The Whip and the Body" aligns closely with their previous Mario Bava Collection titles, presenting a naturally filmic 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. Utilizing a 35mm print that has undergone light color correction and contrast balancing, the presentation retains a hands-off approach to processing. This results in a transfer free from excessive noise reduction and edge enhancement, yielding a high-quality encode devoid of blatant compression artifacts. The print itself, while in decent shape, still exhibits some signs of age such as specks, light vertical scratches, and occasional gate hairs. Despite these minor flaws, the enhanced clarity compared to previous DVD releases is immediately evident, with tighter lines, finer textures, and better-resolved fine details.
However, the presentation is not without its challenges. The overall image quality can appear a bit soft, an issue stemming partly from heavy grain and partly from occasional focus errors inherent in the original cinematography. The film's dark and moodily lit scenes—central to its gothic ambiance—often plunge into deep shadows, leading to some crushed blacks that obscure detail. This is particularly noticeable in sequences set in dark corridors and bedrooms, though this seems consistent with Bava's intended visual style rather than a technical flaw. Additionally, the bluish-yellow tint and mild grain contribute to a somewhat faded color palette, which impacts the vibrancy of Bava's signature lurid colors. While the presentation could benefit from a full restoration for optimal contrast and color balance, the Blu-ray nonetheless offers an appreciably superior viewing experience compared to previous DVD editions.
Audio: 55
Kino Lorber has provided an impressive selection of audio tracks for "The Whip and the Body," offering Italian, English, and French dubs in uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 mono. Each track delivers clean, well-prioritized dialogue, though the English dub initially feels awkward before improving as the film progresses. The Italian track stands out, producing a more natural sound with a good presence and ambient effects like constantly blowing wind that enhance the film's atmospheric mood. The French track is notably brighter and cleaner, though all three maintain a low-level hiss and occasional thick dialogue patches.
Carlo Rustichelli's melodramatic score is a highlight, sounding reasonably clear and dynamic across all tracks. However, dynamic range remains generally flat and uniform with mild distortion and noise. The English and French mixes seem extensively cleaned, occasionally losing some subtleties in the sound design compared to the more nuanced Italian track. Optional English subtitles are available in readable white text, adding to the accessibility of this comprehensive audio package.
Extras: 46
The Blu-ray extras for "The Whip and the Body" feature a highly detailed and engaging commentary by Tim Lucas of Video Watchdog, renowned for his expertise on Mario Bava. Lucas offers in-depth analysis of the film’s intricacies, background information on the cast and crew, and valuable insights into the production history, making this an essential listen for fans and scholars of Bava's work. Additionally, the disc includes high-definition trailers for several Mario Bava classics, enriching the historical context of this Gothic masterpiece.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Expert commentary by Tim Lucas, providing extensive background and analysis.
- Trailers (HD): High-definition trailers for The Whip and the Body, Black Sunday, Bay of Blood, Baron Blood, and Lisa and the Devil.
Movie: 71
Mario Bava's 1963 film, "The Whip and the Body" (La frusta e il corpo), emerges as both an atmospheric gothic horror and a bold exploration of perverse sexuality. Set in a crumbling castle, the film’s meticulous use of color, set design, and cinematography—achieved on a modest budget—echoes the grandeur of Hammer Horror and the visual fidelity of Roger Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. The narrative’s visual style, crafted with the expertise of cinematographer Ubaldo Terzano and production designers Ottavio Scotti and Riccardo Domenici, engulfs audiences in a labyrinth of shadowy hallways and lavishly morose interiors. Vivid pastel hues accentuate the actors' despair, maintaining an eerie gothic ambiance throughout.
The complex storyline, penned by seasoned giallo writers Ernesto Gastaldi, Ugo Guerra, and Luciano Martino, revolves around Kurt Menliff’s (Christopher Lee) return to his estranged family’s estate. Lee's portrayal, although marred by the absence of his iconic baritone in dubbing, remains imposing and enigmatic. The film’s dramatic core lies in the tumultuous S&M relationship between Kurt and his sister-in-law, Nevenka (Daliah Lavi). Their dynamic oscillates between attraction and revulsion, symbolizing a broader exploration of aberrant desire and familial dysfunction. The plot's twisted elegance is underscored by Bava's adept use of thematic elements, turning a conventional whodunit into an audacious commentary on the nexus between pain and pleasure.
