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{{short description|1979 American crime- drama film by Paul Schrader}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}<!--This is a U.S. film; dates typically should be formatted as they are in the work's respective country of origin-->
{{Infobox film
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| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Paul Schrader]]
| producer = <!--Producer credit only; executive producers do not belong here-->[[Buzz Feitshans]]
| writer = Paul Schrader
| starring = {{Plain list|
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| studio = A-Team Productions
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1979|022|099}}
| runtime = 108 minutes
| country = United States
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| gross =
}}
'''''Hardcore''''' is a 1979 American [[neo-noir]] [[thriller film|thriller]] [[crime film|crime]]-[[drama (film and television)|drama]] film<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Silver |editor-first1=Alain |editor-link=Alain Silver |editor-last2=Ward |editor-first2=Elizabeth |year=1992 |title=Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style |edition=3rd |place=Woodstock, New York |publisher=[[The Overlook Press]] |isbn=0-87951-479-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/filmnoir00alai }}{{Page needed|date=December 2019}}</ref> written and directed by [[Paul Schrader]] and starring [[George C. Scott]], [[Peter Boyle]], [[Season Hubley]], and [[Dick Sargent]]. Its plot follows a conservative [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] businessman whose teenage daughter goes [[missing person|missing]] in California. With the help of a prostitute, his search leads him into the illicit [[subculture]] of [[pornographic film|pornography]], including [[snuff film]]s. ▼
 
▲'''''Hardcore''''' is a 1979 American [[neo-noir]] [[thriller film|thriller]] [[crime film|crimedrama]]-[[drama (film written and television)|dramadirected by [[Paul Schrader]]. film<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Silver |editor-first1=Alain |editor-link=Alain Silver |editor-last2=Ward |editor-first2=Elizabeth |year=1992 |title=Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style |edition=3rd |place=Woodstock, New York |publisher=[[The Overlook Press]] |isbn=0-87951-479-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/filmnoir00alai }}{{Page needed|date=December 2019}}</ref> writtenThe andfilm directed by [[Paul Schrader]] and starringstars [[George C. Scott]], [[Peter Boyle]], [[Season Hubley]], and [[Dick Sargent]]. Its plot follows a conservative [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] businessman whose teenage daughter goes [[missing person|missing]] in [[California]]. With the help of a [[prostitute]], his search leads him into the illicit [[subculture]] of [[pornographic film|pornography]], including [[snuff film]]s.
Schrader had previously written the screenplay for [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' (1976), and began developing ''Hardcore'' with executive producer [[John Milius]] the same year for [[Warner Bros.]] After Warner bought out Schrader's contract and took control of the project, [[Warren Beatty]] became attached as the star and producer of the film. Clashes between Beatty and Schrader resulted in Beatty dropping out of the production, after which Scott was cast in the lead role. The film was shot on location in several California cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, as well as in Schrader's hometown of [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]].▼
 
▲Schrader had previously written the screenplay for [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' (1976), and began developing ''Hardcore'' with executive producer [[John Milius]] the same year for [[Warner Bros.]] After Warner bought out Schrader's contract and took control of the project, [[Warren Beatty]] became attached as the star and producer of the film. Clashes between Beatty and Schrader resulted in Beatty dropping out of the production, after which Scott was cast in the lead role. The film was shot on location in several California cities, including [[Los Angeles]], [[San FranciscoDiego]], and [[San DiegoFrancisco]], as well as in Schrader's hometown of [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]].
 
''Hardcore'' was released in February 1979 by [[Columbia Pictures]].
 
==Plot==
{{Plot|date=April 2024}}
In December 1977, Jake Van Dorn is a prosperous local businessman in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], who has strong [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] convictions. A single parent, Van Dorn is the father of a seemingly quiet, conservative teenaged girl, Kristen, who inexplicably disappears when she goes on a church-sponsored trip to [[Bellflower, California]]. With the help of his brother-in-law, Wes, Van Dorn hires Andy Mast, an eccentric [[private investigator]] in [[Los Angeles]], to locate Kristen.
 
After five months pass, in May 1978, Van Dorn has been doingliving perfectlyas wellusual without Kristen., Untiluntil Mast unexpectedly visits him in Grand Rapids, and shows him an anonymously-produced [[8 mm film|8 mm]] [[stag film]] he located in a Los Angeles [[sex shop]]. The film, which shows Kristen having sex with two young men, shocks and disturbs Van Dorn, who comes to believe that his daughter has been [[Kidnapping|kidnapped]] and indoctrinated into sex work. When Van Dorn travels to Los Angeles, where he finds Mast cavorting with a porn star he was supposed to be investigating, Van Dorn impulsively fires him. Dissatisfied with the lack of leads from the [[Los Angeles Police Department|LAPD]], he strikes out on his own, visiting various sex shops, brothels and [[peep show]]s in hopes of locating Kristen. ▼
 
With no results from Van Dorn's morally taxing visits to over-21 establishments, a desperate Van Dorn posts an advertisement and disguises as a pornography producer in the ''[[Los Angeles Free Press]]'', hoping to find information about his daughter.
 
