Steeped in sadomasochism and lushly photographed in the vivid hues for which the director is known, Mario Bava’s The Whip and the Body is a Gothic thriller that far surpasses the AIP Edgar Allan Poe films that it was intended to emulate. Horror legend Christopher Lee (Dracula, The Wicker Man, House of the Long Shadows) stars as Kurt Menliff, the sadistic son of a wealthy Count, who returns to the family castle, much to the dismay of his family, their servants, and the beautiful woman with whom he shares a fondness for the lash (Daliah Lavi, The Silencers, The High Commissioner). When Kurt is found murdered, it brings no peace to those who had feared him, as his vengeful spirit cannot be contained by the grave, and he returns to torment those unfortunate enough to remain within Menliff Manor. The most deliriously romantic horror picture ever made, The Whip and the Body is a decadent masterpiece by the bloody brilliant Bava (Black Sunday, Black Sabbath, Kill, Baby…Kill!).
For thoughts on The Whip and the Body, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
This new Blu-Ray from Kino Classics gives The Whip and the Body an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in its proper 1.85:1 which is very impressive. The film was released on Blu-Ray over a decade ago by the label, and by all accounts that was a very poor representation of the Mario Bava source. This new disc contains the unrated version sourced from a 2023 4K scan and 2K restoration undertaken by 88 Films. Even with the improvement, there are still minor shifts in image quality that occur, but most will be too dazzled by the transfer to notice.
The biggest improvement of the release seems to be the correction of the color timing. The previous release had a heavy blue push, but this latest effort seems more natural to the intention of the filmmaker. Colors show up on the screen nicely, especially in the hues of certain costumes and elements of the production design. Black levels hold up pretty well with only fleeting moments that struggle or get especially noisy, and highlights are kept at a good place. There is no overwhelming damage to be found in this presentation with only the most discrete instances of dirt and specks in the image. The feature has a pretty nice grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, showcasing distinct details in the various interiors and on the clothing. Overall, Kino Classics should make Bava fans happy with this one.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a decent DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original Italian as well as in an English dub that each delivers a fine listening experience. Each track had its dialogue post-looped due to how it was originally filmed, but almost the entire cast is Italian except for Christopher Lee, who supplies his own voice in the English dub. The Italian track sounds the best of the two in terms of fidelity, but they are not a world apart. The track can sound the slightest bit thin when it comes to its musical heights, but it is not a major issue. The score does not overshadow the dialogue or other pertinent information. Dialogue and background noises are balanced with all competing elements so that everything has a chance to be clearly represented. This track shows few signs of age-related wear and tear. Kino Classics has kept this one sounding as good as can be. There are optional English and English SDH subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Tim Lucas, Author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark, provides a solid commentary track in which he discusses the release and legacy of the film, where this fits into the career of Mario Bava, the background of the performers, how the dubs compare to one another, and more that gives insight into the picture.
- Trailers: The three-and-a-half-minute French trailer for The Whip and the Body is provided here. There are trailers for Planet of the Vampires, Black Sabbath, The Crimson Cult, Arabian Adventure, and House of the Long Shadows.
Final Thoughts
The Whip and the Body is an effective Gothic chiller from the great Mario Bava. This film is not as extreme as some of his other efforts, but there is some occasionally disturbing imagery to remind you who we are dealing with. While definitely more of a supporting role, Christopher Lee makes his presence known throughout while the rest of the cast put forth good work. We are glad that the movie is getting a proper re-release to present it in its full glory. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that shows off a solid A/V presentation and a nifty commentary track. If you are a fan of Gothic horror, be sure to snag this one. Recommended
The Whip and the Body is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.