Shock Waves (1977) User Reviews

The Nazi Zombies

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 12 December 2019]

The tourists Rose (Brooke Adams), Chuck (Fred Buch), Norman (Jack Davidson) and Beverly (D.J. Sidney) hire the boat of Captain Ben Morris (John Carradine) and his crew, the pilot Keith (Luke Halpin) and the cook Dobbs (Don Stout). While navigating during the night, Keith crashes on a ship and on the next morning they realize that the vessel is stranded and Ben is missing. They go to a nearby island on a small boat and they find Ben drowned. They find a derelict hotel and soon they find they are not alone. A weird man asks them to go away since they are in danger. Later he explains that he was a SS Commander (Peter Cushing) responsible for his powerful troop of zombie Nazis. Now they are returning and soon the group will die.

"Shock Waves" is a funny movie with aquatic zombies. The cast is great with John Carradine, Peter Cushing and Brooke Adams in the beginning of her career. However the story does not give much explanation why the zombies return to the island and how the group of tourist is fed while in the island. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Ondas do Horror" ("Waves of Dread")

Odd B-class terror movie with unrelenting shock-feast and horrifying sea-weed Zombies delivering the goods

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 6 September 2020]

Vacationers are shipwrecked and lost in the marsh and lush jungle of an unnamed isolated island stumbling upon a nutty ex-Nazi : Peter Cushing commanding an army of seaweed-attired Zombies. The stranded tourists staying at a grim, deserted motel are the following ones : Brooke Adams, Jack Davidson, Fred Buch and Luke Halpin, all of them being really affected and pursued by the vicious, stalking stiff zombies relieved by the mad doctor. But the creepy zombies riot against their creator chasing mercilessly the affected tourists. Along the way the unfortunate and ever-dwindling group of tourists attempt to escape by a little boat called Bonaventura. It is just as stupid as it sounds, however, containing entertaining scenes and moody atmosphere enough.

Eerie terror movie with ghastly ambient , high body-count and nice use of shock images laced with terrifying events, it is more or less a standard horror yarn, somehow rises slightly above badness, deserveding its Cult Status. The zombies appearances roaming the island steal the show, they are an army of mutant-underwater-zombie-Nazi-soldiers slaying tourists. The sopping-wet zombies wear perky swimming goggles, full dress Nazi uniforms with Svatikas and stunning complement of seaweed accesoria. Being photographed in pallid color with lurid frames and acceptable results. Here appears two terror myths, John Carradine as a veteran boat pilot and Peter Cushing as the crazy Nazi scientist intenting on recreating the German glory while fails in controlling the zombies. Being one of the first films of Brooke Adams to be continued a long career as a main star and Luke Halpin's name of "Flipper" was erroneously listed as Halprin even on the original movie poster. This "Shock Waves" was the germ or seed of the Nazi zombie sub-genre, following a lot of weird B-grade films as : "Zombie lake" 1981 by Jean Rollin, "Oasis of the living dead" 1982 by Jesus Franco. And in the movie "Zombie 2" or "Zombie flesh eater" 1979 by Lucio Fulci shows up an underwater zombie fighting a shark. And recently "Dead Snow" 2009 by Tommy Wirkola and its sequel "Dead Snow 2 Red vs Death" 2014.

It packs a strange electronic musical score composed by means of synthesizer by composer Richard Einhorm. The motion picture was professionally directed by Ken Wiederhorn, though it has some pitfalls and failures. Ken is a writer, producer, director who has made a few films, such as : "A house in the hills" , "Dark tower" co-directed by Freddie Francis , "Meatballs 2" , "Eyes of a stranger" , and the successful "Return of the living dead 2" . Rating 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable. The flick will appeal to Zombie subgenre fans.

A good idea wasted...

[Space_Lord · 4/10 · 26 December 2004]

Man, I tried hard to find something about this film that I liked. Reason being I vaguely remember watching it when I was a kid and being freaked out. Oh well, that was then, this is now! The film starts out promisingly enough, with a great intro about the 'death corps' and a girl gets rescued after floating at sea in a dinghy. Things pretty much go downhill from here! A series of slow moving, disappointing sequences follows, as the annoying characters are shipwrecked and are picked of one by one by the death corps (who must have an amazing laundry person as their SS uniforms look in great nick after more than 30 years underwater!). The deaths are quite anticlimactic. If these were scarier, gorier or more inventive the film would definitely benefit! I thought the concept of the film was wasted. One only wonders what this film could have been with a better script, better action sequences and better direction! Peter Cushing and John Carradine do their best to carry the film, putting in OK performances as the reclusive SS commander and the grizzled old sea captain. But even these two mighty thespians are unable to rescue this shipwreck of a movie.

