Shock Waves [DVD]

This is one of those ’70s horror flicks that utilizes the atmosphere and the creepy music to make it a definite “cult” classic. John Carradine (THE HOWLING), Peter Cushing (STAR WARS) and Brooke Adams (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS ’79) are the only recognizable actors.
It’s a well done movie with Peter Cushing’s character being the lead as the former commander of the Nazi “undead” soldiers. He was part of a team during WWII to create a highly adaptable soldier. The soldiers then became uncontrollable and violent, even sometimes challenging their own Nazi’s in the field of combat. The War came to an end and Peter’s character took the soldiers on a ship to avoid capture and sailed for weeks. He intentionally ran it aground near a remote island. That’s where our story picks up. Unsuspecting tourists on a sailboat ride find themselves lost and end up on that particular island of all places. They venture ashore only to find an abandoned Hotel of sorts with Cushing’s character inhabiting the place. After introductions, he advises them to leave the island as soon as possible for there is danger all around the island. The window to leave is closed upon the weary traveler’s and they must fight off the undead. One by one, they fall victim to their menacing “thirst” to kill and drowning…. or do they?
The DVD itself could have been better, but I suppose at least it is widescreen with a few extras from Blue Underground Entertainment.
The DVD is 1:85:1, Dolby Digital 2.0 and runs about 85 minutes with credits.
The movie is not a gore fest, but it is spooky and the music really adds to the feel of the whole creepy island effect. Trees and the water look as if they are menacing. I am reminded of another zombie movie that came out after this in 1979 called “ZOMBIE” here in the US. It was the sequel (of sorts) to the very popular movie “DAWN OF THE DEAD”. In ZOMBIE, a few crew members from a sailboat go abroad to track down one of the crew’s father living on the island. Well, once there, the creepy tropical island effect with the music takes over and eventually they are all in danger.
~ Richard Einhorn needs to be commended on a brilliant horror soundtrack!
~ BLURAY EDITION: Some Great Features also on this edition including a very nice interview with two of the people who try and escape the island toward the end of the movie. Brooke Adams being one of them. She looks good for her age and talks about this movie and what it’s like to be known now as a horror icon of sorts. Get that one as it appears to be more cleaned up than this DVD edition if you want to spend a few more bucks on it. It’s worth it.

Je m attendais pour un dvd une meilleur qualit de image mais a reste un trs bon film pour l poque l ide du film est trs bonne et j aime bien les espces de mystre et inconnu qui plane tout au long du film

The 70’s was the breeding ground for great horror films. The mainstream audiance was being treated to a slur of religious themed horror films (Exorcist, its sequel, The Omen, Beyond The Door) etc, and there was a big underground scene going on. In 1977, this indie shocker crept to theatres and made a small impact. But it’s reputation since then has grown and it has been dubbed a classic, rightfully so. Of course there are many clones, the most obvious being the truely horrible Zombie Lake. But this movie, utilizing the underwater nazi zombie idea is very well crafted and lives up to its title. Although some might find it slow and lacking by modern standards, for those who like horror from the era when real horrror was being done, this one is a near essential. Staring an unknown Brooke Adams, and horror legends John Carradine and Peter Cushing, the low budget on this flick is apparent. Like Halloween a year after it, the writers wisely cast one (or 2) highly famaliar face to reel in their target crowd. Although they play the same usual “warning theres something bad going on here” character they’ve both always played, they do it with the bravado you’d expect of both the veterans. Some island tourists aboard a boat captaine’d by Caradine has some kind of equipment problems, loses its way, and gets sideswiped by a large unknown ship. They take refuge on a nearby island and not to give too much away, Cushing living there in isolation, is the former head of a core of superhuman killers (not dead nor alive but somewhere in between) that have just so happen to be rising from their watery grave on this day. Of course, on paper this sounds cheesy, however director Ken Wiederhorn really treats this flick as if it were the kind of late 60s Hammer film Cushing himself comes from. It’s extremely eerie indeed. The music by Richard Einhorn is what really fills this movie with great tension and a very chilling atmosphere. Of course the shots of the monsters rising from the sea are the trademark image of the movie, this is one of the best horror films of it’s decade, at least in the top 30. One thing that might irritate some waters is the lack of gore or any real violence, although others might find this a good thing. That doesn’t mean this a kid movie, it’s mood more than makes up for the lack of blood, and the raw low budget look will turn off anyone from the younger generation that is used to the typical Hollywood 10 million dollar slasher remake crap. This is a classic yet underlooked horror nugget.

SHOCK WAVES has for years been a often referenced, reviewed and beloved little gem of a zombie film that could. But it was also hard to find on video for years, and most people had to make due with dupes or copies taken off late night television, but no more. SHOCK WAVES on DVD is finally here, and it is just about perfect. Presented in widescreen with a touched up print, and a host of extra’s (a fun and informative commentary, a photo gallery that not only gives us some insight into the behind the scene work, but also clues us in on some of the footage missing from the film – plus a great selection of poster art and production notes), SHOCK WAVES is sure to please any fan of the zombie genre without question. My only complaint about the film is that, while it builds atmosphere, suspense and a general feeling of unease, it is up until the last third of the film a bit of a bore. It seems that the Nazi Zombies are everywhere and yet nowhere as well, and Peter Cushing, a true star, actually has nothing more than a cameo role here (spending most of his times either in shadows, long shots or on the run). But when the film finally cuts loose, it’s a thrill ride up until the final frame that leaves you grappling to turn on the lights quickly and check under the bed, just to be sure. A powerful film that has actually inspired a “tribute” from Peter Benchley, the author of JAWS, in his novel WHITE SHARK, which is almost a novelization of this film. For fans, SHOCK WAVES is a must, no collection can be complete without it. For those new to the zomibe wasteland, SHOCK WAVES is a slow starter that once going won’t stop until you’re good and scared.