Shock Waves (1977)

Visitors to a remote island discover that a reclusive Nazi commandant has been breeding a group of Zombie soldiers.

Director:

Ken Wiederhorn

Writers:

John Kent Harrison (screenplay) (as John Harrison), Ken Wiederhorn (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Cushing, John Carradine, Brooke Adams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Cushing	...	SS Commander
John Carradine	...	Captain Ben Morris
Brooke Adams	...	Rose
Fred Buch	...	Chuck
Jack Davidson	...	Norman
Luke Halpin	...	Keith
D.J. Sidney	...	Beverly
Don Stout	...	Dobbs
Clarence Thomas	...	Fisherman
Sammy Graham	...	Zombie
Preston White	...	Zombie
Reid Finger	...	Zombie
Mike Kennedy	...	Zombie
Donahue Guillory	...	Zombie
Jay Maeder	...	Zombie

Storyline

This horror movie concerns a shipwrecked yachting party. Rose and her fellow yacht-mates, including the captain run aground on an island when they hit an odd-looking freighter. Once beached, they meet up with an aging SS Commander who had been in charge of a crew of zombies.

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Plot Keywords:

nazi zombie | woman in a bathing suit | woman in a bikini | island | ss commander | 

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Taglines:

Once They Were Almost Human! Beneath the living... Beyond the dead... From the depths of Hell's Ocean! The Deep End of Horror!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 July 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Almost Human

Filming Locations:

Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zopix Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are actually eight actors playing eight different zombies in the film, although it appears that there are many more.

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Goofs

When Rose is sitting alone in the boat as it starts to drift away from the group, the boom and mike are briefly visible over Keith's head as he begins calling to her.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Zombie Lake (2008)

User Reviews

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Considered by genre fans to be the best of the "Nazi zombie" sub genre, "Shock Waves" is a thickly and palpably atmospheric horror film with enough spooky and creepy moments and images to make it very satisfying viewing. Co-written & directed by Ken Wiederhorn ("Return of the Living Dead Part II"), it's got a mostly unfamiliar cast, eerie music by Richard Einhorn, impressive makeup by Alan Ormsby, and some striking Florida location work.

The idea is that the SS attempted to create the ultimate warrior during WWII. So they came up with the Death Corps, which have quietly been hidden away on an island for many years, accompanied by their protector of sorts, an unnamed commander (the great Peter Cushing). Into their realm stumble some people who were on a pleasure cruise, and wrecked their boat after colliding into a phantom freighter.

"Shock Waves" has a lot going for it. It's got a perfect "late show" feel, always an asset in this viewers' humble opinion. It would play very well on a TV set in the wee hours of the morning. It has the kind of weird but compelling lack of logic to be found in any nightmare. The bit players in the roles of The Death Corps are very chilling in their unspeaking menace, and the scenes where they rise from their watery rest are always extremely effective. The cast is very good, although one of the intended victims is a complainer named Norman (Jack Davidson). You watch this just hoping that he will get his. The lovely and appealing Brooke Adams has her first major feature film role, and she rocks a yellow bikini in a few scenes. Luke Halpin of 'Flipper' fame is engaging as the studly hero. And John Carradine adds his expertise as the crusty skipper; his reading of one line is pretty damn funny.

This is a little gem of an independent horror film that I would recommend to any newcomer to the genre.

Eight out of 10.