This film marked the debut for director Abel Ferrara, who also stars in it under a pseudonym. It's easy to see why he didn't pursue an acting career. He is unintentionally funny playing a cross between the John Travolta character in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER and the Fonzie. He plays a struggling artist in New York City who lives in a spacious apartment building with two women who don't work. He is talented, but is constantly frustrated because his roomates run up high phone bills, the landlord gets on his case about the rent, an art dealer won't buy his paintings, etc. He is finally pushed over the edge when a loud punk rock band, who call themselves Tony Coca-Cola and the Roosters(!) moves into the building. Brandishing a power drill, he takes to the streets at night. The film is well-made considering the low budget, and the editing is better than you might expect. Ferrara even works in his theme of religion in the opening scene.
Review of The Driller Killer