An anecdote about this movie

[smaynard-2 · 3 June 2000]

As a pre-production assistant and sound recordist on this film, I remember producer Reuben Trane and Director Ken Wiedernorn returning to the production office after taking co-star John Carradine from Miami's airport to his hotel.

Everyone on the crew was interested in how Carradine, in his late '70's and a movie icon if ever there was one, looked, acted, felt, etc. We were all keen to know if he seemed fit and ready for a role that required quite a bit of physical action, including moving as rapidly as possible from a small dinghy to a larger boat, while both were bobbing at sea.

Reuben and Ken came into the office looking morose as someone asked, "So, how IS he?" I don't remember which of them responded, but one of them said, "Let's put it this way, he has trouble walking on flat land with a cane!"

But, trooper that he was, Carradine did everything asked of him without complaint. He was also often "the life of the set", and in between takes or after a days' shooting, he would regale us all with wild tales of Hollywood and the stars and moguls he had known so well.

It's been about 25 years since I worked on "Shock Waves", but the memory of old man Carradine lives on vividly. He was a helluva guy.

From the director of Return of the Living Dead: Part II. Say no more

[BA_Harrison · 2/10 · 11 March 2017]

To my knowledge, Shock Waves has the distinction of being the first bona fide Nazi Zombie movie (a couple of films dallied with the idea in the forties and fifties, but they don't really count). It's a concept that has proved rather popular with horror film-makers over the years, with titles like Zombie Lake, Oasis of the Zombies, Outpost, and Dead Snow amongst those that have appropriated the idea. But just because it was the first, doesn't make it any good.

The film's prologue recounts how the Nazis conducted bizarre experiments during WWII, exploring the supernatural in the pursuit of creating an invincible army of the undead. The film then cuts to the present as a catatonic woman, Rose (Brooke Adams), is rescued from a dinghy found adrift in the sea. The rest of the film is a flashback, in which we learn that Rose is the only survivor of a group shipwrecked on a remote island after their pleasure cruise collides with a freighter in the night. As if that wasn't bad enough, a strange solar phenomenon has awoken the long dormant Nazi zombies that lurk at the bottom of the sea.

The problem with Shock Waves is that it really doesn't do anything of interest with its promising premise, with a long, tedious build up to the arrival on the island, followed by lots of aimless and extremely boring meandering through swamps and undergrowth, and a succession of rather dull and completely bloodless deaths. Peter Cushing crops up as the German officer in charge of creating the 'Death Corps', but is given very little to do, and John Carradine plays the salty sea captain of the damaged boat, but even the presence of these two horror legends cannot save this one from being a total waste of time.

Quietly effective, low budget shocker

[fertilecelluloid · 7/10 · 27 December 2004]

Ken Wiederhorn, who went on to direct the dull EYES OF A STRANGER, hits celluloid paydirt with this thoughtful, creepy and lyrical horror flick.

Mostly a work of effective moments, its images of dead Nazi soldiers emerging from the sea and advancing towards a distant shoreline have never left me or lost their power to evoke a sense of horror.

The story is a simple one, as the best horror stories are. Members of The Death Corps, an SS unit never apprehended by Allied Forces, return to menace holidaymakers with a little help from a friend.

The moderate pacing works in favor of the off-kilter narrative and the numerous sequences in which the undead soldiers attack the living are swift and highly effective.

Peter Cushing turns in a small but sincere performance, as does genre stalwart John Carradine.

Score by Richard Einhorn is memorable.

SHOCK WAVES has nothing in common with recent Hollywood horror films, but it has plenty in common with mostly unseen (outside their country of origin) Japanese horror outings such as LIVING SKELETON.

Nice concept but the execution wasn't much to shout about

[Johan_Wondering_on_Waves · 3/10 · 11 October 2015]

The concept of zombies that are at advantage under water created by the Nazis during World War II was interesting the execution though is much less exciting. It started of well with the boat of 7 people almost hitting a ghost ship only to find out it changed into a wreck the next day. Stranded on an island with only a retired SS officer (Peter Cushing again) and Nazi zombies who are out to kill them. Not for blood or to eat their flesh, they just want to kill. It's the run of the mill body counting stuff and you know who is going to survive since you see her right at the start of the movie trying to remember what happened. Character development is almost non-existing, the most background story was there for the zombies who wore sunglasses because they couldn't stand the light. No suspense and as usual with flicks like these the victims do stupid things making it too easy for the killers. Thank God the final girl regularly gave some bikini shots or this would have put me to sleep long before the end came.