After many porn actors visit Van Dorn's motel, a scraggly actor named "Jism Jim", one of the actors who was in the 8 mm stag film with Kristen, appears. After Van Dorn violently interrogates him, Jim directs Van Dorn to Niki, a [[prostitution|prostitute]] and occasional porn actress whom he claims may know Kristen's whereabouts. Upon meeting, Niki says she has seen Kristen before and may be able to find her through her connections. Van Dorn pays Niki to accompany him in his search.
 
At the same time, Wes rehires Andy Mast, having visited Van Dorn and become worried about his activities in Los Angeles. Mast tracks Van Dorn and Niki for the rest of their time in California.
▲After five months pass, in May 1978, Van Dorn has been doing perfectly well without Kristen. Until Mast unexpectedly visits him in Grand Rapids, and shows him an anonymously-produced [[8 mm film|8 mm]] [[stag film]] he located in a Los Angeles [[sex shop]]. The film, which shows Kristen having sex with two young men, shocks and disturbs Van Dorn, who comes to believe that his daughter has been [[Kidnapping|kidnapped]] and indoctrinated into sex work. Van Dorn travels to Los Angeles, visiting various sex shops and [[peep show]]s in hopes of locating Kristen.
 
With no results from Mast's investigations, the [[Los Angeles Police Department]], or even from Los Angeles' sex shopkeepers and "rap parlor" women, a desperate Van Dorn posts an advertisement and disguises as a pornography producer in the ''[[Los Angeles Free Press]]'', hoping to find information about his daughter. After many porn actors visit Van Dorn's motel, a scraggly actor named "Jism Jim", who was in the 8 mm stag film with Kristen (who Jake then beats up so bad that ruined his porn work), appears and knows where she might be. Jim directs Van Dorn to Niki, a [[prostitution|prostitute]] and occasional porn actress whom he claims may know Kristen's whereabouts. Upon meeting, Niki says she has seen Kristen before and may be able to find her through her connections. Van Dorn pays Niki to accompany him in his search. Chasing a rumor that Kristen was now filming porn in [[Mexico]], their uneasy alliance moves from Los Angeles to [[San Diego]], and the two gradually warm to each other; Niki feels protected by Van Dorn because he is a man who does not see her as merely a sex object, and he is able to speak openly to her about his deepest feelings, such as his wife leaving him. The two also discuss their wildly different views on [[religion]] and sex.
 
The unlikely pair ends in [[San Francisco]], where Van Dorn learns that Kristen may be in the hands of Ratan, a dangerous [[Sadomasochism|sadomasochistic]] porn player who also procures [[snuff film]]s on the [[black market]]. Niki directsintroduces Van Dorn to Tod, a dealer and associate of Ratan. The two meet in a sex shop, where Van Dorn feigns interest in Ratan's latest snuff film, of which Tod arranges a screening in a backroom of the shop. Fearing the film may show the murder of his own daughter, Van Dorn reluctantly agrees to view it. Van Dorn is horrified by the footage, which shows Ratan stabbing a man to death before slashing the throat of a Mexican prostitute in a Tijuana motel room, but is relieved that the victim is not Kristen.
 
Van Dorn returns to the hotel where he is staying with Niki, and asks that she divulge Tod's address. Niki, having grown close to Van Dorn and secretly hoping he can help her escape her life on the streets, finds herself fearful of being forgotten once Van Dorn locates Kristen. As a result, she initially refuses to tell him Tod's address. Van Dorn loses his temper and strikes her, after which she reluctantly reveals the information.
 
Van Dorn tracks Tod to a seedy San Francisco [[bondage (BDSM)|bondage]] [[Fetish club|fetish house]] and forces Tod to tellchases him wherethrough hethe canbuilding, findeventually Ratan. Whenbeating Tod refuses,into Van Dorn viciously beatsgiving him, and he ultimately offers Ratan's location. Van Dorn and Mast track Ratan to a nearby [[nightclub]], where Kristen and he areis observingwatching a live sex show, with a young woman revealed to be Kristen. WhenStun Van Dorn confronts Ratan causing chaos and confusing, Kristen flees and Ratan slashes Van Dorn with a knife. Mast shoots Ratan as he flees the nightclub, and Ratan collapses and dies in the entrywayentrance toof a porn theater as horrified pedestriansonlookers watch in horror just as the police arrivedarrive.
 
