Hardcore (1979): Paul Schrader, Movie about Porn Stars

Paul Schrader wrote and directed this companion piece to “Taxi Driver,” another dive into a dark world of sex and violence.

The film follows a father, played by George C. Scott, who sets out to find his missing daughter after coming across a porno in which she appears.  With the help of a prostitute, his search leads him into the illicit subculture of pornography, including snuff films.

Like other movies by Schrader, Hardcore is inspired by John Ford’s 1956 masterpiece, The Searchers, a movie revered by the New Hollywood directors.

In that movie, an obsessively racist John Wayne seeks his niece (Natalie Wood), who had been abducted by the Indians.

There isn’t subtlety in this world — as illustrated by the tagline on the film’s poster: “Oh my God, that’s my daughter.”

Scott’s performance is strong as a man grappling with faith as he gets deeper and deeper in the world of pornography.