Beach Closed Due To... Underwater Nazi-Zombie Alert!

[Witchfinder-General-666 · 7/10 · 1 June 2010]

Most fellow Horror/Exploitation fans will probably agree that Nazi-Zombies are usually a guarantee for ludicrously silly sleaze flicks, such as Jean Rollin's hilarious, beyond awful "Le Lac Des Morts Vivants" ("Zombie Lake", 1981) and Jess Franco's "L'Aimbe Des Morts Vivants" ("Oasis of the Zombies", 1981). However, this is not the case with the film that started the short-lived trend of (underwater) Nazi-Zombies, Ken Wiederholm's "Shock Waves" of 1977, starring Horror icons Peter Cushing and John Carradine. "Shock Waves" is a rather creepy and atmospheric Horror film which is surprisingly gore- and sleaze-less. Actually, the focus is set entirely on the suspense here, as there is no nudity and all the killings are quite tame (especially by the violent late 70s standards).

The film begins with a short explanation about Nazi experiments to create a race of invulnerable super-warriors. John Carradine plays an elderly captain who is shipping a bunch of tourists around. When they collide with an apparent ghost-ship by night, the tourists seek refuge on an apparently deserted island. Not a good idea, as for the last thirty-something years, the island has been serving as a hideout for a sinister elite SS-Commander (Peter Cushing) and his army of undead Nazi-Warriors...

Though the film starts a little slowly, it builds up a creepy atmosphere. Cushing and Carradine are great as always, though I lament the fact that both of them had a rather short screen time. Especially Cushing, doubtlessly one of the true deities of the Horror genre, is very sinister and diabolical as the SS-Commander. The armies of undead Nazis rising from the water are creepy as hell, the location is great, and the score nicely underlines the suspense.

It has to be said that this is technically not the first film about Nazi-Zombies - "Revenge of the Zombies" of 1943 (also starring John Carradine) supposedly already had a similar topic (though I haven't yet seen that film, and therefore cannot confirm this with certainty). "Shock Waves" is definitely the film that started the trend in the 80s, however, a classic of its kind and a creepy little film. See it!

Characters that are significantly dumber than the ones killed in the "Friday the 13th" and "Halloween" films!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 22 March 2017]

In the 1970s and 80s, there were quite a few films like "Shock Waves"...films involving Nazi zombies or some other zombies living on some island and which harass a group of tourists. So, when I saw this film on YouTube I thought I'd seen it before...but hadn't. Instead, I saw a film a lot like it...and there's a good chance you have as well!

The picture begins with a short prologue about Nazi super soldiers who were developed by scientists near the end of the war. The credits roll and the story then begins. A young woman is found adrift in a dingy out in what you assume is the Caribbean. She's hysterical at first and when she composes herself, she thinks back to what she's been through...and this extended flashback makes up nearly all the film.

Some tourists are out on a really crappy boat run by a weird old captain (John Carradine). They run adrift on a reef and are stuck. The next day, the captain is missing and everyone else makes there way to shore...as there is an island nearby. But they also discover the captain's body on the way....and that's really not a good sign! They also discover that this abandoned island isn't so abandoned after all, an old German guy with a mega-cool scar on his face (Peter Cushing) is living in what looks like an abandoned mansion. He insists that their timing stinks and they must get off the island ASAP....and then they discover another dead member of their group! He then explains that a ship filled with zombie-Nazi warriors has somehow returned to the island and the soldiers are pretty much unstoppable...so they need to HURRY and leave!!

So is any of this nonsense any good? In other words, although the plot is silly, is it entertaining and well made? While the idea of the film is cool and the make-up and special effects are effective, the characters and what they do are, at times, incredibly stupid. The character 'Norman' is a good example. He's NOT like a real person at all and is simply an annoying clichéd caricature. There's also a super-dopey scene involving a sailboat that simply defies logic. How could these folks be THAT stupid?! It's hard to fathom and group of survivors being this intent on offing themselves!! And, this sort of stupidity keeps occurring...making them too dumb to live! This severely impacts the film....taking it from a neat idea that COULD have worked to yet another schlocky low budget horror film that you could easily skip.

