Driller Killer / The Early Short Films of Abel Ferrara

I am sure you are all aware of the history surrounding Mr. Ferrara'sfirst proper film the 'Driller Killer'. It has achieved most of it'snotoriety due to it's distinction of being one of the first so-called'Video Nasties'- films banned by the UK due to lurid content. From whatI have gathered after watching the majority of these 'Video Nasties',is that this was some sort of backlash and hysteria by the moralpolice. If you go into this film expecting gore-filled mayhem andover-the-top violence you will likely be very disappointed...However if you go into this film with no expectations, you will likelybe amused and entertained. This film will be much more enjoyable if youare over 30 and from the glorious, sleazy NY before it was sanitized.The dirty punk rocker sleaze factor oozes nicely from this film and Ifound it very satisfying...Keep in mind, this was Abel's first film and it shows. Some of theshots are rather extraneous, and certainly a few of them could of beenframed better. The pacing does a lag a bit in spots, and some of thedialogue is rather inane (I actually find the inane dialogue to becharming and amusing)...The factor that elevates this DVD to 'must-purchase' territory (I amreferring to the Cult Epics version), is Abel Ferrara's amazingcommentary. He is obviously on lots of strong drugs and his stream ofconscious rambling really enhance the viewing experience. he is veryquick to point out flaws in his film with wild abandon. It is alsolovely to listen to him oogle the actresses and ramble off incoherentlyin stream of consciousness Frankenstein quasi-sentences...If you are a punk rock child from the 80's you will probably appreciatethis film much more than the casual viewer. I hesitate to call it ahorror film. It is more of an Art-house, drugged-out, sleazy portraitof early 80's New York City set in a slasher film regarding man'sfrustration and gradual descent into madness. Check it out, and pleasere-watch with the commentary. I promise you will be amused (andamazed)...

I have to agree with the reviewer before me. I would only recommend this movie to an avid fan of the horror genre. A casual horror fan probably would not appreciate this type of film as much. I looked all over for this film for years and finally purchased it. Well honestly the movie wasn't great by any stretch but I didn't find it awful either. Reno Williams(Abel Ferrara) a struggling artist, trying to make an honest living finds himself driven to insanity by his two roommates, the inability to pay his bills, and of all things a punk rock band living beneath his apartment. When he finally snaps he Reno takes to the streets, killing delinquent bums with a power drill. Some of the killing scenes are decent but from all the hype you may have heard about this movie you may expect to see much more gore and violence than there actually is. The movie is poorly lit and moves at a slow clip but the ending is decent. If you are an avid horror fan then Abel Ferrara's cult classic "The Driller Killer" needs to be added to your horror collection. Otherwise I would suggest seeing it before you buy it.

This film is presented as a very straightforward horror flick that tries to realistically depict a madman who goes on a rampage with a portable power drill. The killer is shown throughout the movie, and you slowly watch as he begins to go insane which leads to him stalking the streets with a drill. Living in poverty, the annoying people around him and the crime happening on the streets drives him to insanity. There's heavy emphasis on the poor living conditions that surround him, and the film plays it straight without humor. When he begins his killing spree, it's done in what people refer to as a "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" type fashion. He simply is shown running mad with his power drill and doesn't conceal himself like in most slashers. The film is very violent at times with some nudity that's not very explicit. A lesbian shower scene is shown, but it's soft and doesn't go as far as many would hope. If you want lots of gore, you might be disappointed because it isn't extremely gory. However, some of the violence has impact because of its intensity and realistic approach, and there's some bloody scenes. It's a bleak film that some may find depressing, and it has a very 70s style of filmmaking that may not appeal to many mainstream horror fans. It's a little slow in parts, and this film is clearly geared towards those who have a big taste for 70s exploitation.The DVD is in widescreen but it isn't anamorphic. The quality is good, and it captures the grindhouse look of 70s exploitation films. There's a really good commentary on the film by Ferrara. The black and white robbery short film extra called "The Hold Up" is interesting because it shows the directors early works but contains no explicit material, atmosphere, or interesting scenery. This short does contain a commentary. There's another really quick and silent black and white short which is called "Nicky's Film." There's no commentary on this particular short feature dealing with a house, people talking, and snow outside. It shows the snowy grounds and conversations between people, but I don't know what's about because it's silent; a commentary would've helped. The quality for this and that other black and white feature called "The Hold Up" is poor VHS quality, but I'm glad they included these shorts even though there's really nothing interesting about them. The other short film is called "Could This Be Love" and this is simply a drama about relationships. This is in color, in good quality, and contains some topless nudity from the lead actress who is quite attractive. This short is well directed, watchable, and it contains a commentary. The DVD also has a separate voice only commentary on the actress in this short flick that you listen to without watching the film. This is interesting and contains plenty of cursing by Ferrara, but the best extra is the vintage hardcore trailer. The voice over narrator to the trailer sounds like he's reading his lines off cue cards; you can get a good laugh from this. All The commentaries by the director Abel Ferrara are really good. The guy sounds like he's pretty cool, and listening to him is a little funny at times.

I remember seeing this decades ago, and thought it a cheesy slasher film. Learning more about and respecting Abel Ferrara's work over time, I can get a little more out of this movie now. Like David Cronenberg and John Waters, sex and shock will get attention. So with little budget and/or acting skills, Abel put himself into the lead as Reno - a struggling artist living with his bi-sexual girlfriend and her lover. Wanting to 'make it big' and escape the cesspool of NYC in the late 70's, Reno's a decent guy, trying to be pleasant to his ladies, landlord, and derelicts on the street. He suffers from visions and nightmares of carnage, and tries to hide them. But when a rock band moves into the loft upstairs and won't quit rehearsing, it really begins to grate on Reno. And by catching a ad on TV for a 'Porto-Power-Pack' - a utility belt that delivers 120v to any appliance plugged into it, Reno gets this idea. Like a Jekyll & Hyde, he tries to keep his demeanor, but worries if his delusion's are becoming real? After working hard on a painting that his gay art agent absolutely detests when unveiled, Reno quietly 'snaps', letting the Hyde fully take him over. I think what makes this movie stand out is the hypocrisy of everyone around Reno. Especially sexually, as his girlfriend Carol (Carolyn Marz) has abandoned her loving husband to live out her affairs. Carol's girlfriend Pamela (Baybi Day) has a crush on the rock singer that moved in upstairs. And Reno's art agent changes his disdain when Reno gives hints for a private encounter. So as brutal and seemingly senseless as Reno's rage seems, the viewer becomes sympathetic with him as well. His inventive and quiet way of murder may actually be cleaning NY up some? And even with the low budget and lack of star power in the roles, New York and the characters within it are captured extremely well. And too, it may mark the first time Abel infused religious symbolism in his movies? A brutal scene where Reno literally 'crucifies' a homeless man in a alley way. And the proximity and freedom of that character juxtaposed with Reno's could be greatly discussed as well. Now as to the 'short films' of Abel's incl. on Disc 2, they're interesting for the die hard fan. Very crude in all senses of making, acting, and preservation. But again, showing Abel had 'levels' he wanted to convey as a film maker. Even the now hilarious trailer for '9 Lives Of A Wet Pussy' shows a suspenseful rape scene that set the movie apart somewhat from the porno-norm. So all in all, on the surface these movies look crass, crude, sensational, and cheap. But it's hard not to give Abel and all respect for doing their best to give something a little different and memorable with it all. Be it a 'slasher fan' to a respectable film buff, I think this set should be in either fans serious collection.