Prosecutors have gathered 450 hours of video evidence against a man and woman accused of holding a Dutch tourist hostage for six weeks and sexually and physically abusing her, a court has heard.

Alfio Anthony Granata, 46, appeared briefly in the dock at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday, while co-accused Jennifer Mary Peaston, 32, appeared later in the day via video link.

Mr Granata and Ms Peaston each face 179 charges, including 62 counts of rape, at least 85 counts of assault, making threats to kill, drug offences and detaining a person against their will.

Police allege they held the young woman hostage in a Preston apartment between mid-November and late December last year, until she self-harmed and was taken to hospital on Christmas Day with multiple injuries.

It is alleged the woman, in her early 20s, was repeatedly raped and bashed, was blindfolded and felt brainwashed, was hog-tied with chains and forced to eat food scraps to survive.