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The Driller Killer

1979·Movie
1h 41min
IMDb5.2Metacritic666.3Rotten Tomatoes64%32%

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVKanopyFandango at Home FreeCriterion

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

The Driller Killer fingerprint

Relentless energy, emotionally cool.

Energy

Brutally violent and terrifying

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Violence10
  • Scare9
  • Tension8

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Melancholy5
  • Pathos3
  • Catharsis2

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor4
  • Absurdist Humor3
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, crime, and the mind

  • World Immersion6
  • Ambiguity6
  • Novelty6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Character Depth7
  • Intrigue7
  • Direction6

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Visual Stylization7
  • Sound Centrality7
  • Cinematography5

Who it's for

AdultsSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers youYou scare easily

Find more like it

Scary movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The Blood Runs In Rivers... And The Drill Keeps Tearing Through Flesh And Bone.

An artist slowly goes insane while struggling to pay his bills, work on his paintings, and care for his two female roommates, which leads him taking to the streets of New York after dark and randomly killing derelicts with a power drill.
Exploitation HorrorGrindhouse AestheticPsychological BreakdownNew York City NoirDisturbing ViolenceLow-Budget IndependentBleak and UnsettlingVisual Stylization

Crew

Directed by:
Abel Ferrara, Louis Mascolo, Holly Yellen
Written by:
Nicholas St. John
Produced by:
Mary Kane, Arthur Weisberg, D.A. Metrov
Composed by:
Abel Ferrara, Joe Delia, Joe Delia

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about The Driller Killer

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Driller Killer legally?

PrimefuboTVKanopyFandango at Home FreeCriterionFlixHouseMUBIScreambox

The Driller Killer is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MUBI, and Screambox in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Fandango at Home Free, and FlixHouse. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Driller Killer worth watching?

57
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 57/100 (IMDb 5.2, Rotten Tomatoes 64%, and Metacritic 66). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Driller Killer rated?

ViolenceNuditySexual contentStrong languageDrug useDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, drug use, and disturbing imagery.

How long is The Driller Killer?

1 h 41 min

The Driller Killer runs 1 h 41 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Driller Killer?

Critics65
Audiences49

Not quite. Critics rate The Driller Killer higher (65) than audiences (49). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is The Driller Killer in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Driller Killer?

138ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBFBG+124

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Driller Killer in 138 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Driller Killer use?

GornKill the PoorHigh-Pressure BloodAx-CrazyVillain ProtagonistStarving ArtistJerkassBig BadB-MovieIncessant Music MadnessVideo NastiesJob Titleand 1 more

TV Tropes lists 13 storytelling tropes for The Driller Killer, including Gorn, Kill the Poor, High-Pressure Blood.