The
Driller Killer (1979/MVD Visual/Arrow Films Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: B Film: C+
Similar
in some respects to Roger Watkins' Last House on Dead End Street
(1972), the Abel Ferrara 1979 slasher The Driller Killer
is a frighteningly realistic film that could happen anywhere. at
anytime. Originally branded as a 'video nasty' in the U.K., the film
finds its way onto high definition Blu-ray disc thanks to Arrow
looking and sounding truck loads better than it ever has before.
An
artist (Ferrara) slowly goes insane while struggling to pay his
bills, work on his paintings, and taking care for his reckless two
female roommates, which leads him taking to the streets of New York
after dark, randomly killing derelicts with a deadly power drill that
he is pretty good with.
The
film stars Abel Ferrara himself, plus Carolyn Marz, Baybi Day, and
Harry Schultz.
Arrow
Films presents The Driller Killer in 1080p high definition
with a new 4K restoration of the original negative of the
never-before-seen pre-release version and the theatrical cut with
both both 1.85:1 and 1.37:1 aspect ratios respectively with equally
fine fidelity. The audio has also been given an upgrade with an
Original, Uncompressed Mono PCM 2.0 audio track that makes the
violence come to life like never before. Also included is the
standard release DVD edition of the film that looks and sounds fine
for the format but isn't as sharp and defined as the high definition
edition, of course.
Special
Features include...
Feature-length
audio commentary by director and star Abel Ferrara, moderated by Brad
Stevens (author of Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision) and
recorded exclusively for this release
Laine
and Abel: An Interview with the Driller Killer, a brand-new
interview with Ferrara
Willing
and Abel: Ferraraology 101, a new visual essay guide to the films
and career of Ferrara by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, author of
Cultographies: Ms. 45
Mulberry
St., Ferrara's feature-length 2010 documentary portrait of the
New York location that has played a key role in his life and work,
available on home video in the U.S. for the first time ever
Trailer
Reversible
sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins
of Evil
A
fun '70s slasher that really looks great on disc, I would suggest
giving this one a spin!
-
James
Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/