The Driller Killer

For other uses, see Driller killer.
The Driller Killer
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAbel Ferrara
Written byNicholas St. John
Produced byRochelle Weisberg
Starring
  • Abel Ferrara (as Jimmy Laine)
  • Carolyn Marz
  • Baybi Day
  • Harry Schultz
  • Alan Wynroth
CinematographyKen Kelsch
Edited by
  • Bonnie Constant
  • Michael Constant
  • Orlando Gallini
  • Abel Ferrara (as Jimmy Laine)
Music byJoseph Delia
Distributed by
  • Rochelle Films
  • Cult Epics
Release date
  • June 15, 1979 (1979-06-15)
Running time
  • 96 minutes (theatrical release)[1]
  • 101 (uncut)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
The Driller Killer (1979) by Abel Ferrara
The Driller Killer (1979) by Abel Ferrara, trailer

The Driller Killer is a 1979 black comedy slasher film directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Ferrara (credited as Jimmy Laine), Carolyn Marz, Baybi Day, and Harry Schultz.[2][3] The plot concerns Reno Miller, a struggling artist in New York City, turning insane from stress and killing derelicts with a power drill.[4]

When the film was released on video cassette in 1982, its graphic packaging drew complaints which landed the release on a list of "video nasties" that were banned in the United Kingdom under the Video Recordings Act 1984. An edited version was later granted an 18 certificate and released in 1999, and a full uncut version was approved by the BBFC in November 2002. On 10 June 2010 it was re-released as video on demand (VOD).[5]

The film is now in the public domain.[6]

  1. ^ "THE DRILLER KILLER (Abel Ferrara, 1979)" – via vimeo.com.
  2. ^ "Fandor".
  3. ^ "The Driller Killer". TVGuide.com.
  4. ^ "List of Video Nasties – The Nasty Films They Didn't Want You to See". May 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Killer Online Double Feature on Friday!". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  6. ^ Baker, Chris (1 October 2006). "The Best: Movies in the Public Domain". Wired. Retrieved 15 March 2018.