Thriller,Drama
United States of America
Cookie and her younger brother run away from their abusive and neglectful mother in a small town and arrive in New York City. They quickly find themselves struggling to survive on the streets. Cookie meets Duke, a suave and seemingly charming man who offers her a job as a waitress at a club. However, upon arriving at the club, she discovers that it is actually a brothel and Duke is its owner. Duke convinces Cookie to become a prostitute and she reluctantly agrees in order to support herself and her brother.
While working at the brothel, Cookie meets another prostitute named Jazz. Jazz takes Cookie under her wing and helps her navigate the dangerous world of prostitution. Cookie begins to see the dark side of Duke's business and how he abuses and mistreats the other girls. She also becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the physical and emotional toll that prostitution takes on her and her colleagues.
Despite the risks and volatility of her situation, Cookie decides to try and escape Duke's clutches. Along with Jazz and some of the other girls, she makes plans to run away and start a new life. However, Duke catches wind of their plan and tries to stop them. In the climactic confrontation, Cookie must fight to protect herself and her newfound family from Duke's violent wrath.
Streetwalkin' is a gritty and realistic depiction of life on the streets for young runaways and sex workers. It deals with themes of exploitation, abuse, survival, and sisterhood. The film also features notable performances from Melissa Leo as Cookie, Dale Midkiff as Duke, and Julie Newmar as Queen Bee, a veteran prostitute who takes Jazz and Cookie under her wing.
