The Whip and the Body

Slower than necessary, and the plot and characters feel half-baked, but it sure does look pretty. (This same review can be applied to most Bava pics.)

Appropriately titled as The Whip and the Body is gothic whodunit melodrama with a dash of S&M to spice things up. Christopher Lee is starring in it, next to the beautiful Daliah Lavi. So far I see two constants in Bava's films - gorgeous actresses and exceptional cinematography, especially the use of color filters. The story of this film leaves a lot to be desired; the middle part is especially dull and repetitive, just like that dramatic piano tune that seems to play every five minutes.

Gorgeous music, sets, and use of color, the film has some great atmosphere. The plot itself is kind of silly, though, and the S & M sexual tension is pretty laughable. Also, I can deal with the fact that this is an Italian film and thus dubbed, but not using Lee's voice? Lame.

Goes eye-popping-Technicolor-bonanza in Theatricality with a capitol T. But it's chilling. Especially the whipping-scenes. Christopher Lee owns this film (as every film he's in).

This is why Mario Bava is a master. An intriguing ghost story story and a great twist of an ending, this is a well crafted flim.

Style over substance, sure. But wow, what style!

"The Whip and the Body is a gothic horror fantasy that finds Bava at the peak of his visual prowess." - Ed Gonzalez

What more could you want than a classic gothic horror about sadists and masochists and ghosts directed by Mario Bava with the meticulous and exciting use of shadows, colors, hues that he's known for and starring Christopher Lee? You could want to hear Christopher Lee, but him tragically being dubbed over is the only major flaw in this genre piece.

Typically with Bava, there is a lot to like here. The Gothic setting is great, and the atmosphere is heightened by the great camerawork, use of colour and an old-fashioned orchestral score. There are some genuinely creepy moments, usually involving the looming form of Lee, sadly dubbed here by another actor, who to be fair has a decent stab at it. The plot could perhaps do with a bit more oomph, and the "S&M" scenes aren't entirely successful, but this is still a worth effort.

Very colorful and nice sets, but, yeah, I got a few power naps in. Slow. And silly.

Like Lisa and The Devil, it's more of a tragi-gothic romance than a fully fledged horror, but it's a gorgeously stylized baroque fantasy that's bristling with dark desire and erotic suggestion. It's the most Bava of Bava films, so unless you're already a fan the deliberate pace and skeletal plot might try your patience, but admirers will love watching him put flesh on bones as he creates a rich seductive mood with eye popping colors, creative camera moves and a lush orchestral score. Magnifico!

This was ok. Needed more Lee and was pretty slow even for a Bava film. I liked the score and the visuals.

Ah, essas histéricas! Bava, sério que você colocou o Christopher Lee com um chicote na minha frente? Ui. Creio que não vejo um filme colorido plasticamente belo assim desde que assisti Black Narcissus pela primeira vez, me fez pensar como teria sido interessante o Bava filmar uma versão de O Morro dos Ventos Uivantes, de alguma forma a atmosfera se assemelharia ao livro da Bronte.

70.500

Okay Movie

Recommended if you are in the mood for a haunted house movie that is just about solid and perveted enough to succeed.