In the nightclub basement, Van Dorn finds aKristen cowering, Kristen.who Heresponds tellsin heranger he will take her home from the people he believes forced her into pornography, butthat she respondsdecided withto anger,run statingaway that sheand made herthese decisions of her own volition, and that she felt loved and appreciated in a way that the emotionally distant Van Dorn never offered. Despondentdespite andhis tearful,claims Vanthat Dornshe askswas herforced ifinto shepornography reallyin wantsthe himfirst toplace. leaveDespondent herand tearful, butVan sheDorn admitsexplains that shehis doesinability not.to Asexpress affection in the twopast preparewas tothe returnresult home,of Todhis isaustere arrestedProtestant upbringing, and takenKristen intoultimately policedecides custody,to Vango Dornback andwith Kristenhim. departAs forthe two prepare to return home, JakeVan Dorn spots Niki among the crowd of onlookers. He begins to make a token offer of gratitude, but it is clear to both that her usefulness to him, and thus their relationship, is now over. She walks away, resigned to continuing her life on the streets.
 
==Cast==
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* [[Reb Brown]] as Manager / Bouncer
* [[Tracey Walter]] as clerk in Los Angeles adult book store
*[[Ed Begley Jr.]] as Soldier
* [[W. K. Stratton (actor)|W. K. Stratton]] as porn actor shooting night scene (uncredited)
}}
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Principal photography of ''Hardcore'' took place on February 6, 1978 largely in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, with additional photography occurring in Schrader's hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where part of the film is set.<ref name=afi/> Schrader featured his own childhood church and a factory where he was employed as filming locations, and also cast his parents in uncredited bit parts.<ref name=afi/> By Schrader's account, the shoot in Grand Rapids was unpleasant, as locals expressed disapproval for the film and its depiction of the community as highly provincial and socially antiquated.<ref name=afi/>
 
By Schrader's account, Scott was in low spirits while shooting the film, which Schrader attributed to his recent commercial failures directing ''[[Rage (1972 film)|Rage]]'' (1972) and ''[[The Savage Is Loose]]'' (19761974).<ref name=fsr/> "George, at this time, was not a terribly happy man," said Schrader.<ref name=fsr/> In his contract, Scott stipulated that the production include five break days for the actor due to his drinking problem at the time.<ref name=fsr/> Scott and Schrader often clashed on set, with Scott once proclaiming that, while a great writer, Schrader was a terrible director and that the film "was a piece of shit."<ref name=fsr/>
 
==Release==
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The film was condemned by the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|United States Catholic Conference]] for its profanity, nudity, and depiction of Christianity.<ref name=afi/>
 
On ''[[Rotten Tomatoes]]'', the film has an approval rating of 7678% based on 2932 reviews, with an average rating of 6.78/10. The site's consensus states: "Director Paul Schrader's preoccupations with alienation and faith are given a compelling avatar in George C. Scott's superb performance, although some audiences may find ''Hardcore'' too soft to live up to its provocative promise."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009219-hardcore/|title=Hardcore|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120015803/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009219-hardcore/|archive-date=November 20, 2012}}</ref>
 
===Accolades===
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In August 2016, the film received a U.S. release on Blu-ray from [[Twilight Time (home video label)|Twilight Time]] in a limited edition of 3,000 copies.<ref name=kluger/> The disc has a commentary track from Schrader and critics Eddy Friedfeld, Lee Pfeiffer, and Paul Scrabo.<ref name=kluger>{{cite web|work=High-Def Digest|title=Hardcore Blu-ray Review|url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/33891/hardcore.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230616190723/https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/33891/hardcore.html|archive-date=June 16, 2023|date=October 20, 2016|last=Kluger|first=Bryan}}</ref>
Jack Nitzsche's soundtrack for ''Hardcore'' has never been officially released, but Twilight Time's Blu-ray re-issue features an isolated score audio track.
The British distributor Indicator Films released a limited edition region-free Blu-ray and DVD combination set in 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hardcore-Blu-ray/170576/|work=Blu-ray.com|title= Hardcore Blu-ray (United Kingdom) Indicator Series Limited Edition / Blu-ray + DVD|url-status=live|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230616190939/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hardcore-Blu-ray/170576/}}</ref> which was followed by a standard Blu-ray-only release in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hardcore-Blu-ray/198830/|work=Blu-ray.com|title=Hardcore Blu-ray (United Kingdom) Indicator Series|url-status=live|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230616190939/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hardcore-Blu-ray/170576/}}</ref> In June 2023, [[Kino Lorber]] announced a forthcoming special edition Blu-ray scheduled for release on August 22, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kinolorber.com/product/hardcore-special-edtion|work=[[Kino Lorber]]|title=Hardcore (Special Edition) Blu-ray|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230616191219/https://kinolorber.com/product/hardcore-special-edtion|archive-date=June 16, 2023}}</ref>
 
The film has also been available for streaming and digital download through [[Amazon.com]], [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[iTunes Store]], [[Vudu]], and other online media.
 
==See also==
* [[List of media set in San Diego]]
 
==References==
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardcore_(1979_film)"