SURF NAZIS MUST DIE

released OUT NOW! 1987 | 18 | blu-ray Director peter George Cast barry brenner, Gail Neely, dawn Wildsmith, michael sonye

A genius title and a lurid poster (machinegun-blazing Nazi, board skewered by a chainsaw; screaming bikini babe) have ensured this is one of the best-remembered films from low-rent trash hawkers Troma.

The high concept – inspired by the director’s encounter with some overly territorial surfer dudes – has promise. After a California-wrecking quake, the beaches have been taken over by vicious gangs, chief among them a bunch with names like Adolf, Eva and Mengele; no mean feat, considering there’s only six of them. After the Surf Nazis kill an African-American who stands up to them, his elderly mother vows revenge.

Gail Neely is a hoot as the hog-riding, wise-cracking Mama Washington, and the slow-mo surfing sequences – shot in Hawaii by the cameraman on classic surfer movie Big Wednesday – impress. But shoddy production values (they can’t even knock up a half-decent swastika armband) and a plot that’s spread far too thinly result in a wipeout.

Extras As on the 2012 DVD, there’s a rather bland interview with actor Tom Shell and seven minutes of deleted scenes with director’s commentary (oddly, given that the sound’s been lost, this doesn’t explain them). Plus: two snatches of vintage producer/director interview; intro; trailer; booklet.