The spirit of a wicked aristocrat tries to renew his relationship with his scared, masochistic ex-lover, who is now betrothed to his brother.
The Whip and the Body (La frusta e il corpo) is a gothic horror film directed by Mario Bava as “John M. Old” in 1963. Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee) is outcast by his father because of his involvement with a servant girl and her subsequent suicide. Later, he returns to regain his crown and his previous fiancée Nevenka (Daliah Lavi), who is now married to his brother. Menliff is subsequently discovered slain, but the townspeople think his spirit has returned to haunt the castle in vengeance.
The film was pulled from theaters in Italy owing to its sadomasochistic undertones. The international cut is 77 minutes long and includes some substantial alterations.