‘The deep end of horror!’
Shock Waves is a 1977 horror film in which shipwreck survivors discover a Third Reich commandant and his unit of zombie soldiers.
Directed by Ken Wiederhorn (Freddy’s Nightmares TV series; Dark Tower; Return of the Living Dead Part 2; Eyes of a Stranger) from a screenplay co-written with John Harrison (Murder By Phone).
The Reuben Trane produced movie stars Peter Cushing, Brooke Adams, Fred Buch, Jack Davidson, Luke Halprin, D.J. Sidney, Don Stout and John Carradine.
Shot on 16mm (later blown up to 35mm) between July and August 1975, the movie was initially titled Death Corps. In 1977, it was picked up for US distribution by exploitation movie mavens Joseph Brenner Associates (Torso; Autopsy; Eyeball) and retitled Shock Waves.
In the UK, the film was released in 1978 with a BBFC ‘A’ rating as Almost Human by David Grant (who was later imprisoned for distributing Nightmares in a Damaged Brain on VHS).
The synth score was composed by Richard Einhorn (The Prowler). In 2016, it was remastered for a vinyl release by Waxwork Records. The seafoam green LP includes liner notes by Einhorn and director Ken Wiederhorn and features cover art by Marc Schoenbach and centre label art by Gary Pullin.
Photo of Peter Cushing taken on set by future director Fred Olen RayPlot:
During World War II, the German High Command ordered its scientists to create a top-secret race of indestructible zombie stormtroopers – 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 Allied Forces – and, somewhere off the coast of Florida, they have survived…
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” …Shock Waves is not a bad film and prefigures many of the late 1970s horrors. The commandant provides Cushing with a chance to play a menacing character, but one who is haunted by a terror from the past. His tiny, guilty glance to the swastikaed banners that decorate his retreat is exceptional. It is one of his last really satisfying horror roles.” David Miller, The Peter Cushing Companion book
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“Shock Waves offers an undeniably creative and innovative approach to the screen presentation of the zombie, at the height of the post-Night decade in which such innovation was most lacking.” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia book
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“Able performances and a few striking moments – especially the first appearance of the zombies, rising from the sea with scarred faces and dark glasses – don’t succeed in offsetting a rambling, repetitious script and a general air of impoverishment.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror book
“Some of the locations, notably an old hotel, are suitably spooky and director Ken Weiderhorn is able to give the fascist creatures their moments, too.” Mike Mayo, The Horror Show Guide book
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Italian poster (below) ties the film in with 70s popular interest in the ‘Bermuda Triangle‘:
Cast and characters:
Peter Cushing … SS Commander; John Carradine … Captain Ben Morris; Brooke Adams … Rose – Invasion of the Body Snatchers; 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
Technical specs:
1 hour 25 minutes
Audio: Mono
Aspect ratio: 1.66: 1
Film facts:
The hotel in the film is the Biltmore Hotel in Florida which was shut down for a two-year period and was abandoned at the time of filming. Director Ken Wiederhorn paid $250 to rent the building for the shoot.
Trailer [1080p HD]:
TV spot:
Free to watch online [1080p Premium HD]:
Free to watch online [720p]:
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