A Bloodless Zombie Film?

[Falconeer · 7/10 · 25 April 2013]

For a film about Zombie Nazi soldiers who rise from the sea to murder a group of shipwrecked tourists, you would expect blood and guts. Well "Shock Waves" is relatively bloodless. and yet, it is an extremely good horror film! Heavy on the tension and atmosphere, this is a film, much like John Carpenter's "Halloween," that relies on mood and setting to captivate it's audience. the fact that this movie was made with a larger budget, and big name actors, helps "Shock Waves" to avoid being categorized as cheap exploitation. The cast is great, but of course the dead Nazis are the centerpiece of the production. The images of these blond SS soldiers walking out of the water are haunting and almost beautiful to behold. The fact that they don't have any reason to kill the hapless tourists makes them seem a bit more soulless than if they were killing them for "food." They don't eat their victims; they just kill them and leave them where they lie.

Featuring a wonderful, creepy electronic score and imaginative camera-work throughout, this is a must-see for fans of the genre. Of course those looking for a bloodbath will be disappointed. but those looking for some good, old fashioned horror should be pleasantly surprised with this gem. Recommended.

Some good stuff in spots, but mostly a letdown.

[ceejayred · 4/10 · 19 January 2018]

I caught Shock Waves on Amazon Prime. I have never caught this one before but always heard good things from other horror fans.

First, the good: the cast did an admirable job. Peter Cushing and Brooke Adams are pros, although this is early in Brooke's career here. John Carradine doesn't get a whole lot of screen time and is dead within the first 30 minutes (SPOILER ALERT!). The character of Norman (played by Jack Davidson) reminded me of George Costanza, so he was quite effective at being annoying. Fred Buch had a 70s James Caan thing going for him, while Luke Halpin pretty much took over as the film's male lead hero-type. The zombie Nazis were also quite effective, without even uttering a sound. The production values were quite low, but the filmmakers made the best out of locations, costumes and make-up. Give them an A for maximum effort.

The bad: it took a while for things to build. The zombie Nazis bobbed in and out of the water for much too long without killing anyone, and when they DID finally start to stalk and kill, the results were quite...dull. Basically, they grab someone and drown them. Some uninspired killing in this horror film. I don't need gore, but I would appreciate some creativity at least.

Ultimately, it's the bad that outweighs the good here. The plodding pacing and the uninspired deaths scenes really stick with me more than the tone or atmosphere. It was all a good idea in theory, and definitely a creative re-working of the zombie story, but it was all for naught when you don't really do anything with it from a story standpoint. Nice try, but falls short of expectations.

Nazi Zombies: Underwater Pests of the SS.

[GroovyDoom · 8/10 · 5 July 2001]

This is a great little film that combines two of the 70s most popular horror movie themes: monsters in the water and undead zombies. It also features the always-wonderful Brooke Adams (from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers") in a major role, not to mention both John Carradine and Peter Cushing.

A group of vacationers being taken on a cruise around some unspecified tropical islands experiences some trouble when a decades-old ship appears out of nowhere and rams their boat. The "ghost ship" is populated by undead SS soldiers who were created to survive both underwater and on land, and it goes without saying that they have no friendly intentions.

The new castaways take refuge on an island inhabited solely by Peter Cushing, a former Nazi commander who was in charge of the "Death Corps", and their host gives them a hasty explanation about what they're all up against.

The rest of the film is the tourists and sailors being stalked and offed by the zombies, who have really wrinkled skin and wear groovy goggles. Unlike the standard flesh-eating zombies of 70s horror, these undead guys don't wanna bite you, they just wanna hold you under the water until the bubbles stop. Genre fans hoping for some cannibalism or guts will be disappointed.

The visuals in the movie are sometimes striking. The underwater shots of the zombies are bizarre, as are the scenes of them rising up out of the ocean (or whatever body of water happens to be handy). Most of the action takes place on the island, which features a deserted resort that is pretty creepy in itself. A couple of the shots reminded me of "Carnival of Souls", with one or two scenes of undead faces looming just under the surface of the water.

The editing is a bit choppy and slightly incoherent. It seems like a few scenes establishing the characters were excised, as well as some other exposition such as the fate of the tourists's boat (what DID happen to it, after all?). The pacing is also not for all tastes, since this movie never builds into a all-out assault or anything, but it's an enjoyably creepy chiller in the classic 70s style. This is a prime candidate for DVD rediscovery. Watch it if you can find it.

