Abel Ferrara's late 70's entry into the still young and fresh slasher genre, THE DRILLER KILLER is an overlooked, and under appreciated gem of a movie. In actuality, the film has more in common with Martin Scorsese's TAXI DRIVER than other slasher flicks of the era. The film gives a snapshot of the sleazier areas of New York City, circa 1979, and it's the kind of film I think of when people mention the term, "grindhouse". It's dark, sleazy, violent, disturbing, low budget, grainy, and most important of all-- entertaining.
When I first saw the film, years ago, I don't think I understood the film then as I do now. If you check outTHE DRILLER KILLER, and expect some guy on a killing spree killing lots of people with a drill--you'd only be half right. Underneath it's slasher style exterior is an actual story about a guy on the edge, and what happens when he finally get pushed off that ledge; by his job, his girlfriend, and his noisy neighbors--not to mention the decadence of the city itself.
Abel Ferrara not only directs the film, but stars as a Reno, a struggling artist, working on his masterpiece. In the meantime, he can't afford to pay his bills, he's borrowing money left and right, he's months behind on the rent, he has a girlfriend that is loosing her faith in him (not to mention les'ing out with their dimwitted roommate) and then to top it off, a noisy punk band (a very shitty punk band) moves in downstairs that like to jam day and night. He spends his time watching urban life, and sketching it--mostly homeless people. Throughout the course of the film, we see Reno getting desensitized, and watch as he slowly goes mad, and takes his vengeance out on the world with a power drill.
What I love about this film is the character of Reno. He's a normal guy, he obviously has some issues, which the beginning of the film alludes, may come from his Father, but when he goes nuts and starts killing people with a power drill, it's pretty much unprovoked--yes he's angry with his life and the world, but it's as if he's killing people to remove stress. It should be noted for most of the film, Reno kills winos and street people--people, that in Reno's eyes, probably won't be missed, and in some way he's doing society a favor by taking them out (though that's never verbalized in the film). Killing becomes a drug in which Reno can't kick, and when his life finally goes to shit--by then he's completely gone. Ferrara plays the character straight, and really does a good acting job in the role. Being the director as well, you can tell he really believed in the film and the character of Reno.
The film is available in many forms, mostly shitty VHS transfers, but a company called Cult Epics has released a two disc set w/features a letterboxed version of the film w/commentary by Ferrara, and a second disc of Ferrara's short films. Ferrara's films have been kind of hit and miss over the years, some notables being MS. 45, KING OF NEW YORK, THE FUNERAL, and BAD LIEUTENANT. He also did some real shitbombs like DANGEROUS GAME (featuring Ms. Box Office Poison herself, Madonna). It's too bad he doesn't act more, because I thought he did a real good job here.
If you're a fan of slashers, serial killer stories, sleazy violent films, or you just films from the grindhouse era in general; I would advise checking out THE DRILLER KILLER. I guarantee it's not what you're expecting.
THE DRILLER KILLER trailer