Watch Whore

Whore is a gritty portrait of the life of a prostitute working the mean streets of Hollywood. Directed by Ken Russell, the film stars Theresa Russell as Liz, a young woman who turns to prostitution after being abandoned by her boyfriend and left alone in the big city. The film opens with Liz navigating her way through a seedy hotel, where she meets a john played by Antonio Fargas. As she begins to service him, she has a flashback to a happier time in her life, when she was in a loving relationship with a man named Joey (played by Benjamin Mouton). Joey, however, soon becomes abusive towards Liz, and eventually kicks her out of their apartment.

With nowhere else to turn, Liz begins plying her trade on the streets. She quickly learns the harsh realities of the business, as she is beaten and robbed by clients, and must deal with the constant threat of arrest by the police.

As the film progresses, Liz takes on a variety of clients, from a wealthy businessman who wants her to role-play as his daughter, to a pimp who offers her the chance to work for him in exchange for protection. Liz's relationship with the pimp becomes increasingly fraught, as he becomes increasingly abusive towards her and tries to force her to work even when she is sick.

Despite the bleakness of her situation, Liz still harbors hope that she can escape her life as a prostitute. She begins a relationship with a sympathetic client (played by Michael Schoeffling) who offers to take her away from the streets and start a new life with her. However, as is often the case in films like this, Liz's past catches up with her, with tragic consequences.

Whore is a film that is not afraid to tackle difficult subject matter head-on. It presents a raw and unflinching portrait of the realities of prostitution, without romanticizing or sensationalizing the subject. The film's depiction of violence and abuse towards women is sometimes hard to watch, but it is a necessary part of the story that Russell and screenwriter Deborah Dalton are trying to tell.

The film is anchored by an excellent performance from Theresa Russell in the lead role. She conveys the pain and desperation of her character with subtlety and nuance, making her plight all the more affecting. Benjamin Mouton is also strong as Liz's abusive former boyfriend, and Antonio Fargas brings a sense of danger and sleaze to his brief appearance as one of Liz's johns.

Director Ken Russell, best known for his avant-garde and often controversial films such as The Devils and Altered States, brings a similar sensibility to Whore. The film is shot in a gritty, naturalistic style, with lots of handheld camera work and a lived-in feel to the locations. Russell also incorporates dream and flashback sequences into the narrative, which add to the film's surreal and sometimes hallucinatory quality.

Whore is not a film for everyone. Its subject matter, language, and graphic depiction of violence and sex will undoubtedly turn off some viewers. However, for those willing to look past the surface-level shock value, there is a powerful and emotional story to be found here. The film is a testament to the strength and resilience of women forced to live on the fringes of society, and a reminder of the dark underbelly that exists just beneath the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.