The best film John Carpenter never made - Halloween meets The Fog

[ulyssesgammahose · 7/10 · 23 March 2021]

Take the lo-fi stalk-and-kill style of Halloween, including the ominous, rarely seen silent killer....take the premise of The Fog, with a small isolated group of people under assault on an island by zombie-like figures who rise from the sea...and you have the best John Carpenter film not made by John Carpenter. It's all here - the unglamorous characters, the oppressive, pervasive sense of evil, the lonely scenic shots, the clanging, doom-ridden synthesizer chords - even a veteran British actor (in this case Peter Cushing) pops up to provide the exposition and tell the characters just how much danger they're in.

The plot of aquatic zombie Nazis sounds pure B-movie, but it's dealt with in a surprisingly effective way. As is so often the case with horror movies, less is more. They are kept offscreen as much as possible, seen only in silhouette much of the time, and when they do appear, waking up underwater and rising to stalk their victims, it's genuinely unsettling. They say nothing, they don't emote, and they don't have any kind of exaggerated zombie movements. They just silently and efficiently go about their business. Their backstory is also wisely kept to a bare minimum, and the result makes them, like the villains of the Carpenter films, a mysterious force.

A solid horror flick, well-produced and with a simplicity that gives it a nightmarish quality.

PG-13 aquatic zombie flick with minimal gore.

[coldwaterpdh · 4/10 · 30 December 2008]

It took me awhile to get around to seeing "Shock Waves." I have to say, I wasn't missing a whole lot. I saw "Zombie Lake" awhile back and while "Shock Waves," by conventional standards is clearly better than that, it was kind of dull.

I liked the whole plot: a group of vacationers break down in the Caribbean and find a deserted (mostly) island. Nazi-zombies rise out of the sea to kill. Nazi-zombies maul and munch and mutilate. Doesn't that sound great? Yea, not so much. They hardly maul and they do not eat their victims which really doesn't qualify them as zombies in my book. At least we don't get to see them eating anyone. They mostly just pull them down under water.

There is no gore in this flick. I don't even remember seeing any blood. The zombies are pretty well-done with good make-up and decent costumes. I liked how they kept popping up in any body of water on the island whether it be a tidal pool, a stream or right out of the sea. Those little buggers must have morphed into guppies when they weren't busy being the socialist undead...

The film does boast a creepy atmosphere and a decent soundtrack, but it wasn't quite enough to save it. Could have used a lot better zombie killings and several buckets of fake blood.

On the back of the DVD I got it refers to this as a "70's horror sleeper..." I think I know why. Yawn.

4 out of 10, kids.

Underwater Nazi zombies! A creepy low budget gem that all horror buffs should try and see.

[Infofreak · 10 May 2004]

'Shock Waves' is a low budget horror movie with few special effects... actually not very special effects at all. We're talking a half a dozen "zombies" which are basically people in Nazi uniforms holding their breath underwater. The cast apart from Brooke Adams ('Invasion Of The Body Snatchers', 'The Dead Zone') are unknowns, with guest appearances from horror legends John Carradine and Peter Cushing. One would think this would be a real turkey only good for a few laughs, but not so, it's a surprisingly effective thriller with atmosphere to spare. One of the reasons I enjoy horror movies is that creative directors are capable of making something special out of virtually nothing. 'Carnival Of Souls' and 'Night Of The Living Dead' are obvious examples. El cheapo budgets, unknown actors, minimal effects, but two of the greatest horror movies ever made. I'm not saying 'Shock Waves' is anywhere near THAT good, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected from the cheesy packaging on the video box. The concept of underwater Nazi zombies is an intriguing one, and was subsequently used by Jean Rollin and Jess Franco in 'Zombie Lake' and 'Oasis Of The Zombies'. I always enjoy seeing John Carradine, but his role is, let's be honest, little more than a cameo. I have a major crush on Brooke Adams, she's goofy but beautiful, and admirers won't want to miss this one as she spends most of her time in a bikini. One minor complaint - I wished Peter Cushing had more screen time. He's my favourite horror actor after Vincent Price and I always enjoy his performances. All in all 'Shock Waves' is an underrated and creepy movie that all horror buffs should try and see. It's just one of many overlooked 1970s horror gems that deserve more attention than they get (see also 'Count Yorga, Vampire', 'The Brotherhood Of Satan', 'The Crazies', 'The Legend Of Hell House', 'Deranged', 'Alice, Sweet Alice', 'Thirst',etc.etc.)

