Review of The Driller Killer (1979) by Justin B — 18 Mar 2012

I can understand why it was as controversial as it was, and can see why people were shocked by its content, but, by today's standards, it just doesn't hold up the way other classics such as "Halloween" do.

It pulls no punches in its graphic depiction of violence, but with no storyline or character development to back it up, it is just not worthwhile. Ferrara, in his defence, has always been an unconventional genius, but I think "The Driller Killer" is a step too far - it may have single-handedly created the slasher genre as many argue, but it did not create and hone the various elements that make it recognisable and entertaining.

It's a disappointing and rather cheap (in both acting talents and look) entry into a exploitation genre that, in 1979, had already began to show signs of some wear, with much better (and more saner) releases showing the best that filmmakers back then had to offer.