Drum Struck (1992) User Reviews

The Beat Generation

[NoDakTatum · 6/10 · 30 September 2023]

This twenty-four minute short film concerns two drummers auditioning for what seems to be a lounge singer. The skinny drummer gets it, and the other drummer attacks him and kills him. The skinny drummer's friends bring him back to life, and the drummers have a pretty funny fight involving drumsticks and flying cymbals. While the music is pretty cool, this short is a family affair that has no real focus. The direction and editing are fine, and the climactic fight did make me chuckle. The film tries too hard to be David Lynch-ish when the material is more black and comic than surreal and strange. There are some funny scenes, but the auditions take too long and the whole production seems depressed. "Drum Struck" is a one joke short film that shows up, plays, and departs without leaving any sort of lasting impression. It will not make my callback.

I was a rock-n-roll Frankenstein

[grendel-25 · 16 May 1999]

First of all if you want to see this your best bet is to find the video of Tetsuo: the Iron Man. The story starts with a band auditioning drummers. The guy who loses the gig kills the other drummer. The dead drummer is brought back Frankenstein style using jumper cables, mayhem ensues.

Humorous, funky, and weird. It reminded me of Frankenweenie in a way, and also of early Sam Raimi films: Crimewave, Evil Dead etc.

This is the worst movie I have ever seen

[DCNate · 1/10 · 12 October 1999]

NEVER, have I seen a movie worse or more pointless than this. I saw it on the end of the video for Tetsuo: The Iron Man (Now THAT is a crazy film). I consider myself pretty open to alternative cinema, but this "film" is pure and utter craptacularity. 'nuff said

Very well done,

[frankofthesun · 10/10 · 16 April 2009]

This film makes me feel like playing the drums! Did some homework and could only find this short film on the VHS version of TETSUO (IRON MAN) it is NOT on the DVD version, That sucks! So now I have both versions... what really got me was the music, very catchy! and I like it. there should be a sequel to this film or complete the story. (What was the audition for?) anyways, I'm still looking for a soundtrack or mp3 to download ........

When I first saw "Tetsuo", I actually liked this one even more!

[one4now4 · 24 June 2004]

I remember seeing this when I rented "Tetsuo: The Iron Man", Shinya Tsukamoto's cult classic. While that film proved to be an acquired taste, I fell in love with this masterpiece of short films instantly rather than over time. It's definitely fairly hard to describe, because it's just such an amazing film. I found it to be funny, grotesque, and just out-and-out ODD (which is always fun). The music was of a good caliber as well. This was the movie that showed me the power that even an eccentric ten-minute comedy could generate as opposed to many feature-length films. After this, I have always viewed short films as important as feature-lengths. In fact, great movies like "Drum Struck" deserve more attention than even the best miniseries-length, multibillion-dollar masturbation out of Hollywood (even when they are actually entertaining masturbation, which is, admittedly, damn rare). Hell, anyone renting "Tetsuo" is going to have to have an open mind. Just remember, as exhausting as the feature presentation is, try to keep your mind open for an extra ten minutes afterward for this classic.

The Surf punk component of Drum Struck

[drmodesto · 25 November 2008]

I also saw this short about the time it came out in '92. What I remember about it was an amazing surf instrumental at the end of the film. I seem to remember (and don't hold be to this) that it was a cover of Cecilia Ann by the Surftones. This song was also covered by the Pixies on the Surfer Rosa album (the only good song on the album if you ask me). If I recall, I think they added a magnificent saxophone harmony line which was just killer. Every time I listen to the original I want to hear that SAX kick in. In a way this film is made for DVD because like Donovan's "Atlantis" who wants to see the buildup to the drum playing after the first viewing. You just want to hear that guy hit the skins.