The Driller Killer

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This article is about the 1979 horror movie. For the hardcore/crust punk band, see Driller Killer (band).
The Driller Killer

The Driller Killer DVD case cover
Directed by Abel Ferrara
Produced by Rochelle Weisberg
Written by Nicholas St. John
Starring Abel Ferrara,
Carolyn Marz,
Baybi Day,
Harry Schultz,
Alan Wynroth
Music by Joseph Delia
Distributed by Cult Epics
Release date(s) 1979
Running time 96min.
Language English
IMDb profile

The Driller Killer is a 1979 horror movie directed by and starring Abel Ferrara. It is notable for being one of the first video nasties in the United Kingdom, in addition to being banned in Germany. The film is in public domain.[1][2][3][4][5]

Contents

[edit] Plot summary

The story centers around Reno Miller (Ferrara), a painter struggling to make ends meet. He shares an apartment with his girlfriend Carol (Carolyn Marz) and her friend Pamela (Baybi Day), who unbeknownst to him, are carrying on a lesbian affair. Despite being urged by Carol to finish his painting of a buffalo faster in order to pay the bills, Reno refuses, believing in the integrity of his art. The Roosters, a punk rock band, soon move into the apartment complex and begin practising loudly at all hours. Reno's inability to concentrate exacerbates his already apparent madness, until he finally snaps and begins using an electric drill to murder the homeless.

After finally being completed, Reno's painting is rejected by the head of the art gallery, Dalton Briggs (Harry Schultz). Fed up, Carol leaves him for her ex-husband, Stephen (Richard Howorth). In retaliation, Reno invites Briggs to dinner and drills him to death. Pamela returns to find the corpse, and becomes a victim herself. In his final act of revenge, Reno breaks into Stephen and Carol's house, and kills Stephen while Carol is in the shower. The movie ends with Reno hiding under the covers of the couple's bed as Carol returns from the shower, believing the figure in the bed to be her husband.

[edit] Controversy

In 1982, the UK distributors of Driller Killer, Vipco (Video Instant Picture Company), took out full page advertisements in a number of movie magazines depicting the video's violently explicit cover. This resulted in a large number of complaints to the Advertising Standards Agency.

Soon, due to the release of other graphic horror movies such as Cannibal Holocaust, a large campaign to curb violent movies, blaming them for the rate of youth crime, was underway in the UK. Ultimately, Driller Killer was banned under the Video Recordings Act of 1984. It also gained notoriety for being banned in Germany. The movie was not officially released uncut in the UK until 2002. Many cut versions of the movie still exist, which show scenes of drilling into heads and abdomens blacked-out. The uncut version of the movie does show certain parts blanked out using the colour red, most notably the final scene; however, this is intentional and done for theatrical effect.

Ironically, being labelled a video nasty did Driller Killer more good than harm, as despite its low production quality and being critically panned even by horror movie reviewers, its place on the list virtually guaranteed it a cult following.

[edit] Trivia

The director and star claims that one half of the film was shot in 1977, while the other half was filmed in 1978, thus explaining a lack in continuity and costume design (as well as makeup).

In 2007, it was announced that the film will be remade by British filmmaker Andrew Jones. The remake will relocate the story from New York to London and is set to feature a mostly British cast.

[edit] Cultural references

  • The early British punk band The Damned reference the film in their song "Nasty," itself an ode to various video nasties.
  • Swedish Crust punk band Driller Killer took their name from the movie.
  • Danish Psychobilly band Nekromantix, UK hardcore punk band Disorder, and US death metal band Mortician all wrote songs inspired by the film, all entitled "Driller Killer". The latter also included a sample from the film in their song.
  • "The Blood Runs In Rivers...", a song by Portland-based band Frightmare, is a tribute to the film
  • The title of the film is mentioned in the Skinny Puppy song "Hexonxonx."

[edit] External links

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Films directed by Abel Ferrara

Nicky's Film • The Hold Up • The Driller Killer • Ms. 45 • Fear City • China Girl • Cat Chaser • King of New York • Bad Lieutenant • Body Snatchers • Dangerous Game • The Addiction • The Funeral • The Blackout • New Rose Hotel • R Xmas • Mary • Go Go Tales •
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