House of Whipcord [Blu-ray]

Overview

In this British exploitation film, an elderly husband and wife begin torturing young women whose behavior offends their puritan sensibilities.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/12/2013
UPC:	0738329110925
Original Release:	1975
Rating:	R
Source:	Redemption
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:42:00
Sales rank:	29,208

Special Features

"Perversions of justice," an interview with Pete Walker, by Elijah Drenner; Audio commentary by Pete Walker and director of photography Pete Jessop, conducted by Steven Chibnall, author of making mischief: the cult films of Pete Walker; Original theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Barbara Markham	Mrs. Wakehurst
Ray Brooks	Tony
Patrick Barr	Justice Bailey
Anne Michelle	Julia,Actor
Penny Irving	Ann-Marie Di Verney
Sheila Keith	Walker
Dorothy Gordon	Bates
Ivor Salter	Jack
Robert Tayman	Mark E. Desade
Judy Robinson	Claire
Karen David	Karen
Jane Hayward	Estelle
Celia Quicke	Denise
Celia Imrie	Barbara
David McGillivray	Caven
Ron Smerczak	Ted
Barry Martin	Al
Tony Sympson	Henry
Rose Hill	Henry's Wife
Dave Butler	Ticket Collector
Denis Tinsley	Police Sergeant
Peter Walker	Cyclist
Stanley Myers	Composer

Technical Credits

David McGillivray

Peter Walker	Producer,Director,Director,Producer
David McGillivray	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Cult director Pete Walker's disturbingly effective horror film belongs to the "private prison" subgenre, in which insane sadists abduct typically female innocents and torture them for sport. In this case, however, the mad Mrs. Wakehurst (Barbara Markham) and her senile husband, Justice Bailey (Patrick Barr), are running an entire covert penal institution for sinful women, complete with a pair of similarly dotty guards (Sheila Keith and Dorothy Gordon). Using her clueless son (Robert Tayman), who poses as a man named "Mark E. Desade", as bait, Mrs. Wakehurst lures women whom she considers evil into her huge institutional home. Once captured, they are put in cells, beaten, and murdered for even the slightest infraction. The story is told -- mostly in flashback -- by a French model named Ann-Marie (Penny Irving) who fell for the trap. Despite its nasty reputation, there is only one onscreen whipping (on a church altar) and not very much violence. Instead, Walker and screenwriter David McGillivray convey a rather subtle air of menace that makes House of Whipcord an unexpectedly strong chiller. Markham is quite good as the deranged Mrs. Wakehurst, and Walker appears in a cameo as a cyclist. Many viewers will be offended by the film's repressive right-wing tone, but its genuine scares and creepy atmosphere will outweigh its philosophical offenses for most horror fans.

All Movie Guide - Robert Firsching