The Driller Killer

Ugly, tedious flick about a painter going over the edge is also an amusing period piece

An artist in Union Square, Manhattan, struggles with his homeless father, finishing a key painting, an annoying rock band in the building, and his relationship with his two female roommates. Insanity and worse can’t be too far away.

“The Driller Killer” was shot from June, 1977, to March, 1978 and released in 1979. I point this out because it reeks of late 70’s Manhattan, and not the pretty side. It’s a gritty art house Indie made by the protagonist, Abel Ferrara, who’s listed as actor Jimmy Laine in the credits.

Despite the exploitive title and the fact that it undeservedly ended up on the UK’s “video nasties” list, it’s actually a grungy psychological drama about life in the Big City in late 70’s America mixed with lowkey amusement concerning the country’s growing fringe decadence and corresponding lunacy. The “driller killer” element doesn’t manifest until the second half and isn’t exploited as in conventional slashers. Speaking of which, this aspect inspired the usage of driller slayers in the “Slumber Party Massacre” trilogy (1982, 1987, 1990).

The film only cost $20,000 (equal to about $98,000 today), but Ferrara was able to acquire quality no-name actors for his weekend project. In other words, the key peripheral actors are convincing in their roles despite what critics might say. I’m talking about the ones who play Carol, Pamela, Dalton Briggs, the landlord, Tony Coca-Cola and his girlfriends.

A couple years before Ferrara made this, Marvel’s Man-Thing featured Steve Gerber’s “Song-Cry of the Living Dead Man” in issue #12. I bring this up because “The Driller Killer” covers some of the same core issues, namely society driving an individual insane with pressures on every side, like bills, relationships, obnoxious neighbors, and making enough money or you’ll be out on the street. I’m sure Ferrara was influenced by it.

On July 21, 1945, General George Patton predicted “I fear that perhaps in fifty years America will… become a land of corruption and degenerate morals." This flick effectively shows this development and I’m sure the Soviets and China (et al.) used it to illustrate the downside of America & the West’s curious catering to Lefty madness.

It runs 1 hour, 36 minutes, and was shot in Union Square, Manhattan, which is just northeast of Greenwich Village and northwest of East Village. The rock club was located just northeast of Union Square.

GRADE: B-/C+