After reading all the reviews about this film, I was expecting either a sleaze-fest or a camp-fest (or both), but I was pleasantly (?) surprised. Although there are undeniably exploitational elements here (incest, castrations, torture), the director doesn't really linger over them. Nobody would mistake this for a thoughtful study on the mistreatment of black slaves in early 19th-century America, but it's a surprisingly well-made film, and the recreation of the period is just fine. The major weakness of "Drum" is that the male lead, Ken Norton, simply can't act; thankfully, Warren Oates and Yaphet Kotto certainly can. Pam Grier is wasted, however, and Colicos is positively ludicrous as a gay slave-trader. (**1/2)

"Mandingo" was a brutal film, with quite a few over-the-top scenes that would have you laughing today (not "at" it really, but laughs of "I can't believe they said that"), just for the fact that they are so blatantly non-PC and would never fly in today's political climate. "Drum," the sequel to "Mandingo," not only is much more prone to such laughter, but the actors even seem, sometimes, to be in on the goof.

"Drum" is a serious film though - brutal at times, like its predecessor - but with so much of this dialog, it is absolutely amazing the actors say all this stuff with straight faces. It is here where Warren Oates, as Hammond Maxwell (previously played by Perry King), really shines as an actor. He plays his role simply perfect - a lesser actor would have had no choice but to play the role into the realm of total farce. But somehow, amazingly, Oates finds that incredibly fine line where he is definitely part of the fun of the picture, but he still plays it straight, and not as a goof. This is no doubt one of his best roles.

In one of the film's best scenes, Oates as Hammond is outside eating with his bride-to-be, and the dialog exchange between the two just simply has to be seen, and heard, to be believed. This may even be the "funniest" scene in the film, but there is Oates, playing it just perfect.

Ken Norton, who played Mede in Mandingo, plays his son Drum here, and he still cannot act, but he's fun to watch try. Yaphet Kotto is great no matter what he does, and all the other familiar faces, especially Pam Grier, add to the festivities. Hammond gets a little profound at the very end, an ending that pulls no punches.

"Drum" is definitely a film to be seen, it's just up to you how you want to view it.

A quiet and sensitive look at the slave trade in southern USA in the 19th century this isn't! Instead, DRUM is a no-frills exploitation movie, a film whose sole purpose is to captivate, shock, titillate and outrage its audience. Conceived as a follow-up to MANDINGO, and featuring a few of the same actors, this is a surprisingly entertaining movie albeit one that isn't for the easily offended. Made back in the 1970s, long before political correctness became the norm, this film throws casual racism around willy-nilly and uses the 'n' word at least once every few minutes. On top of that, it strongly focuses on the sex and violence that were the staples of '70s drive-in cinema, so we get lots and lots of nudity, sexual situations, and violent fight scenes.

Ken Norton is the principal actor, a tough and hulking hero. Many have condemned his restrained turn but I actually found him thoroughly convincing in the role. He's ably supported by some EXCELLENT performances from the other cast members, in particular Warren Oates, veering on the edge of ham as the sex-mad slave owner; Pam Grier, in a minor role as a pretty servant; John Colicos as an absolutely dastardly Frenchman; Fiona Lewis as a titillating bit of skirt and, best of all, Yaphet Kotto as an incendiary slave who eventually leads a result. Kotto steals every scene, just as he did in many other films he appeared in. He really is top-notch when it comes to giving great performances.

This film has a short running time and plenty of action along the way. Norton engages in a couple of brutal battles, including one fantastic bout against a knife-wielding thug which is worth watching the film for alone. Best of all, though, is the film's detailing of all the hypocrisy and simmering violence that went hand in hand with the slave trade. DRUM pulls no punches in depicting mankind's inhumanity to man, and it isn't for the squeamish either. Colicos' eventual comeuppance is a thoroughly nasty moment that nevertheless had me cheering for its downright bravery.

The best part of the film is the fiery climax, for which most of the budget is saved. It's large-scale, riotous and utterly exciting, really bringing to a head all of the tensions that were building up beforehand. I can't fault it. This excellent ending rounds off a film which provides entertainment from beginning to end: a true '70s movie that captures the concerns of that decade. They don't make them like this anymore, and to be honest, I'm glad of it: but there's no denying that DRUM is a film that belies its exploitation roots. It's a very good film indeed.