Elena Rossi
The Driller Killer is a 1979 American slasher film starring Abel Ferrara as Reno Miller, a struggling artist in New York City who goes insane and starts killing people with a power drill. The film was directed by Ferrara, who also co-wrote the film with Nicholas St. John. While it is not explicitly stated whether Ferrara painted the artworks in the film, it is known that the character of Reno was based on a painter acquaintance of his, and that this friend's apartment and paintings were used in the film.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | The Driller Killer |
| Year of release | 1979 |
| Genre | Drama, Horror, Thriller, Slasher, Black comedy |
| Director | Abel Ferrara |
| Star cast | Abel Ferrara (credited as Jimmy Laine), Carolyn Marz, Baybi Day, Harry Schultz, Alan Wynroth, Maria Helhoski, James O'Hara, Richard Howorth, Louis Mascolo, Tommy Santora, Rita Gooding, Chuck Saaf, Gary Cohen, Janet Dailey, Joyce Finney, Butch Morris, Paul Fitze, John Fitze, Karl Metner, Chris Amato, Rich Bokun, Michael Canosa, Greg Schirrira, Thomas Baeza, Frank Hazard, John Paul McIntyre, John Coulakis, Lanny Taylor, Peter Yellen, Steve Cox, Stephen Singer, Tom Constantine, Anthony Picciano, Bob DeFrank, D.A. Metrov, Dickey Bittner, Steve Brown, Laurie Y. Taylor, Trixie Sly, Andrea Childs, Hallie Coletta, Victoria Keiler, Claire Mailer, Paula Nichols, Jack O'Connell |
| Plot | Reno Miller, a struggling artist in New York City, turns insane from stress and kills derelicts with a power drill |
| Based on | The Reno character was based on a painter acquaintance of Ferrara, who made use of the friend’s apartment and paintings in the film |
| Production company | Navaron Films |
| Production year | 1977-1978 |
| Budget | Less than $100,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Abel Ferrara directed, wrote, and starred in the film
Abel Ferrara directed, wrote, and starred in the 1979 film "The Driller Killer." The film is a slasher horror that revolves around Reno Miller, a struggling artist in New York who goes insane and starts killing people with a power drill.
Ferrara, credited as Jimmy Laine, played the lead character, Reno Miller, a tortured artist. The film also starred Carolyn Marz, Baybi Day, and Harry Schultz. "The Driller Killer" was Ferrara's second feature film and was made for less than $100,000. It is known for its graphic cover art and was controversial in the United Kingdom, where it was banned under the Video Recordings Act 1984 and labeled as a "video nasty."
The film is partly based on a painter acquaintance of Ferrara, and it incorporates the friend's apartment and paintings. The story was also inspired by footage Ferrara had shot for an unfinished documentary about New York winos, giving the film an air of authenticity.
In addition to directing and starring in the film, Ferrara also wrote the screenplay. He is known for his unique approach to filmmaking, with "The Driller Killer" being largely unscripted. The performers, including many non-actors, were given a scenario and told to improvise. This adds to the raw and realistic feel of the film.
"The Driller Killer" is a gritty and gruesome film that explores the dark side of human nature and the thin line between creation and destruction. It showcases Ferrara's talent as a filmmaker and his ability to work across various genres and styles.
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The film's plot is inspired by a painter friend of Ferrara's
The Driller Killer is a 1979 American black comedy slasher film directed by Abel Ferrara, who also stars in the film as the lead character, Reno Miller, a struggling artist in New York City. The film's plot is inspired by a painter friend of Ferrara's, who made use of the friend's apartment and paintings in the film.
In the film, Reno is slowly driven insane by his inability to pay his bills, work on his paintings, and care for his two female roommates. He takes to the streets of New York after dark and randomly kills derelicts with a power drill. The film was particularly controversial in the United Kingdom due to its graphic cover art, which led to it being banned under the Video Recordings Act 1984.
The film was made for less than $100,000 and was Ferrara's first mainstream success. It is known for its portrayal of the mid-70s NYC punk scene and its gritty and gory nature. The film has been described as a "race to see if [the protagonist] can complete [a painting] on time to settle his scores and whether its finality will quiet his impulsive and violent demons."
The Driller Killer is also notable for its blend of fact and fiction, with Ferrara incorporating authentic street scenes that he had shot for a documentary on New York winos into the film. Additionally, there was no script during shooting, and the performers, including many non-actors, were simply given a scenario and told to improvise.
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The film's poster and VHS cover art led to its classification as a video nasty
The Driller Killer, starring Abel Ferrara, is a 1979 American black comedy slasher film. It is best known for igniting the "video nasty" debate in Britain in the 1980s. The film centres on a struggling artist in New York City who goes insane from stress and kills people with a power drill. The film's poster and VHS cover art were particularly controversial and shocking. They depicted a man being drilled through the forehead by the Driller Killer, with the tagline: "There are those who kill violently." This led to a large number of complaints to the Advertising Standards Agency and negative press coverage. The cover art was considered gory and graphic, with violently explicit images that attracted criticism and led to the film's classification as a "video nasty."
The term "video nasty" refers to a group of films that were banned in the UK during the 1980s due to their violent or disturbing content. The Video Recordings Act 1984 was enacted to regulate the VHS market, and The Driller Killer was added to the list of banned films on July 4, 1983, just a year after its VHS release. The film's distributor, Vipco, had taken out full-page advertisements featuring the graphic cover art, which sparked outrage and contributed to its classification as a video nasty.
