Director: Anthony C. Ferrante (Director of the Sharknado series) Starring: Ian Ziering, Shawn C. Phillips, Tania Fox, and Chynna Walker. Genre: Action / Horror / Sci-Fi B-Movie
If the title Zombie Tidal Wave sounds like a fever dream cooked up by a marketing team trying to combine every popular disaster trope, that’s because it is. Coming from the same creative mind behind Sharknado, this film knows exactly what it is: a campy, low-budget spectacle designed for late-night entertainment.
The plot follows Hunter Shaw (played by Ian Ziering), a rugged, boat-loving charter captain who has a murky past and a penchant for finding trouble. The story kicks off when an underwater seismic event (or perhaps illegal radioactive dumping—the classic B-movie catalyst) unleashes a horde of zombies from the ocean floor. Director: Anthony C
Unlike traditional zombies that shuffle slowly down streets, these zombies swim. And they don't just swim; they catch a wave. A massive tsunami hits a small island community, and riding the crest of this wave are hundreds of waterlogged, flesh-hungry corpses.
Visually, the film embraces the "Syfy Original" aesthetic. The CGI ranges from passable to laughably bad, particularly when the titular "tidal wave" crashes onto the island. The zombies themselves are a mix of practical makeup effects (which are often surprisingly decent) and CGI enhancements. Genre: Action / Horror / Sci-Fi B-Movie If
The tone is the real selling point. The film doesn't take itself seriously for a second. It leans heavily into the absurdity of the situation. You aren't supposed to be genuinely terrified; you are supposed to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of zombies swimming like Olympic athletes or launching themselves out of the water like dolphins.
Ian Ziering is the anchor of the film. Having cut his teeth on Sharknado, he knows exactly how to deliver cheesy dialogue with a straight face. He plays the "reluctant hero" archetype perfectly, providing the physicality needed to make the fight scenes—however clunky—entertaining. The story kicks off when an underwater seismic
The supporting cast, including a bumbling sidekick and a tough female lead, fill the standard tropes. Some are there purely for zombie fodder, providing the requisite gore that fans of the genre expect.
Directed by: Anthony C. Ferrante
Starring: Ian Ziering (known for Sharknado), Erich Chikashi Linzbichler, Shelton Jolivette
Genre: Horror / Comedy / Action
Runtime: ~86 minutes