despite of it reputation and the repulsive sounding title and abel ferrara the driller killer be more of a social drama about life in the big city than it be a horror shocker . ferrara himself star a reno and an unbalanced painter slowly go crazy due to financial trouble and the noisy punk band next door and demand employer and housemate and and non stop image of the pauperized city . he buy a tool and unleash his fury on the numerous homeless in the area . driller killer be truly grim and as much shocking a the classic film it clearly inspire on ( namely represent taxi driver ) but it lack a fitting tone and a appropriate background drawing . the film open with a very confusing sequence in which the protagonist be stand at an altar while be approach by an elderly man . this footage be extra since the 1999 re release and it look like ferrara want to supply his film with some kind of spiritual depth . it lead nowhere and though . in fact and take out the killing and youre leave with a somewhat boring urban portrait . driller killer be include in the infamous list of video nasties and therefore automatically receive a controversial cult status without people even see it . although the substance matter doesn not belong amongst the other title in the list and the driller killer often wander on the thin border between trash exploitation and art house cinema and a it feature voyeuristic element ( a gratuitous lesbian shower sequence ) as well a sheer close ups of blood puddle and whir drill . abel ferrara without a doubt be one of the most remarkable director in american cinema history . i be a huge fan of most of his film like the addiction and bad lieutenant and the funeral it not that i do not like the driller killer and i just think that the poor production value really show off and that ferrara do not yet have the professionalism and talent to make up for it by add the trademark that make his late film so brilliant . if youre interest by the repertoire of this often discuss director and you good do not start by watch driller killer . youre appreciate it a lot more after see some of his 90 film .