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!
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!