Not-so-permanent "Waves"....

[Mister-6 · 2/10 · 12 September 1999]

They used to show this one a lot late at night on TV when there wasn't anything else to show.

"Shock Waves" gives us a mad Nazi doctor (is there any other kind?) who is engineering a kind of amphibious SS corp that can attack by land or sea (if he had put wings on them, he could have had all the regiments covered. Oh well....).

But along come a bunch of boating tourists who discover his deserted isle and spoil all his fun. They're Americans, so what's a Nazi to do?

Aside from some effective shots of amphibious zombies bobbing about in the water and goose-stepping about looking for victims, this is about as "b-movie" as it gets. Not very scary, but if you're in a silly mood....

TIDBIT - Weiderhorn, the director, went on to direct that classic "Meatballs 2", and when the kids are shown a movie one night, which one do you think they show? Very good. At least he got "Shock Waves" shown once more.

Two stars.

Cushing did this one just before "Star Wars" came out. Hope he didn't look to this one as the classier gig.

Starring Brooke Adams and Luke Halpin

[wes-connors · 7/10 · 7 April 2010]

According to the DVD details, the original film print for "Shock Waves" mysteriously disappeared some twenty years before its 21st century re-release. The setting is the (then) present year of 1977, but we recall, "In the dark days of World War II, the Nazi High Command ordered its scientists to create a top secret race of indestructible zombie storm troopers - un-living, unfeeling, unstoppable monstrosities that killed with their bare hands. They were known as 'The Death Corps'. No member of this horrific SS unit was ever captured by the allied forces - and, somewhere off the coast of Florida, they have survived…"

Next, we meet pretty bikini-loving Brooke Adams (as Rose) in a dinghy, being rescued by fisherman Clarence Thomas (not the Supreme Court justice). Obviously, Ms. Adams has survived some tragedy, but breaks her seeming catatonic state to help narrate the story, in flashback. This is unfortunate, because we are given way too much information about a survivor; although you could guess the damsel stood a better than average chance, it kills the suspense by showing this before placing her in serious danger. Adams, the heroine of the story, has gone sailing with Fred Buch (as Chuck), and another couple...

But, the story's hero is handsome Luke Halpin (as Keith), who learned all about the waters off the coast of Florida in "Flipper" (1963-68). If you are worried about whether or not young "Sandy" retained his good looks into manhood, fret no further. Crusty ship Captain John Carradine (as Ben) comments on Mr. Halpin's attractiveness, inviting a shrug. Halpin, Mr. Carradine, and cook Don Stout (as Dobbs) are the boatmen. D.J. Sidney (as Beverly) and Jack Davidson (as Norman) are the other couple. They're seven stranded castaways getting ready to meet creepy Commander Peter Cushing, if they get to the island…

With lingering shots of fish looking bored at the camera, "Shock Waves" seems to waste a lot of time doing absolutely nothing. When the Nazi zombies make their move, they do so without much gore. But, this works in the film's favor. While you expect horror movies to smear the screen with blood and guts, it's nice when someone comes along to show that a different style still works. This is evident, especially, during the sequence when the Nazis rise from their swampy slumber. Credit director Ken Wiederhorn and his crew with something stylish and surprising. And, Richard Einhorn's music scores high marks.

******* Shock Waves (7/15/77) Ken Wiederhorn ~ Brooke Adams, Luke Halpin, Peter Cushing, John Carradine

Teaches you everything NOT to do....

[eunichman · 1/10 · 21 December 2011]

... when on a remote island surrounded by an unknown number of enemies.

The acting was below low budget, the script may have been a good idea but was poorly implemented... I have seen worse movies but not many... there is just so much WRONG with this film the viewer finds them self scratching their head wondering what in the world the director was thinking...

Lessons we learned: When you have an enemy known to be water based, stay away from water When you are only but a few, and get separated, do NOT scream out for each other lest you attract said enemy If you DO find yourself in a body of water and you cant see your feet, don't take off your shoes.... (this is common sense anyhow) The way to kill a supposedly invincible water bound zombie is take off their "sunglasses" Don't stand up in a boat that's in water (duh) I can go on and on of things that were stupid about this movie, which was not frightening in the least and very predictable, but I don't have time to write a novel :). The ONLY redeeming quality about this movie was the "The End" at the end.

