This movie about a painter’s descent into madness also manages to be an entertaining look at the past. An artist living in Union Square, Manhattan, is dealing with problems like his homeless father, completing a significant painting, a bothersome rock band nearby, and difficulties in his relationships with his two female roommates. Things clearly aren't going well for him. “The Driller Killer” was filmed between June 1977 and March 1978, and released in 1979. I mention this because it really captures the feel of late-’70s Manhattan—not the polished version you might see in postcards. It's a rough, independent art film made by Abel Ferrara, who appears in the credits under the name Jimmy Laine. Despite its sensational title and the fact that it ended up on the UK’s “video nasties” list without really deserving to be there, it’s actually a gritty psychological drama about life in a big city during late 1970s America, with some understated humor concerning the country's growing weirdness and craziness. The "driller killer" aspect doesn't appear until later on, and isn’t sensationalized like in typical slasher films. Interestingly, this element influenced the use of driller killers in the “Slumber Party Massacre” trilogy (1982, 1987, 1990). The film only cost $20,000 (which is about $98,000 today), but Ferrara was able to get good unknown actors for what he intended as a weekend project. Basically, the supporting performers are believable in their roles despite what critics might say—I’m referring to those who play Carol, Pamela, Dalton Briggs, the landlord, Tony Coca-Cola and his girlfriends. A couple of years before Ferrara made this film, Marvel's Man-Thing included Steve Gerber’s “Song-Cry of the Living Dead Man” in issue #12. I bring that up because “The Driller Killer” explores similar themes—namely, society pushing an individual to insanity with pressures from all sides, like bills, relationships, annoying neighbors, and needing enough money or you'll end up on the street. I’m sure Ferrara was influenced by it. On July 21, 1945, General George Patton predicted “I fear that perhaps in fifty years America will… become a land of corruption and degenerate morals.” This film effectively illustrates that development, and I’m certain the Soviets and China (and others) used it to show the negative side of America and the West's strange acceptance of Left-wing ideas. It has a running time of 1 hour, 36 minutes, and was filmed in Union Square, Manhattan, which is just northeast of Greenwich Village and northwest of East Village. The rock club was located just northeast of Union Square. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB