I'm someone who's not familiar with the British video nasties list or whatever that is. 'The Driller Killer' is not that nasty. Compared to it's slasher genre contemporaries 'The Driller Killer' is rather low with spurting blood and cut off limbs. It is Abel Ferrara's feature debut, although uneven and the low budged shines through in each frame, it shows his raw talent as a filmmaker. Ferrara himself plays the lead (not a bad job, actually) as a artist starting to lose his grip. Having hard time with finishing his painting, low on many and a fear to turn into a bum finally drives him into killing spree. Intriguing premise that is dragged down with uneven script and directing.
'The Driller Killer' is not gory enough to attract regular slasher fans, or deep enough to gain much appreciation from art-house crowd, but it definitely pleases hardcore Ferrara fans.
Plus, it features cool backdrop into 1970' New York punk scene.
'The Driller Killer' is not gory enough to attract regular slasher fans, or deep enough to gain much appreciation from art-house crowd, but it definitely pleases hardcore Ferrara fans.
Plus, it features cool backdrop into 1970' New York punk scene.