My mum would try to stop me playing this because it was too violent. The prisoners getting whipped in the dungeon really apalled her. Violence has come a long way since then.
Perhaps the audio is just too clear ? Or perhaps there isn't enough going on scene-wise to distract. Or just the fact that the whipping is perfectly periodic and programmed to go on indefinitely. I don't know.
Or if I'm feeling especially dangerous pay them to whip me.