The Driller Killer (Directed By Abel Ferrara) 1979

'The Driller Killer' - well, the title, just like 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' kinda says it all...doesn't it? Well, not really. Any of you who know the work of Abel Ferrara should know that nothing this man does is easy on the eyes - after all, he does his own thing, and often in gruelling fashion, but 'The Driller Killer' was his first horror piece and caused such controversy that at the time of its release censors were foaming at the mouth and parents worldwide expected this to be another of those rumoured snuff films. I distinctly recall that this was a hard to get hold of movie, and years later I'm wondering what all the fuss was about, but at the same time I'm also angry as to how this was dismissed as just another slasher film. Sure, the killings - in graphic nature, are carried about by a guy wielding a drill, but like so many of Ferrara's movies there's most certainly a deeper aspect to the whole affair. So, step forward tortured artist Reno Miller - played by Ferrara - who is not only in debt with most of his bills, but also constantly agitated by the awful punk band rehearsing in the next apartment. Couple this with the fact that Reno is having a few relationship problems as well as issues with a gallery owner over a painting he is currently working on and it's enough to send a man crazy - especially as one is living in a grotty ghetto area of drugs and, sleaze and murder - and so eventually Reno snaps, and, armed with a power drill begins killing some of the local bums.

Although very much an independent film, Ferrara's drill flick has earned cult status and mostly positive reviews despite it's rather grimy feel and strong gore scenes. Naturally the movie caused a lot of controversy, named because of its gore scenes but also its mere name and the overtly gross cover and it was this film that quite literally brought about the Video Recordings Act of 1984 which started the 'video nastie' panic, in which films such as 'The Driller...' were banned. Sadly, as is often the case a number of those who dismissed the movie had never even seen it but I'm sure that deep down Mr Ferrara would have lapped up the controversy.

'The Driller Killer' isn't the snooze-fest everyone seems to imagine, and neither is it the dumb, formulaic slasher film either, in fact this film and its moods would only be a hint at some of Ferrara's les gory, yet equally controversial pieces such as 'Bad Lieutenant'.