Shock Waves

Shock Waves

Year: 1977

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

Director: Ken Wiederhorn

Science FictionWarHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsSurvival horror and zombie carnage

The Deep End of Horror! Visitors to a remote island discover that a reclusive Nazi commandant has been breeding a group of zombie soldiers.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Shock Waves yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Shock Waves (1977)

Trace every key event in Shock Waves (1977) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Engine trouble and orange haze at sea

A group of tourists sails on a small recreational boat when the engine falters and the navigation system goes haywire. An unusual orange haze blankets the horizon, setting off a creeping sense that something is wrong. Norman's abrasive attitude adds tension as the crew tries to troubleshoot.

Daytime Open sea on the tourist boat
2

Night collision reveals a rotting wreck

During the night, a hulking cargo ship suddenly appears and sideswipes their boat. The captain fires a flare, revealing a colossal, long-ago wreck protruding from the sea. The group reels from shock as the eerie glow hints at danger below.

Night Sea near wreck
3

Captain missing; evacuation to island

The next morning, the Captain is nowhere to be found and the boat is taking on water. The survivors abandon ship in a lifeboat and head toward a nearby island, hoping for safety. In daylight they spot the enormous wreck resting on the reef, seemingly there for decades.

Morning Sea to island; reef
4

Captain's corpse found; hotel on the island

On the beach they discover the Captain's corpse, apparently drowned while inspecting the hull. They explore the island and uncover a rundown hotel overlooking the shore. At first, it seems deserted until a reclusive old man is found within.

Day Island; beach and hotel
5

Old man denies shipwreck; heads to beach

The man in the hotel becomes alarmed by their tale and insists there is no shipwreck. He seems to recognize the ship's name and goes down to the beach to investigate personally. His reaction hints at a buried truth about the island's true danger.

Afternoon Hotel and beach
6

Underwater zombies approach

Under the water, zombie-like men begin to gather, marching from the wreck along the ocean floor toward the island. The slow, deliberate movement suggests a haunting, engineered threat rather than a mere haunting. This ominous march foreshadows the 'Death Corps' lurking beneath the surface.

Evening Off the island, around wreck
7

Dobbs attacked and killed

Dobbs, the cook, collects supplies but is cornered by the advancing zombies in the water. Before dying, he becomes entangled with sea urchins, mangling his body. Rose discovers his body while swimming later.

Day Water near reef
8

Nazi past revealed; Death Corps explained

Inside the hotel, the reclusive man reveals he was a Nazi commander who led the Death Corps, a group of aquatic zombies. He explains they were intended as a weapon but proved dangerous and unmanageable. Germany's defeat led him to sink their ship and retreat to the island; the zombies have now returned.

Evening Hotel and beach
9

Escape attempt via streams; Norman killed

The survivors locate a boat mentioned by the Commander and attempt to steer it through the streams to open water. Control fails and the boat drifts away, leaving them stranded. A zombie drowns Norman in a stream, while a second pursues Rose back toward the hotel.

Afternoon/Evening Streams to open water; coastal waters
10

Rose repels a zombie; infighting erupts

Rose fights back by pulling off a zombie's goggles, temporarily blinding it. Back at the hotel, Chuck, Beverly, and Keith barricade themselves inside a refrigerator unit as fear turns into suspicion. A flare gun misfires and blinds Beverly, escalating the chaos.

Evening Hotel interior
11

Chuck dies in the pool; Beverly drowns

The chaotic standoff ends when a zombie drowns Chuck in a swimming pool outside the hotel. Shortly after, Beverly is found dead, drowned in a fish tank while trying to hide. The survivors are left to press on with dwindling numbers.

Night Hotel pool and fish tank
12

Keith and Rose escape; Keith drowns

The two remaining survivors, Keith and Rose, attempt to escape in a sightseeing rowboat with a glass bottom. A zombie drags Keith under as they breach the reef, and he drowns. Rose survives and is rescued by two fishermen who pull her aboard their boat.

Day Sea near reef; rescue on fishermen's boat
13

Rose's hospital aftermath

In a hospital bed, Rose begins to write in a journal, repeating herself as if lost in a trance. The final frames reveal she is writing nonsense, suggesting severe psychological damage from the ordeal. Her fate beyond the hospital remains uncertain.

After rescue Hospital

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:11

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Shock Waves Summary

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Shock Waves Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Shock Waves

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Shock Waves

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