The Driller Killer Reviews
September 15, 2020
More grindhouse than arthouse, The Driller Killer does have a striking ambience... If only the rest of the film could match these visceral moments.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/5
April 11, 2018
Has some surprisingly strong performances, coupled with a vibe and attitude that's a great look into the gritty punk atmosphere of New York City at that time period.
Full Review
| Original Score: 7/10
December 20, 2016
you can see both Ferrara's strengths and weaknesses at play here, although some of the latter can be explained at least partially by marketplace demands for a low-budget genre film
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
November 28, 2016
a thematically dense, messily grounded film which, although about a drill, never bores - and there is nothing else quite like it.
May 30, 2010
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.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/10
February 5, 2010
A corruscating tale of a mind liberated by psychosis
March 11, 2009
This 1979 budgeter takes up from the 70s grindhouse and precedes the flourishing horror-comedies of the 80s.
Original Score: 3/5
April 9, 2007
Worthwhile for admirers of Ferrara's overall portfolio; probably too slow and odd for those hoping for shallow splatter.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
April 2, 2006
Only sporadically exhibits the skill and wit of [Ferrara's] scintillatingly skuzzy subsequent efforts.
Full Review
| Original Score: B-
November 7, 2005
Dystopic Punk-era Manhattan by Abel Ferrara - Very cool!
Original Score: 4/5
August 24, 2005
Okay slasher flick.
Original Score: 3/5
June 26, 2005
Original Score: 2/5
July 29, 2004
There's a grim, grimy and rather unsettling vibe to the thing; this is not the sort of horror movie where you "root" for the oft-maligned misfit.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/5
June 24, 2004
I suspect that a viewer might also begin wielding a power drill if he or she had to sit through it too many times.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/10