RETRO MOVIE REVIEW: SHOCK WAVES, 1976

Back in the 1970s, when zombie films were still somewhat of a novelty, they gave us NAZI ZOMBIES FROM THE DEEP! I“m talking about SHOCK WAVES, 1976.

German Nazi devastation is of historically epic proportions in the most sinister way. Because of their horrific exploits against humanity, they are the ultimate super-villains of the 20^th century. The repercussions of their evil actions still resonate up to today and I“m sure will continue into the future. They truly made their mark in human history. But what if Nazis could never die?

That“s the premise of SHOCK WAVES. Peter Cushing (1913-1994), a regular actor for HAMMER FILMS (THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1957 and HORROR OF DRACULA, 1958) the studio responsible for creator of many Gothic horror films of the 1950s to the 1970s, and of course, he“s most recognized as Gran Moff Tarkin from STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, 1977, plays an SS Commander responsible for containing a group of Nazi soldiers that cannot die.

During WWII, the Nazi High Command ordered scientist to create indestructible zombie soldiers. Known as The Death Corps, they are undead monsters that can survive in any environment and can kill with their bare hands. None of The Death Corps had ever been caught by allied troops, but guess what? Somewhere off the coast of Florida a unit of The Death Corps still exists.

As it turns out, a group of tourist on a boat captained by John Carradine (1906-1988), yet another historic actor cast to add credibility to the film, steers them into deadly waters. After a run-in with a “ ghost ship,”“ the squabbling band of tourists are forced to abandon ship and end up stranded on a remote island only inhabited by the aging SS Commander. Then here come Nazi zombies!Â Â They begin to do what they’re designed to do”” kill indiscriminately. For the tourists, it“s a battle to survive and to try and escape the island. Things do not turn out well and SHOCK WAVES has an ending that you will not see coming.

Like most horror films of the 1970s, this sleeper hit has its own creepy feel to it. The film stock, the grain structure, the locations, the special make-up effects, and the on-the-go documentary-style filmmaking create wonderful horror imagery that will stick in your mind. What“s really great about the current print of the film is that it is totally re-mastered. Supposedly the original negative had disappeared for decades after its release and this current version was re-built from the director and co-writer Ken Wiederhorn’s (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II, 1988, DARK TOWER, 1989) own print he had stored in his film vault. It“s quit a cinematic treat!

The zombie genre has been beaten to death now days, but here“s a chance to look at a true and unique and inspirational zombie flick from back in the day. If you“re zombie movie fan, you better add this film to your collection!