Plot: What’s it about?
As we all know, during the dark days of World War II, the German high ranking forces were involved in all kinds of experiments. The Nazis were interested in creating a special kind of soldier, one that would be fearless, ruthless, and more to the point, unstoppable. But even the most gifted and skilled humans couldn’t fill those shoes, so the Nazi scientists began to look elsewhere, including the field of reanimation. This led to the project known as The Death Corps., in which the goal was to create undead soldiers, ones that felt no pain, had no remorse, and would have no reservations about killing anyone in their path. But it wasn’t well known that the Nazis succeeded in this experiment, though it was too little, too late in terms of using them as part of their warfare plans. Not even one of the zombies was captured by the Allied forces however and in truth, the unit remains out there somewhere. But when The Death Corps. surfaces off the coast of Florida, will anyone will be able to end their reign of undead terror?
I like we all like to sit down and watch a good aquatic Nazi zombie movie at times, so of course, Blue Underground’s release of Shock Waves is most welcome. I saw this as part of a double feature when Grindhouse unveiled its new Cannibal Holocaust print and it was a blast of an experience, without question. No, Shock Waves is no genre classic, but it makes for an interesting watch and while it lacks the traditional elements horror fans seek, it has good tension, cool zombies, and a solid storyline. But keep in mind, Shock Waves is on about a PG level and has minimal blood, gore, and naked bodies, so if you’re looking for those ingredients, you won’t find them here. While it would have been fun to have more of those elements involved, Shock Waves works well enough without them, which is uncommon in cult horror releases. Its fun to watch Peter Cushing and John Carradine too, even though the amount of screen time for both is limited. In the end, the slow pace and focus on atmosphere & tension, instead of cheap scares might scare some genre fans off, but I think Shock Waves is more than worth a look.
As you can imagine, a lot of casual interest in this title will be gained because of the presence of genre icon Peter Cushing. I think that’s good, as that will draw in more people to see Shock Waves, but for Cushing fans, his lack of screen time will be a let down. Yes, Cushing has a good role and he has some memorable lines, but he is by no means a central character and for some, that will be a disappointment. But then again, an actor like Cushing can do a lot with a smaller role and in Shock Waves, he does just that and offers a memorable turn. He is able to use his genre background to fit into such a weird premise, while giving some talks on odd events, but making us believe him every step of the way. Other films with Cushing include The Flesh and The Fiends, The Hound of the Baskervilles, At the Earth’s Core, Scream and Scream Again, and Horror Express. The cast also includes John Carradine (The Night Strangler, Superchick), Brooke Adams (The Stuff, The Dead Zone), and Luke Halpin (Mako: Jaws of Death, Tv’s Flipper).
Video: How does it look?
Shock Waves is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. As this was a low budget horror movie shot on 16MM, I had some doubts about this transfer, but Blue Underground has come through in all respects. The print has some wear & tear evident, including grain of various thickness, but given the material involved, I never thought Shock Waves would look this good. The visuals retain a dark, murky presence, but then again, I don’t think the film’s atmosphere lends itself to clean, bright images. So while Shock Waves still looks worn in this treatment, this is still a monumental improvement over previous editions.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here isn’t going to replace your current demo disc, but then, I would hope no one expects it to be that impressive. As this was a low budget production, the elements sometime come off as thin or not recorded to perfection, but when stacked up again prior versions, this one proves to be the most consistent. The dialogue is clean and usually easy to understand, while the music is eerie and also well presented. Not the kind of experience you’ll remember, but for a low profile horror flick, a solid all around audio treatment.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main draw here is an audio commentary with director Ken Wiederhorn, makeup designer Alan Ormsby, and cult filmmaker Fred Olen Ray. The trio offer a talkative and candid session, giving us the trials & tribulations of low budget horror, but always with a keen sense of humor. Next is an interview with star Luke Halpin, who spends around eight minutes talking about his costars, as well as some general memories from the production. This disc also includes two radio spots, an extensive selection of still photos, a television spot, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