The VHS format played a significant role in the popularity of video nasty films. The video boom of the 1980s and 1990s, coupled with the unregulated nature of the VHS market, allowed for the widespread distribution of these controversial films. The cover art of VHS tapes became a unique art form, often featuring lurid and gruesome imagery to attract potential viewers. The Driller Killer's cover art is a notable example of this trend, with its explicit and disturbing visuals.
The classification of The Driller Killer as a video nasty had a significant impact on its reception and distribution. The film was banned in the UK, and an edited version was later released with an 18 certificate in 1999. It wasn't until 2002 that the full uncut version was approved by the BBFC and officially released in the UK. The controversy surrounding the film's cover art and its subsequent banning as a video nasty have contributed to its notoriety and cult status among horror film enthusiasts.
The Driller Killer's classification as a video nasty was primarily due to the shocking nature of its poster and VHS cover art. The graphic and violent imagery sparked outrage and contributed to the perception of the film as disturbing and exploitative. While the film's content certainly lived up to the marketing promise of gore and violence, it also offered a unique setting, smart directorial choices, neat editing, dark humour, and a compelling portrayal of an artist's descent into madness. In retrospect, some have argued that the film is more of a psychodrama than a horror film, and that its classification as a video nasty may have been overly influenced by the shocking cover art.
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The film's production and setting in New York's punk scene
The Driller Killer, directed by Abel Ferrara, is a 1979 American black comedy slasher film. It is based on a painter acquaintance of Ferrara's, who made use of the friend's apartment and paintings in the film. The film was produced by Ferrara's own company Navaron Films from 1977 to 1978 and was shot on 16mm film. It was filmed on a small budget with a cast of unknown actors, including Carolyn Marz and Baybi Day.
The film's setting in New York City, specifically in a derelict-filled neighbourhood in Union Square, is integral to the story and atmosphere. It captures the punk wave of that moment in New York, with the punk rock band in the film, The Roosters, reflecting contemporary New York punk bands such as the New York Dolls and Television. The film's gritty urban locations, shot at night, and eclectic soundtrack combining punk rock and Johann Sebastian Bach further contribute to its portrayal of New York's punk scene.
The plot centres around Reno Miller (played by Ferrara), a struggling artist who turns insane from stress and kills derelicts with a power drill. Reno's character is driven over the edge by his fear of failure, loud neighbours, and the stress of city life. The film accurately portrays New York's punk rock scene during the city's bankruptcy, with the streets home to thousands of homeless people.
The Driller Killer is known for its controversial status as one of the original "video nasties", particularly in the United Kingdom, due to its graphic cover art and violent content. However, it has also been recognised for its unique setting and smart directorial choices, elevating it above many other slashers of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
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The film's themes of art, rage, and violence
The Driller Killer, directed by Abel Ferrara, is a 1979 American slasher film that explores the themes of art, rage, and violence. The film follows Reno Miller, a struggling artist in New York City, who turns insane due to stress and financial struggles and starts killing derelicts with a power drill. The film was particularly controversial for its graphic cover art and was banned in the UK under the Video Recordings Act of 1984.
The film's theme of art is evident through the character of Reno, a passionate artist who struggles to balance his artistic ambitions with the harsh realities of urban life. Reno's pursuit of his art leads him down a dark path, blurring the lines between creativity and violence. The film also explores the complex relationship between art and the mental state of the artist, with Reno's insanity culminating in acts of violence.
Reno's art is also influenced by his surroundings, particularly the gritty and decaying urban environment of New York City. The film captures the mid-70s NYC punk scene and the struggles of artists in a bustling urban landscape. The theme of art is further explored through the character of Dalton, an art gallery owner who represents both opportunities and failures in Reno's artistic journey. Dalton's refusal to extend financial support to Reno highlights the cold business side of the art world and the challenges artists face in getting their work validated.
The theme of rage in the film is portrayed through Reno's character as he becomes enraged by the failures in his life, including financial struggles and the betrayal of his girlfriend, Carol. Reno's rage is directed towards the homeless epidemic, as he fears ending up like his derelict father. His rage culminates in violent acts, as he takes to the streets of New York to kill innocent derelicts with a power drill.
Violence is a prominent theme in the film, with Reno's descent into insanity leading to horrific acts of violence. However, the film does not glorify the violence or the protagonist's actions. Instead, it explores the complex relationship between creativity and violence, and how artistic ambition can lead to destruction. The film also serves as a cautionary tale about the thin line between sanity and madness and the consequences of giving in to rage and violence.
In conclusion, The Driller Killer is a thought-provoking film that explores the intricate relationship between art, rage, and violence. Through the character of Reno, the film delves into the dark underbelly of urban life and the fragile nature of human relationships. The film's themes continue to resonate and provoke discussion, highlighting the complexity and depth beneath its controversial surface.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Abel Ferrara did the paintings in Driller Killer. The film is about a painter who goes on a killing spree.
The film Driller Killer is about a struggling artist in New York City who goes insane from stress and kills people with a power drill.
Abel Ferrara directed the film Driller Killer.
Abel Ferrara starred in the film Driller Killer as the lead character, Reno Miller.
