10. Driller Killer (1979)
Reno Miller is a young artist in NYC who is gradually losing his marbles. Reno hates his crime infested neighbourhood and cannot pay his rent. He goes to an art gallery to beg for money, but Dalton, the owner is fed up with Reno's constant borrowing and says no. A punk band moves in to a neighbouring apartment and Reno goes more berserk in the face of their constant rehearsing. He purchases a power drill and begins to execute the neighbourhood bums. His girlfriend Carol leaves him for her ex but at the end of the film, there is a terrible and freaky tragedy awaiting her. Driller Killer is an atypical film in the DPP's 39 prosecuted films. It is clearly in a class above the usual video nasty fare - being arty and quirky as well as competently directed. I think the major problem with Driller Killer is the nature of its title - it sounds lugubrious - as well as the photo with which it was advertised - a drill going into a homeless bum's head. The director - Abel Ferrara - has a long and distinguished career in the horror/arthouse stakes. He is a director of considerable talent and Driller Killer, despite its sensationalist title, was a very auspicious start to his career. Controversial because: victims get killed by a power drill.