When a boat cruise crashes into a deserted battleship they end up stranded on a deserted island that's only inhabitant is Nazi doctor Peter Cushing who's been living in an abandoned hotel for countless years. Things get even worse when it turns out the island is surrounded by some underwater, goggle-wearing Nazi super-soldier zombies that have come out of their watery graves to prey on them.

This low-budgeter has garnered a cult following since its 1976 release even being ripped-off by French director Jean Rollin in 1980 with his atrocious Zombies' Lake. While this isn't the most exciting flick it's still quite watchable thanks to director/co-writer Ken Wiederhorn (who'd go on to do Return Of The Living Dead Part II) who fills the movie with lots of striking images of the zombies rising from the water, stalking their prey and doing all the bad thing Nazi zombies generally do.

Shock Waves is a bit talky and a bit slow going; but there's enough here to make it worth a viewing and it also benefits from having genre veteran Peter Cushing in a side role (even if he's really only on hand to help explain the plot). (Chris Hartley, 3/21/04)

Directed By: Ken Wiederhorn.
Written By: John Harrison, Ken Wiederhorn.

Starring: Peter Cushing, Brooke Adams, Luke Halpin, Fred Buch.

Picture Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: This only manages to be a step above video in the quality department with so-so clarity and a bunch of grain; but it's the first time the film has been in widescreen and it's been long out-of-print - so it's shortcomings are bearable.

Extras: As one of Blue Underground's inagural titles (along with Toolbox Murders and The Prowler) this has more features than expected with a trailer, TV spots, radio spots, comprehensive still galleries (of posters, promo shots and production shots), a interview with co-star Luke Halpin and an enjoyable commentary track with Weiderhorn, Alan Ormsby (who did the make-up) and Fred Olen Ray.