Shock Waves (1977) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Ken Wiederhorn
Starring: Peter Cushing, John Carradine, Brooke Adams
Rated: UR/Region O/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Where to get it: Blue Underground
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…Peter Cushing (STAR WARS), Brooke Adams (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) and John Carradine (THE BOOGEY MAN) star in this suspenseful and genuinely creepy shocker co-written and directed by Ken Wiederhorn (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II). One of the great horror “sleepers” of the 1970s, SHOCK WAVES has been freshly transferred and fully restored in High Definition from the only known surviving materials!
Shock Waves has one of the cooler Nazi Zombie plots you will find and it packs the legendary Peter Cushing in a very interesting role. It is a movie that depends a great deal on mood and atmosphere, but it sadly doesn’t pack what you might hope for in the gore department in a zombie flick from the 70s. There still is a great atmosphere and there is some cool shots we see, especially the underwater Nazi shots we see as the zombies start to come to life. I do sort of wish there was a bit more to what we get in Shock Waves. I’ve seen the film hyped up for a very long time and I sadly feel things do fall a tiny bit short overall, but maybe that to me is just because I did want more blood and we don’t really get much in the department.
The movie is also done in a way that somewhat spoils the end. You know what is coming and then we backtrack to see how we got to that point. It is an interesting way of going about things, but it somewhat leaves little in the way of surprise to how things will end up. Regardless, the film does have some nostalgia to offer and it isn’t a film that you see made often these days. The movie didn’t blow me away, but I wasn’t bored either. As for how the Blu-ray looks, it is a bit of a mixed bag. I don’t think the true master was ever found and I’m sure that plays a lot into the faults of the transfer. Still, it is a fun enough watch and it looks good enough, but not great either way.
- Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Ken Wiederhorn, Make-Up Designer Alan Ormsby and Filmmaker Fred Olen Ray
- Nazi Zombies On A Budget – Interview with Producer/Cinematographer Reuben Trane
- Notes For The Undead – Interview with Composer Richard Einhorn
- Sole Survivor – Interview with Star Brooke Adams
- From FLIPPER To SHOCK WAVES – Interview with Star Luke Halpin
- Theatrical Trailer
- TV Spot
- Radio Spots
- Poster & Still Gallery
