If you purchased a ticket to watch Surf Nazis Must Die in 1987, then you probably knew what you were getting yourself into. This Troma Entertainment-distributed movie directed by Peter George sits close to the top of the cult schlock hall of fame due to its amazing title and poster artwork. However, the movie itself is a weird and slower-paced post-apocalyptic film that rarely lives up to the hectic and bloody marketing. However, if you love rough, low-budget 80s exploitation movies set on sunny California beaches with basic synth soundtracks, then this is a very endearing movie. This 80s bargain bin gem has been given a full 4K UHD release by Troma, giving George's earthquake-ravaged California a surprisingly fresh look, with plenty of special features on the disc.
The plot is basic. A huge earthquake strikes Los Angeles, causing chaos and a lawless state of affairs along the coastal area. Rival gangs form from the wreckage; however, the Surf Nazis are the strongest force along the coast. Adolf, the leather-clad beach Führer, leads a band of Nazis (Eva, Mengele, Hook) who take control of the coastline. They beat up rival surfers, stake their claim, and have a good old time being cartoonish hooligans.
A young gentleman named Leroy gets murdered by the gang; however, the Surf Nazis didn’t think that Leroy’s mum, Eleanor Logan, would take this lying down. She leaves her care home with a handgun and a grenade, setting off on a mission to kill all the Surf Nazis.
The first half of the movie is pretty damn slow, with a lot of time spent watching the gang bicker and do terrible stunts. However, once Eleanor gets into her stride in the final act, the movie actually delivers on the crazy title. It is a dirty, ridiculous, low-budget but enjoyable movie.
The video quality is impressive. The 35mm film has been restored to 4K. If you watched the movie on a VHS tape or early compressed DVD during your childhood, then seeing it in 4K with HDR is almost surreal. The bright sunshine on the beach really pops. The sand and grain look very sharp and the dirty leather jackets look very tactile. There is a wide shot of a dilapidated airplane hanger that is... beautiful. Yes, there are shots in this film that are actually gorgeous. Don't get me wrong, it isn't suddenly a visual masterpiece, but it was certainly made with more care and thought than I had ever given it credit for. The audio is clean, with a DTS-HD Master Audio mono track that really captures the synth soundtrack composed by Jon McCallum.
This set has an impressive amount of special features split between the 4K and Blu-ray discs.
Firstly, the movie-specific interviews. “Waves Are A War Zone” is a detailed interview with the director Peter George and producer Robert Tinnell. They talk about how tough it was filming this on such a small budget with amateur actors. They also explain how they had to do action scenes on public beaches with no permits. It is fascinating hearing how they feel about the movie now after many years. They are very honest about whether things went well or not. They know it is a ridiculous movie, but they were committed to making it.
“Who Controls The Beaches???” is another interview with Peter George. He explains in more detail about his creative process, influences, and how he felt when Troma decided to distribute the movie. He explains how Troma really pushed the shocking title of the movie to help sell it worldwide. However, the movie itself has a slightly more serious tone than Lloyd Kaufman’s usual fast-paced comedic style.
Bonus audio features. “Projection Booth Podcast – Audio Interview”. A casual interview with the filmmakers. This gives you a deep insight into the movie, how low budgets were used in the 80s and how cult movies have changed over the years.
Next, the classic Troma archive features. There are two versions of the intro; Original Blu-Ray Intro and Original DVD Intro with Lloyd Kaufman. If you have watched any Troma releases over the past 20 years, you will know exactly what to expect. Kaufman and the gang do some ridiculous low-budget skits with some crazy outfits. He shouts into the camera to promote independent movies. This is a nostalgic look back at the golden age of physical media.
“Scenes From The Tromaville Cafe” is a series of old TV-style comedic skits with Kaufman and the gang. This doesn’t have much to do with Surf Nazis Must Die but fits with the general Troma style.
Bonus features. “Independent Artists VS. Corrupt Cartels” and “Soul Of Troma” are short featurettes explaining Troma’s views on politics and philosophy. Kaufman rants about how Hollywood is a monopoly, how hard it is to distribute independent movies, and why low-budget genre movies should be celebrated. Whether you like the over-the-top nature of his speech or not, you can’t deny that he is passionate about independent movies.
“Radiation March” is a short promotional clip that was added to many Troma releases. It encourages people to support independent movies whilst making fun of corporate media. It is short, ridiculous, and classic Troma.
Deleted Scenes. There are some deleted scenes included. Most were cut for pacing, but there are a couple of extra scenes with the gang arguing, walking around the beach, and some character development. This won’t change your opinion of the plot, but it is nice to see them in decent quality.
“INNARDS” Music Video. A crude punk track with clips from the movie and low-budget performance scenes. It fits perfectly with the grungy style of the era.
“The Toxic Avenger In Ukraine” is a bizarre addition. This is a short travelogue-style feature with Lloyd Kaufman taking the Troma mascot to film festivals and events in Ukraine years ago. This does not have anything to do with Surf Nazis but shows how bizarre the world of international cult movies can be.
Finally, the Theatrical Trailer for Surf Nazis Must Die has been included in HD. It is a reminder of how amazing Troma was at marketing. The trailer makes it look like an action-packed, non-stop violent movie. This is probably why so many people rented it from video stores in the late 80s/early 90s.
Overall, this movie is not a masterpiece of genre movies, and it doesn’t pretend to be. It is a slow, rough, weird 80s exploitation movie that relies on its premise and an amazing ending, with the vengeful mother taking down gang members. However, this is an amazing physical release. Troma has given this low-budget B-movie the best technical treatment possible, with impressive video quality and a healthy amount of special features. If you are a fan of 80s cult trash then this is definitely a must-have!
Surf Nazis Must Die 4K is available to own today! Order your copy from MVD and save 30% off the retail price!!!
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