House of Whipcord

House of Whipcord

Year: 1974

Runtime: 102 mins

Language: English

HorrorIntense violence and sexual transgressionHorror the undead and monster classicsGraphic violence and brutal revengeChallenging or sexual themes & twists

Only young girls are permitted inside, and none ever leave. In a remote English countryside estate, a disgraced former judge together with his lover and a band of ex‑prison warders run a secret detention house for girls they deem insufficiently punished for their crimes. They impose a brutal, personal brand of justice, determined to keep the inmates from ever returning to their former lives.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – House of Whipcord (1974)

Trace every key event in House of Whipcord (1974) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Anne-Marie is picked up on a stormy country road

During a night-time thunderstorm, a frightened Anne-Marie runs down a country road, fear written across her face. A trucker stops and offers help, pulling her to safety as rain pounds the pavement. The sequence uses flashbacks to reveal how she ended up in such a dire situation.

Night UK countryside road
2

Gallery humiliation and breakup

At a London art gallery party, Anne-Marie discovers a photograph exposing her arrest for public nudity, shattering her self-image. Humiliated, she dumps her photographer boyfriend and seeks a fresh start away from the scandal. This moment seeds her later escape with Mark.

Evening London art gallery
3

Meeting Mark DeSade and an invitation to escape

Anne-Marie is drawn to the enigmatic Mark DeSade, who offers to take her away from public scrutiny to his isolated estate. He appears sympathetic and seductive, presenting a plan to vanish from sight. Their meeting marks a dangerous turning point in her life.

Night London party / Mark's invitation
4

Arrival at the country estate

Anne-Marie travels to Mark's secluded mansion, drawn into a world of secrecy and privilege. The estate radiates allure but also unease, hinting at the darkness that lies beneath the surface. The stage is set for the horror to unfold.

Present Country estate
5

Revealed: Margaret's prison within the mansion

Anne-Marie learns that Mark's mother, Margaret, runs a hidden prison for 'morally corrupt' girls inside the mansion. A tainted backstory connects a reform-school scandal to a murder cover-up. The mansion becomes a place of brutal punishment and control.

Present Mansion/prison
6

Margaret's backstory and the court intrigue

Flashbacks explain how Margaret was acquitted in a reform-school scandal after corrupting the judge. The judge leaves his wife for Margaret, and their son Mark helps transform the mansion into a secret execution facility. The past casts a long shadow over the present danger.

Past Court / Reform school
7

The demerit system is introduced

Within the prison, inmates accumulate demerits for misbehavior. Strike one earns two weeks in solitary confinement, strike two brings 40 lashes, and strike three results in hanging. The regime turns ordinary rule-breaking into life-or-death consequences.

Present Prison within mansion
8

Anne-Marie's first clash with Margaret

Anne-Marie challenges Margaret by reminding her of the charge that ruined her career. Margaret responds with cold cruelty, targeting Anne-Marie with the demerit regime. The power dynamic intensifies as the imprisonment tightens its grip.

Present Prison
9

Julia and Tony track down Mark

Concerned flatmate Julia and her boyfriend Tony locate Mark and uncover that he now knows the full extent of his mother's deeds after witnessing her minions dispose of a prisoner's body. They vow to expose the truth or intervene. Their pursuit shifts the plot toward a potential rescue.

Present Mark's estate
10

Escape attempts begin

Anne-Marie makes several escape attempts from the prison, each thwarted by the wardens. She clings to hope amid escalating brutality, while others endure the harsh punishments. The cycle of capture and desperation heightens the suspense.

Present Prison
11

Friends locate the prison, arriving too late

Julia and Tony finally locate the mansion prison, but they arrive after Anne-Marie has already been hanged for her third demerit. The tragedy underscores the system's brutal inevitability and intensifies the drive for justice.

Present Mansion/prison
12

Confrontation and accidental death of Mark

As police close in and the truth about the regime surfaces, Mark confronts his mother. In a moment of chaos, he is accidentally killed by Margaret. The family crisis explodes into a fatal reckoning.

Present Mansion
13

Margaret's suicide and downfall

Knowing the game is up, Margaret uses the same noose she prepared for Anne-Marie to take her own life. She dies after wreaking further harm on several prisoners, leaving the mansion to crumble under guilt and exposure.

Present Mansion/prison
14

Aftermath: arrests and freedom

The judge and his wife's henchwomen are arrested as the regime collapses. Julia and the surviving prisoners are freed, and the truth about the deadly system is finally brought to light. The victims begin to seek justice and closure.

Present Outside prison

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:38

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House of Whipcord Summary

Read a complete plot summary of House of Whipcord, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

House of Whipcord Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in House of Whipcord

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Characters, Settings & Themes in House of Whipcord

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