Despite its pacing detractors, who find the film languid, "The Whip and the Body" rewards viewers with its richly atmospheric style and psychological depth. The film stands as an essential piece within Bava's oeuvre, showcasing his flair for intertwining horror with eroticism. It achieves a distinctive effect reminiscent of Buñuel’s "Belle de Jour," yet remains singular in its visceral approach. This Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber captures the film's detailed artistry, making it a crucial addition for enthusiasts of gothic horror and Bava’s distinctive vision.
Total: 51
Mario Bava's The Whip and the Body stands as a bridge between his gothic horror roots and his later ventures into proto-slasher territory. This atmospheric thriller, laced with a sub-current of S&M themes, is only recently being recognized as one of Bava's most accomplished works. The film is dreamy and unsettling, featuring luxuriantly shot scenes by cinematographer Ubaldo Terzano, whose work reaches its pinnacle of vibrancy in this release. Complementing the visual feast, Carlo Rustichelli's darkly romantic score is featured in an uncompressed audio codec for the first time on Blu-ray. Kino-Lorber's Blu-ray also includes an excellent audio commentary by Bava expert Tim Lucas, providing valuable context and insights.
While the Blu-ray’s picture quality may not exceed expectations, slightly falling short in some regards, the three lossless audio tracks stand out, delivering a more immersive experience overall. The single notable supplement—the insightful commentary—adds considerable value to the package for enthusiasts and scholars of Italian horror cinema. The film's plot, quite provocative for its time, combined with Bava's mastery in creating a somber, moody atmosphere, ensures it remains captivating from beginning to end.
In conclusion, despite minor shortcomings in picture quality, The Whip and the Body on Blu-ray remains essential viewing for aficionados of Mario Bava and classic horror. Its sophisticated cinematography, haunting score, and expert commentary make it a worthwhile addition to any collection. This release offers an engaging way to experience one of Bava’s finest achievements, preserving its eerie allure and technical prowess for a new generation of viewers.
Blu-ray.com review by Casey BroadwaterRead review here
Video: 80
The print is in decent shapeit's definitely less age-damaged than a few of the others titlesbut you will notice some specks, light vertical scratches, and the occasional hair stuck in the film gate....
Audio: 80
The English dub is really awkward for the first act but gets better as the film goes on, while the Italian and French tracks seem a little more natural altogether....
Extras: 50
Trailers (HD):Includes trailers for The Whip and the Body, Black Sunday,Bay of Blood, Baron Blood, and Lisa and the Devil....
Movie: 70
Luis Buñuel's Belle de Jour would retread some of the this same ground four years later in a more studied, almost literary way, but while Bava's approach is less philosophical, it's definitely more visceral,...
Total: 70
Kino-Lorber's Blu-ray release is a fantastic way to experience the film; Ubaldo Terzano's cinematography is at its lurid best, Carlo Rustichelli's score gives off its darkly romantic minor-key vibe in...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 40
Bathed in a thin layer of natural grain, the 1,78:1 image displays bland, below average contrast, which along with the deep blacks makes the overall color palette seem a tad faded and weak....
Audio: 60
The other two lossless tracks seem to have been cleaned extensively, coming across flatter and duller while erasing many of the subtleties in the design, especially those moody background sounds....
Extras: 0
Audio Commentary — Tim Lucas of Video Watchdog provides an interesting and insightful commentary that touches on the production history, info on the cast & crew, and largely spends it pointing various...
Movie: 80
Adding to the shock value, 'The Whip and the Body,' aptly titled considering the subject matter, explores the bond of violence and sexuality, unabashedly sensualizing Kurt's behavior though it still maintains...
Total: 40
Somberly moody, eerily atmospheric and very macabre, the Italian gothic classic is beautifully made film that mesmerizes and comes with a plot that's rather shocking for the period....
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