Whore (1991) review

Liz (Theresa Russell), a "lady of the night," speaks to the audience directly about the events in her life that led to her selling her body, starting with her unhappy marriage to an abuser and the birth of her only son, working as a waitress, being sexually assaulted in the back of a van, discussing the peculiar "turn-ons" of her clients (an older gentleman enjoys a few whacks with a cane) and dealing with her typically abusive pimp Blake (Benjamin Mouton).  David Hines adapted his own play to the big screen and although it does contain a memorably idiosyncratic performance by Ms. Russell (as Leonard Maltin's team noted, it's hard to tell if it's good or bad acting) as well as some relevant insights into the mindset of a prostitute (her major rule: no kissing), director Russell's flippant approach undermines the tragic scenes, like Liz getting raped and left in a ditch and a young woman having her abdomen sliced open.  Perhaps this was intended to try to distract from the obvious underlying "message" that the "world's oldest profession" is a sad and undesirable one ... but it should be mentioned that the more recent generations have bravely referred to what they do as "sex work" and proudly advertise their OnlyFans accounts (it's safer than wandering around the streets).