A cult movie, definitely. A classic, definitely Not

[ibanez747 · 1/10 · 17 February 2005]

This movie was definitely cult, in that only a FEW people actually like the movie and with good reason. I like cult movies, but this one is NOT one of them.

As far-fetched and ridiculous as the idea is, alone, it is not bad enough to ruin this movie. I've enjoyed movies with worse premises/plots and still found something to like. Ken Wiederhorn's presentation, pace, and timing were awful. His direction is the main reason why I dislike this movie. He did absolutely nothing with the story. Amateurs have been able to evoke more emotion and fear than what Wiederhorn did.

I was yawning 15 to 20 minutes into the movie. He set a very serious tone from the beginning and genuinely tried to get the audience to be scarred. What is there to be afraid of? Is it the idea of Nazis? Is it the idea of zombies? I say "idea" because these zombies have virtually no impact in the movie. Not even in the end. Also, the movie takes place in broad daylight. Yeah, really frightening.

The death scenes are not violent, but implied. Usually tackling into water or bushes is the preferred method of Nazi zombies. Very little special effects here. I understand the budget was small, I mean it was shot in broad daylight for financial reasons not aesthetic ones. Not even cheesy blood was used in this thing. I don't care what budget this movie was on, but a toddler's weekly allowance could have purchased some fake blood.

My main argument is that Wiederhorn could have used timing and brutality to make up for these shortcomings, and he didn't. Shockwaves was pathetic and boring. There was NOTHING redeeming about this movie. I gave it a 1 out of 10 only because the scale goes from 1 to 10. It really deserves a fraction in between 0 and 1.

Highly atmospheric and nightmarish

[rivertam26 · 7/10 · 14 January 2020]

A group of tourists have some boat trouble and find themselves on a spooky, deserted island. Once there they try to explore and come upon a mysterious stranger and than one by one they are offed by undead Nazi super soldiers. The movie is a very slow burn and it takes a while to get going. Once it does it still maintains a drawn out pace but it's highly atmospheric and kind of nightmarish. This may be one of the only serious films to broach the subject of Nazi zombies and the reasoning behind such a project. Although it never fully fleshes out what's happening it gives us just enough information to keep our interest as well as keeping us on the edge of our seats.

Shock Waves not really a zombie movie

[sterman666 · 4/10 · 25 February 2004]

I just watched shock waves last night and found a few problems with it. first off the "zombies" are too nice looking and they move way to humanly. they are supposed to have lived under water for 40 years or so, yet there is practically no signs of decomposition. they also walk real fast just like a soldier. I guess i shouldn't compare this move with great zombie movies like night of the living dead or dawn of the dead but when you say zombie in your subtitle (the best of the nazi zombie movies) you're sorta asking for that. I'm in a good mood this morning so i'll give it a 5/10. if you're in the mood for a good zombie flic, rent night of the living dead, dawn of the dead, zombie(aka zombi 2).

One of 70's forgotten horror gems

[lost-in-limbo · 9/10 · 2 February 2005]

A group of survivors off a boat disaster became stranded on an island- but that's not their main problem. As now a hermit informs them that the island isn't safe as there are invincible Nazis zombies that lay dormant off the island- but it's to late as they have risen after 35 years from the sea and now they're back to their old ways.

For an incredibly low-budget film this was definitely enjoyable and a bit inventive in the execution. If you think it's going to be like your usual zombie film forget it. There is no flesh eating and it lacks gore… actually there isn't any at all. There is no action packed scenes of zombies and people getting blown away or cut up, as the deaths happen to be pretty quick and sharp. Some we don't even get to see. The deaths might be paced really slowly, unimaginatitive and even bloodless. But I didn't mind, as the point wasn't to shock the audience with violence, but the use of atmosphere and images to keep them captivated and at unease.

The plot idea of the living dead was a very intriguing one… Nazis have produced invincible soldiers for WW2 that can adapt to any habitat because they could live without food and oxygen, with the sole purpose to kill. But when war was over, their U-boat was sunk so they weren't found out. The story itself does get a bit repetitive and some plot holes show up that are pretty transparent and might get on people's nerves. Like why did the Nazi zombies decide to surface now after laying dormant for 35 years. What happen to the pleasure boat and in the first 5 minutes we learn who survives, so now where just trying to figure out what order they will die in, which for some could be quite tedious and less suspenseful, but for me the film's flaws made up for it with memorable images of the Nazi soldiers called 'Death Corps', a sombre atmosphere, alluring setting and Cushing & Carradine to ground it.

