Arrow Video gets drilled by THE DRILLER KILLER (review)

As much inspired by Roman Polanski's REPULSION as Martin Scorcese's TAXI DRIVER, Abel Ferrara's first dark night of the soul gets a Blu-ray bump up in Arrow Video's release of his arty grindhouse classic THE DRILLER KILLER.  Laboring to finish his masterpiece, artist Reno Miller's mind slowly deteriorates under the pressures of his personal life, financial issues, and vulgar displays of material success coming at him from all angles (including a punk band that has moved into the apartment upstairs).

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video USA (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE DRILLER KILLER Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen and 1.33:1 fullscreen transfers of the pre-release (99 minute) and theatrical (95 minute) versions
• English LPCM 1.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer of the theatrical version
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.37:1 fullscreen transfer of the pre-release version
• English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio commentary by director and star Abel Ferrara, moderated by Brad Stevens (author of Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision)
• "Laine and Abel: An Interview with the Abel Ferrara" featurette
• "Willing and Abel: Ferraraology 101" visual essay guide to the films and career of Ferrara by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• "Mulberry St." feature-length 2010 documentary portrait of the New York location that has played a key role in his life and work
• Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil