Film Review – Contemporary Prostitute (2025)

      Modern Whore, 2025.

      Directed by Nicole Bazuin.

      Starring Andrea Werhun.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Modern Whore features Andrea Werhun as she revisits her former roles as escort Mary Ann, stripper Sophia, and her presence on OnlyFans, highlighting her journey through sex work in Toronto. Writer and director Nicole Bazuin makes her feature film debut with this hybrid documentary based on Werhun's memoir of the same title, presenting an insightful and humorous adaptation of Werhun’s life as a former sex worker in Toronto, while exploring the reasons behind her involvement in the industry.

      The film takes a unique approach to storytelling, combining documentary footage of Werhun sharing her experiences and conversations with family, friends, and colleagues, alongside scripted segments where Werhun and others reenact her tales. While unconventional, this blend enhances the entertainment value of Werhun’s narrative, supported by a tight and clever script co-written by her and Bazuin.

      The scripted scenes showcase Werhun's vibrant personality, enabling her to express her true self through storytelling and performance, even as she reveals her more vulnerable moments, aware of the stigma faced by sex workers, whether they are escorts or OnlyFans creators. The film maintains a lighthearted self-awareness and incorporates quirky humor that breaks the fourth wall as she shares her experiences and the skewed perceptions of her clients. It also confronts the more challenging aspects of sex work, including encounters with questionable clients and the resulting consequences, highlighting the limited support available.

      The transitions between scripted scenes and interview segments are well-executed, with both formats complementing each other effectively. The interviews provide engaging insights into the motivations for entering sex work and the stigma these individuals face from family and friends. Werhun reflects on the various personas she adopted, some of which resonated more closely with her true self than others, and discusses the necessity of these identities in her work. A significant portion of the conversations addresses the taboo surrounding sex work and how societal discussions are gradually evolving toward reducing shame, although much work remains to be done in this area.

      Modern Whore showcases impressive writing from both Werhun and Bazuin, filled with entertaining moments, and highlights Werhun's strong performance. The film is both insightful and funny, creatively utilizing its hybrid format, making it memorable in various ways.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for more movie news and discussions.

      Originally published April 4, 2026. Updated April 5, 2026.