Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

Surf Nazis Must Die Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 18, 2022

“Surf Nazis Must Die.” That’s one amazing title. It basically promises a prime exploitation event with the weirdest of screen elements. The 1987 endeavor most certainly does not live up to those expectations, and while the feature does contain Surf Nazis, and many of them most certainly die, most of the picture is devoted to the painful ways of pure filler. Director Peter George and screenwriter Jon Ayre have an idea to update B-movie entertainment with their vision of revenge and tasty waves, but they refuse to do anything with it. Watching “Surf Nazis Must Die” is an exercise in frustration, as the film basically farts around for 66 minutes while vague conflicts and extended scenes of nothingness unfold, waiting for the moment to unleash its concept of maternal fury. And even that is a drag.

In the near future, Los Angeles is in ruins after a major earthquake, allowing gangs to thrive in the wild without police to hold them back. Claiming Power Beach are the Surf Nazis, with Adolf (Barry Brenner) and his minions looking to expand their command of the city, working with rivals to spread fear. Filled with hate, the Surf Nazis won’t back down from a fight, and when Adolf has a run-in with Leroy (Robert Harden) on the beach, he’s ready to kill to preserve his authority. The death destroys Leroy’s mother, Eleanor (Gail Neely), who vows revenge on those who took the life of her beloved son, arming herself and breaking out of a senior center to pursue the guilty.

There’s a loose study of an apocalyptic event at the start of “Surf Nazis Must Die.” Due to severe budget constraints, mass destruction is limited to a shot of a burning building, but something major happened, as the gangs of Los Angeles have claimed control of the city. Clearly lifting from “The Warriors” (with bits of “Clockwork Orange” added as well), Ayre and George create a collection of colorful hooligans, providing a cartoonish understanding of gang life to best emphasize the unreality of the material. Most prominent are the Surf Nazis, with Adolf out to become the new ruler of L.A., joined by Eva (Dawn Wildsmith), Mengele (Michael Sonye), Hook (Joel Hile), and Brutus (Gene Mitchell). There’s Smeg (Tom Shell) too, but his participation in violence is limited by his concerned mother (Bobbie Bresee). Adolf wants it all, but that costs money, which George doesn’t have, limiting “Surf Nazis Must Die” to scenes of dull banter among the brutes, long shots of the hooligans sitting around, and some unexciting power plays among the gangs, who offer a lot more show than tell.

There’s surfing footage included, a surprising amount of it, and it’s crudely cut into the picture. There are a few moments when “Surf Nazis Must Die” simply breaks away from the story to showcase surfers in the wild, perhaps to distract from just how dull the endeavor is. Two subplots emerge in the movie, the first involving the Surf Nazis and their prolonged march to power. Adolf is crazed and vicious, but he’s not terribly motivated in the screenplay. The other side of the film belongs to Eleanor, a tough woman fighting the loss of her independence, and soon grieving the death of her son. “Surf Nazis Must Die” provides a loose understanding of a revenge plot, and George fumbles a surefire development, only unleashing an armed and irritated Eleanor on the Surf Nazis in the final ten minutes of the feature. TEN MINUTES. The rest of the effort is just actors standing around, trying to act menacing while George frantically pads the picture to reach a sellable run time.

Surf Nazis Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Troma Entertainment's streak of subpar Blu-ray releases remains unbroken with "Surf Nazis Must Die." The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation squeezes an 81-minute-long feature into a 13 GB file, and encoding issues are present, chiefly film grain, which is turned into a noisy layer. Detail is soft throughout, offering only the basics in skin surfaces and beach vistas. Colors are a tad washed out but acceptable, securing a warmer sense of California weather and sunshine. Punk costuming brings out stronger hues, and skintones are natural. Delineation isn't challenged in the brightly lit movie. Source is in reasonable shape, with a few points of damage and mild scratches.

Surf Nazis Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 Dolby Digital mix offers a louder presence for scoring cues, with big synth sustained throughout much of the movie. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable (technical limitations are noticeable), but remain occasionally threatened by the music levels. As is typical with Troma Entertainment Blu-ray releases, no subtitles are included.

Surf Nazis Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (1:46, HD) meets up with Troma Entertainment honcho Lloyd Kaufman in lockdown, recalling his fear of Nazis while eager to take a bathroom break in his pool.

• Interview (71:16) is an episode of The Projection Booth podcast, with guest Peter George, the director of "Surf Nazis Must Die." This audio-only offering is accessible as a commentary track on the feature, though the disc menu doesn't explain where to find this supplement.

• Interview (3:36, SD) is a chat with director Peter George, who explores his initial concept for "Surf Nazis Must Die," also sharing California shooting locations, while surfing footage was captured in Hawaii. George details cast rivalries, and gives an actor update. A brief mention of his time as a stunt boat driver is offered as well.

• Interview (1:52, SD) is a chat with producer Robert Tinnell, who recalls a late night football game on pavement that broke out during the shooting of "Surf Nazis Must Die," with cast and crew working to blow off some steam during the match. Tinnell also provides a memory of director Peter George and a boating accident that nearly shut down filming.

• "Public Service Announcement #1" (3:35, SD) provides a faux message on the dangers of "preview minutes" while trying to score a free look at pornography. Troma's Edge T.V. tries to thrill viewers by providing 90 seconds of nudity to help viewers in need.

• "Public Service Announcement #2" (2:28, SD) joins "Vice President Al Gore" to explore global warming issues, hoping to capture viewer attention by delivering his plea while a softcore scene unfolds behind him.

• "Lloyd Kaufman's Autobiography" (1:20, SD) joins Sgt. Kabukiman, "Michael Herz," and Dementia as they plug the "upcoming" 1998 book, "All I Really Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger."

• "Radiation March" (:54, SD) is a short dance piece concerning the dangers of pollution.

• "Soul of Troma" (2:00, SD) is a commercial for Troma Entertainment, scored to a Motorhead song.

• "Scenes from Tromaville Café" (3:29, SD) joins Beowulf and Jane Jensen as they hype up the new release, "Surf Nazis Must Die." Also included is a brief interview with Lloyd Kaufman and director Peter George.

• Deleted Scenes (8:04, SD) collects silent footage from "Surf Nazis Must Die," with occasional commentary from director Peter George.

• "Latched" (4:40, SD) is a short film about two men in the woods who have a special encounter while looking for sex.

• "Indie Artists vs. Cartels" (9:36, SD) is a presentation from Lloyd Kaufman, who discusses how Troma Entertainment deals with media monopolies who seek to destroy small companies, primarily focusing on YouTube's treatment of Troma.

• "The Hollywood System" (1:34, SD) provides a recreation of Kaufman's treatment by an unnamed studio when trying to sell a "Toxic Crusaders" movie.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Surf Nazis Must Die Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Surf Nazis Must Die" is a missed opportunity. It's a glorious title in search of a decent movie. It's a surprisingly immobile feature. Most of the energy that's actually here is due to Jon McCallum's driving synth score, which works overtime to sell growing hostilities and threats that aren't actually present in the film. Those itching to see Eleanor's developing rage and attack on the Surf Nazi way are in for a long wait, as "Surf Nazis Must Die" is much more interested in underwhelming viewers than giving them what they want.