The Whip and the Body
1963 · Movie · 87 min · ★ 6.4 · 66% critics
Estranged from his father, a cruel noble returns to the family castle to claim what he believes is his inheritance. Old resentments and dangerous passions resurface, pulling the household into a tense mix of gothic dread and escalating violence.
Also known as Night Is the Phantom · What? · The Whip and the Flesh · What†
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Details
- Original title
- La frusta e il corpo
- Years
- 1963
- Release date
- 1963-08-29
- Language
- Italian
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 66/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.4/10 (158 votes)
- Budget
- $66,500
About
You’ll likely enjoy The Whip and the Body if you want a lavish gothic horror tale with spooky scenes, eerie tension, and memorable atmosphere; Not for you if you want fast, gore-heavy scares or if you’re uncomfortable with S&M-tinged material, similar to Blood and Black Lace.
Pros: lavish gothic atmosphere; haunting visuals; tense, deviant vibe | Cons: slow pacing; disturbing S&M content; polarizing plot appeal
Themes
- sibling relationship
- sadomasochism
- family secrets
- sexual sadism
- haunted by the past
- haunted castle
- isolated place
- father son relationship
Cast & crew
Daliah Lavi
as Nevenka
Christopher Lee
as Kurt Menliff
Tony Kendall
as Cristiano Menliff
Ida Galli
as Katia
Harriet Medin
as Giorgia
Gustavo De Nardo
as Count Menliff
Jacques Herlin
as Priest
Luciano Pigozzi
as Losat
Directed by Mario Bava