Matthew Chapman, born into a lineage of intellectuals, made his mark in the 1980s with films that delve into the intricacies of human relationships. He directed and wrote Hussy (1980), a provocative exploration of love and betrayal, and followed it with Strangers Kiss (1983), which examines the blurred lines between personal and professional lives. Chapman's work resonates within the cult cinema landscape, offering a unique perspective on the emotional struggles of his characters, making him a notable figure in the realm of exploitation and grindhouse film.
Hussy
Beaty (Dame Helen Mirren) is a prostitute working out of a high-class London cabaret where Emory (John Shea) is a technician. They begin an affair encumbered by her job, his lack of money, and their pasts: She has an abusive former lover, the father of her ten-year-old son and possibly her pimp, Alex (Paul Angelis), a strong-arm gorilla type fresh out of prison also arrives, needing a place to stay. Alex is clearly a brutish psychopath who threatens Beaty and Emory's future. Emory's wife died in questionable circumstances and he has a shady friend, Max (Murray Salem), who shows up with a scheme for making lots of money. Beaty and Emory want to sort things out, but the odds are against them. Life is no cabaret.
