Fans of slasher horror movies understand that there is an underappreciated variance within the genre, whether it is a darker, slow-burn with a relentless killer, or an iconic visage of terror racking up as many bodies as possible in a bid for a franchise. Indeed, the latter approach has led to a plethora of iconic killers, from the small but deadly Chucky to the unstoppable force of evil that is Michael Myers. While these slasher icons seem to take the bulk of the glory, others live on in infamy, those whose entire modus operandi is too disturbing to last more than one feature.
When considering revered slashers focused on the disturbed mental state of a character, fans tend to think of Maniac, Angst, or Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. However, a film from New York, Abel Ferrara’s The Driller Killer, presented the early archetype for gritty slashers with killers who are only meant to survive a single movie. The Driller Killer, nearly 50 years after its release, remains a shocking experience and one that deserves more accolades for the profound influence it has had on cinema.
‘The Driller Killer’ Came From the Underground
Reno Miller is a struggling New York artist, struggling to pay the bills, at odds with his noisy punk neighbors. Reno finally finds a release from his declining mental state in the act of killing, starting with targeting the homeless population before working his way up to others. His choice of weapon: a drill. As Reno becomes more violent, the lines between reality and fiction start to blur. The Driller Killer ultimately exists as an exploration of one man’s mental decline, set against New York’s gritty underground; its slasher elements are more tenuous, but they are undoubtedly present, thanks to some gruesome kills involving a drill.
While the film was one of the first of its kind, it did not necessarily garner much acclaim upon release. It was essentially created for the New York underground crowd by someone deeply immersed within it, particularly in the city’s ‘no-wave movement,’ which led to many transgressive filmmakers and experimental, now-revered music. The Driller Killer would gain some notoriety when it was subsequently included in the infamous ‘video nasties’ list, which helped propel other now iconic films like Cannibal Holocaust, The Evil Dead, and I Spit on Your Grave into infamy.
Yet, after that period, some who found that success went back into fading into moderate obscurity, with The Driller Killer not having nearly the same notoriety as those previously mentioned. The gritty aesthetic, the punk-infused soundtrack, and the visceral violence were shocking, but for longevity, the movie rests with the cult fan base; it was never meant to become a franchise like The Evil Dead, both in execution and intent. Still, the film’s influence can certainly be felt today.
‘The Driller Killer’ Is One of the Most Influential Slasher Films
Existing in a landscape of urban decay, a struggling protagonist suffering a mental breakdown, and injecting music (notably punk aesthetics) into a horror-fueled story, have become somewhat familiar in many ’80s horror films. The influence of The Driller Killer, at least spiritually, can be seen as a product of the type of merging of culture, social commentary, and brutality that would lead Abel Ferrara to make the film. The feature would serve as a precursor to other cult films, such as Maniac (1980), Cruising (1980), Basket Case (1982), and Combat Shock (1984). Moreover, the movie still stands as a gritty, yet authentic, portrayal of New York life at a time when 42nd Street was less a tourist destination and more a hub for illegal activities and an emerging art scene created by outsiders.
Longtime film critic and published author Jonathan Rosenbaum was one of many to give the film a more favorable impression, stating, “I put off seeing Abel Ferrara’s second feature for years because of its title, but when I finally caught up with it I found it a lot more interesting and substantial than I’d imagined,” adding, “(The Driller Killer) not only anticipates American Psycho but offers a fascinating look at New York’s bohemian art scene circa 1979.” The Guardian, in discussing the importance of The Driller Killer in Ferrara’s career, would state, “If Ferrara is indeed a Van Gogh, then The Driller Killer is his Potato Eaters – an early work that displays, in rudimentary form, all the groundbreaking innovation of the mature works.”
From a critical perspective, The Driller Killer has undergone reassessment and appreciation since its release, both because of how it framed a specific turn in cinema and also as the groundwork for Abel Ferrara’s early career. Yet, there is a joy in watching a slasher film with a wicked wit and a gruesome dive into madness. As the saying goes, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.” The Driller Killer can be viewed as an underappreciated slasher film with something to say, or it can just be a great time for horror hounds who appreciate some extra grit with their violence.
Should You Watch ‘The Driller Killer’?
Slasher fans know what they enjoy best, and if the body count and sensational kills from an unstoppable force of evil are your bread and butter, you may want to skip over The Driller Killer. Yet, for those who appreciate more visceral and shocking horror, with an emphasis on psychological decline, The Driller Killer still packs a punch decades after its release. Moreover, those who have seen other cult films, like any of the ones mentioned above, particularly Maniac, should also check out Abel Ferrara’s gruesome slasher. The Driller Killer is in the public domain and is available for free online and on various streaming platforms.
- Release Date
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June 15, 1979
- Runtime
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96 Minutes
- Writers
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Nicholas St. John
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Carolyn Marz
Carol Slaughter
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Harry Schultz
Dalton Briggs