The special effects… well there were hardly any, with the exception of the usual rotting corpse - but the make-up of the Death Corps are definitely striking and kind of creepy. Especially when they're lurking in or around the water. I don't know why, but there is something pretty hypnotic about them when they pop out of nowhere in their black goggles. Though their skin is quite pasty and pale, but their uniforms look like they haven't aged at all.

The lush scenery on the island ranges from the waterlogged swamps; rich beaches, dense forests and the large deserted hotel are quite haunting with the eerie feel of isolation and dread. The electronic score with its vibrant sounds, adds another element into the mix of the very absorbing mood of the atmosphere.

The direction by Ken Wiederhorn is a bit uneven and slow, but for me the slow pace really built up the anxiety and tension of the situation. With a slow opening, until the Death Corps arrive on the screen, though the pace doesn't entirely pick up as there are slow parts in between the deaths. But the images we see keep you glued to the screen. Wiederhorn might have over-used the 'Death Corps', but somehow you forgive him for the repetitiveness.

The acting from Cushing and Carradine is superb and the rest of the mainly no-name cast was reasonably fair. As the characters they play are pretty stereotypical and one-dimensional. Peter Cushing as the enigmatic Nazi SS Commander that was formerly in-charge of the Death Corps, but is now a marooned hermit and John Carradine as the Boat's grumpy Sea Captain Ben had only small roles and it was too bad that they didn't share any screen time. But otherwise they still left their marks (especially Cushing's speech on the Death Corps). While the lesser known cast Brooke Adams as the female lead in her first film is delightfully sweet and Luke Haplin as the Captains first mate takes the lead and the courageous heroine role.

The film itself is filled with ambiguity from beginning to end, but because of that it gives it a dreamlike and mysterious feel that you question did this really happen? It's hardly flawless entertainment, but still a very charming low-budget horror film.

4/5

Liitle-known But Atmospheric Chiller.

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 31 August 2013]

Moody thriller about a yachting party that,after encountering weird weather, and a mysterious derelict ship, finds themselves shipwrecked on an island run by a former Nazi commander(Peter Cushing, fine as always) who realizes that the secret program run during the last days of World War II, that produced super soldiers who ran amok, have now resurfaced, and intend to murder everyone...

Despite a low budget, this is a genuinely eerie and atmospheric film, helped immensely by an effective nautical score that creates a memorable aura for this whole dream-like film. Brooke Adams, Luke Halpin, John Carradine, among others round out the cast of unfortunate castaways.

Other plus is that the soldiers(basically zombies) are presented in the old-school manner(think Val Lewton).

Well worth seeking out, and is on DVD.

Waste of such a fine concept.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 5/10 · 17 April 2009]

Nazi-zombies sound like a perfect combination to me to bring an entertaining horror flick with. There are actually quite a few movies that feature this combination, however for some reason none of those movies really work out, mostly due to its often poor production values and execution.

The concept of having a small group of Nazi-zombie left overs from WW II, inhabiting a small island, decades after the war has already ended, sounds like plenty of enough good material to create an entertaining horror-flick with. Besides, the movie stars two big horror legends; Peter Cushing and John Carradine. It makes it all the more disappointing that the actual movie offers so very little.

It takes quite a long while for the movie to grab some pace. There is often too little happening in the movie. It isn't until far into the movie that the first horror finally starts to kick in.

The movie is obviously low budget, which not only means that its production values are poor but also its acting performances are painfully bad to watch at times. The movie is really cheaply put together, with some bad editing, that prevents the movie from ever flowing well and a real lack of tension. As a genre movie this one simply doesn't have enough to offer, not even for its most die hard fans.

The only excitement and interesting aspects the movie has to offer are its moments of having the zombies submerging from the water and walking underwater. It has some good looking moments in it but overall it's of course not all quite enough to make the movie any more exciting or interesting to watch.

It's of course still nice that the movie has Peter Cushing (who looked a bit like a walking corpse himself in this movie) in it and it. No matter how bad a movie ever was, Cushing always managed to give away a fine performance. It was also nice to see John Carradine in this but his role is really too small to leave any impression.

It's a bit of a pointless movie to watch and above all things a real waste of a fine concept.

5/10

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