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Thriller Cult Classic

A desperate call girl, a greedy broker, and a vicious pimp collide on New York's underbelly.

HIGH STAKES

1989 · 1h 42m · R · Thriller · IMDB TMDB

An aging, high-priced call girl exploits a lonely stockbroker's greed and enlists him in her plot to rob her sadistic pimp, and keep her young daughter out of the sex trade.

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Quick Answer

What is High Stakes about?

High Stakes is a 1989 American thriller directed by Amos Kollek about a New York prostitute who teams up with a stockbroker to rob her sadistic pimp and save her daughter from the mob.

Programmer's Pick

When your best shot at freedom involves a Wall Street suit and robbing your own pimp, you know the American Dream has taken a detour. High Stakes is a cocktail of urban grit, compromised alliances, and bad decisions—served up with a side of mafia menace and a dash of mother-daughter drama.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

High Stakes drops you into the gritty streets of New York where Bambi Rose, an aging but savvy prostitute, is trapped under the control of Slim, a racketeer with a ruthless grip on the city's underworld. After a mugging throws Wall Street stockbroker John Stratton into her orbit, Bambi sees an opportunity: she enlists his greed to plot a risky theft against her own pimp, hoping to secure enough money to free her young daughter from the same life. The film sets up a collision of desperation, ambition, and the ever-present threat of violence, as Bambi and John navigate a shadowy world of crime, exploitation, and broken dreams. This is a thriller that doesn't shy away from the stakes, or the toll exacted by life on the margins.

Details & Specs

Director
Amos Kollek
Writer
Amos Kollek
Release
1989
Runtime
1h 42m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Thriller
Also Known As
Melanie Rose, Death Strip, Jogo Mortal, Jaettu vaara, Rosyjska ruletka, Altas esferas

Why This Matters

This 1989 thriller-drama features early performances by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Kathy Bates, alongside Sally Kirkland in the lead.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Amos Kollek Writer: Amos Kollek
Sally Kirkland Sally Kirkland Melanie Rose Robert LuPone Robert LuPone John Stratton Richard Lynch Richard Lynch Slim Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Michelle Gellar Karen Rose Kathy Bates Kathy Bates Jill WM W.T. Martin Bob EE Eddie Earl Hatch Earl Betty Miller Betty Miller Mother Maia Danziger Maia Danziger Veronica Jesse Corti Jesse Corti Super SL Samantha Louca Stratton Receptionist LB Larry Block Harvey JS June Stein Betty MS Michael Steinhardt Good Time Man Maggie Wagner Maggie Wagner Woman in Bar EB Edward Black Bouncer WJ William James Kennedy Man in Backroom JC Joe Cirillo Waiter RP Rose Parra Tina Randy Schein Randy Schein Man in Bar MM Margaret Mary Briggs Customer and Understudy for Sally Kirkland OL Owen Lund Obnoxious Customer

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Why Cult

Urban Crime Underworld

The film immerses viewers in New York's seedy side, from racketeers to mobsters, painting a raw portrait of the city's criminal ecosystem.

Complex Female Lead

Sally Kirkland's Bambi Rose is a layered protagonist: aging, resourceful, and determined to save her daughter at all costs.

Mafia and Mob Ties

The plot intertwines prostitution, mafia influence, and racketeering, adding layers of danger and intrigue to every move.

Unlikely Partnership

A greedy stockbroker and a desperate call girl forge a risky alliance, blending white-collar ambition with streetwise survival.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

A mugging brings John Stratton to Bambi's doorstep

Threat

Slim, the vicious racketeer pimp and his criminal network

Effect

Endangers Bambi and her daughter with the threat of violence and exploitation

Countermeasure

Bambi enlists John to steal from Slim and attempts to save her daughter

Setting

New York City's criminal underbelly

Questions from the Vault

When was High Stakes released? +

High Stakes was released in 1989.

Who directed High Stakes? +

High Stakes was directed by Amos Kollek.

How long is High Stakes? +

High Stakes has a runtime of 102 minutes.

What genre is High Stakes? +

High Stakes is a thriller.

Where can I watch High Stakes? +

High Stakes is available to stream on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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