The Driller Killer

The Driller Killer (1976)

  • 70% of critics liked it
    (10 reviews)

  • 33% of users liked it
    (5,048 ratings)

Iconoclastic filmmaker Abel Ferrara made his directorial debut with this gory but fascinating horror tale about a troubled artist (played by Jimmy Laine, aka Abel Ferrara). Haunted by bizarre hallucinations and the fear he'll end up a wino like his father, the artist eventually snaps and begins… More

R,
Directed By
Genres
Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1979 Wide

Critic Reviews

  • Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

    In a lot of very important ways, the film is stiff and clumsy... there is one way in which the film is kind of brilliant: its depiction of the New York punk scene.

  • Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

    A corruscating tale of a mind liberated by psychosis

  • Matthew Sorrento, Film Threat

    This 1979 budgeter takes up from the 70s grindhouse and precedes the flourishing horror-comedies of the 80s.

  • Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

    Worthwhile for admirers of Ferrara's overall portfolio; probably too slow and odd for those hoping for shallow splatter.

  • Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

    Only sporadically exhibits the skill and wit of [Ferrara's] scintillatingly skuzzy subsequent efforts.

Read all 10 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Anthony L


    Whether you like Driller Killer or not, you've got to admit that it pulls no punches and it's one of the only films that can boast being a proper slasher movie. Horror fans will appreciate its purity, wannabe film makers will appreciate what Abel Ferrara achieved in his… More

  • Ariuza k


    Nothing short of "Arthouse" genus and the best Slasher flick ever made. I say this because it's old and low budget and its director Abel Ferrara first movie and of course also starring as the main character of Reno Miller an artist that is slowly going mad under the… More

  • Jeff "


    I picked up this infamous video nasty at a local used DVD store. Watching the film, it reminded me of The Last House On The Left, only because the picture looked grainy and cheap. With that said, The Driller Killer is a Grind house version of popular slasher flicks of the 70's.… More

  • Bruce B


    First off it amazes me that this movie is even on Flixster, what amazes me more is the number of people who have reviewed it, and even more amazing is that anyone would give it over 1 star. Now comes the big surprise go to Amazon and check out the price of this movie, you will flip.… More

  • Lady D


    I don?t give up on films very easily, but this was just one huge yawn, despite being a serial killer film and despite being a banned film, it really wasn?t an interesting watch.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

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