Bordello (2023)

Kris Holden-Ried is Enoch, owner of what he claims is the best whorehouse in New Mexico.

Problem is, it’s not a very busy whorehouse now that the nearby mines have played out.

So Enoch finds himself falling behind in his protection payments to Sheriff Amshell, a lawman with a nasty streak.

Nor is Enoch getting any closer to his dream of getting enough money to move his operation to the gold fields of Alaska, though he digs in his own backyard daily hoping to strike it rich.

Then Madam Gabi shows up with an enticing offer. She’ll pay $800 in exchange for pretty 7-year-old Angel, a orphan Enoch adopted after her mother died.

But Angel has captured the hearts of the girls working in Enoch’s bordello — Ada, Tara, Esi, Precious and Martha.

They fear Enoch might very well sell the young girl.

So they begin plotting to protect Angel from that fate.

Nisa Gunduz as Esi, turning down a chance to service her smitten boss Enoch in Bordello (2023)

Kris Holden-Ried as Enoch, collecting his share of the take from his girls in Bordello (2023)

Review:

A film that has it’s moments and features a better than average cast, but one that also suffers from something of an identity crisis.

The movie is at its best when the script takes a humorous turn. Like Enoch’s fascination with a male rejuvenation machine.

And like Esi’s Mexican “dirty talk.” It turns on her customers, even if they don’t realize she’s insulting them all the while.

But this isn’t a straight-up comedy, instead meandering here and there until the Madam Gabi shows up wanting to buy Angel 40 minutes after the opening credits.

That’s the main plotline. Problem is, the Angel character isn’t given much to do if the goal is to have viewers care about her fate.

And we seldom get to see the working girls interact with the 7-year-old they care so much about.

So after a promising start, viewers are left with a movie that seems liked a missed opportunity to cash in on some original ideas. Low-budget action scenes don’t help either.

Camille Stopps as Tara, getting sassy with Enoch as Martha (Halley Summer) looks on in Bordello (2023)

Heidi von Palleske as Ada, the mother figure among the whores in Bordello (2023)

Directed by:
Carlo Liconti

Cast:
Kris Holden-Ried … Enoch
Nisa Gunduz … Esi
Heidi von Palleske … Ada
Camille Stopps … Tara
Jessica Danecker … Precious
Brooklyn Popp … Angel
Halley Summer … Martha
Frank J. Zupancic … Sheriff Amshell
Diego Fuentes … Xavier
Curtis Morgan … Samuel
Diana Golden … Madam Gabi
Jamie Elman … Eliezer
Chase Lawless … Jeremiah Shagman
Jamie Maczko … Elijah Shagman
Taylor Thorne … Mary
Michal Grzejezczak … John the Baptist

Runtime: 89 min.

Brooklyn Popp as Angel, showing off one of her drawings to the girls in Bordello (2023)

Frank J. Zupancic as Sheriff Amshell, the lawman who wants a cut of everything in Bordello (2023)

Memorable lines:

Enochm as three customers ride up: “Welcome to the best little whorehouse in New Mexico.”

Customer: “Talk dirty.”
Esi: “Oh, you’re so big.”
Customer: “No, no. That nasty Mexican talk.”
Esi, in Spanish he can’t understand: “You smelly pig. You should die. Mother fucker, you smell. Bloody, damn fat pig. Finish before you make me vomit.”

Enoch to Esi after she’s rejected his advances again: “Try not to lick any lemons on your way out. I wouldn’t want them to turn sour.”

Ada, as the girls bicker: “Would you bitches stop bitching? You’re working on my nerves.”

Halley Summer as Martha, walking in on Enoch using his rejuvenation machine in Bordello (2023)

Jessica Danecker as Precious (right) with Heidi von Palleske as Ada in Bordello (2023)

Sheriff, reminding Enoch of the money he owes and the dead man on display outside the town saloon: “Fear is a great arbitrator and crafter of men’s behavior.”

Enoch: “Just three little words.
Esi: “I will never love you.”
Enoch: “That’s five words.”

Customer, after trying to encourage Esi to run off to Mexico with him: “You are in love with tragedy. I can’t compete with that.”

Ada of Madam Gabi: “What I want to know is what the hell is she doing here?”
Esi: “Visiting?”
Ada: “Visiting my arse. That woman there is pure undiluted evil. Evil don’t visit.”

Nisa Gunduz as Esi, teasing her boss Enoch as she bathes in Bordello (2023)

Jamie Elman (right) as Eliezer and his partner trying to sell Enoch a male rejuvenation device in Bordello (2023)

Diana Golden as Madam Gabi, offering a hefty sum to purchase Angel in Bordello (2023)

Brooklyn Popp as Angel, watching new acquaintance Madam Gabi depart in Bordello (2023)

Kris Holden-Ried as Enoch, informing three new customers of the rules at his whorehouse in Bordello (2023)

Heidi von Palleske as Ada and Camille Stopps as Tara, watching for an approaching posse in Bordello (2023)