Shock Waves (1977)

Finally, a good zombie-Nazi movie, 6 July 2005

Shock Waves makes the third zombie-Nazi movie I've watched (or at least tried to watch). Previously, I've seen Zombie Lake, which is so bad it's quite funny, and I've tried to watch Oasis of the Zombies but can't seem to stay awake to finish it. So my experiences with zombie-Nazi movies hasn't been too good. Shock Waves, however, is a totally different animal. It's actually good.

The plot is quite simple. IMDb brief plot outline sums it up perfectly - "This horror movie concerns a shipwrecked yachting party. Rose (Brooke Adams) and her fellow yacht-mates, including the captain (John Carradine) run aground on an island when they hit an odd-looking freighter. Once beached, they meet up with an aging SS Commander (Peter Cushing) who had been in charge of a crew of zombies." What the shipwrecked passengers don't realize is that just off-shore, the zombies lie in wait.

Shock Waves isn't your typical gun-munching zombie movie. In fact, there's very little in the way of gore to be found. Instead, the movie relies on a heavy, foreboding atmosphere to create horror. And it's quite effective. From the very beginning, the sense of dread is real and omnipresent. The open ocean, the island with it's twisted trees and swamps, and the deserted hotel all add to the atmosphere. In addition, rarely have I heard a musical score that was so perfect in setting the tone of a movie. The score effectively sent chills down my spine. And, unlike a lot of horror movies, other than a few of Carradine's scenes in the beginning of the movie, there's very little humor to take away from the atmosphere.

For such a low budget film, the acting is excellent. While Carradine and Cushing have little more than cameos, both add an air of sophistication and authority. Once again, Cushing proves that no matter how far-fetched the script, he can make a viewer believe anything. I also enjoyed the performances of Adams and Luke Halpin of Flipper fame. Maybe it's just me, but Halpin comes across as a poor man's Brad Pitt. The rest of the cast is noteworthy in that they are effective in their given roles.

My biggest complaint about Shock Waves is also one of my favorite moments. The first time we see the zombies rise from the ocean in mass, it's quite a scene. It's a signature type moment that I'll remember for a long time. But, the second time we see the zombies rise, it's not as effective. But by the time we see the zombies come out of the water for a third or fourth time, it begins to feel like filler. Once was good - the second time was pushing it - the third time was one too many.

In the end, I'm certainly glad I didn't let my past experiences with similar movies stop me from seeing Shock Waves. It's great.

8/10