Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People

[mbpalme]

Like jgreeb, I saw this as a youth on the local UHF station.  I didn't remember many of the details, but I've always remembered this movie fondly.  Good to have you back Andrew.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Is this the edited American version or the longer Japanese version? The longer Japanese version is suppose to be better. Whatever?! One does wonder whether the creators of "Gilligan's Island" were aware of this film, before creating "Gilligan's Island.

[kjw]

This is more than just your average grade B horror movie.It's alot worse than a B movie let em tell you.I put this in the grade Z catagory of horror films.It was totally unwatchable.I would much rather watch paint rust then sit through garbage like this film,and all the rest of those Japanese horror/Sci Fi movies,excluding The Green Slime,and The Manster.Those are the only two I can sit through and enjoy watching.But Mushroom People is a total bomb,and an unwatchable bomb at that.Not even mildly entertaining.

[Colin G. Davis]

Why has nobody (including our esteemed reviewer) mentioned that the plot, such as it is, of this movie was stolen from the short story "A Voice in the Night" by William Hope Hodgson? I really do hope it isn't because none of you have heard of him!

[JOHN MORRISSEY]

Y'know, oddly, I'm seeing Gilligan's Island gone horribly wrong...

[Todd Shields]

Actually, this IS GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, only on magic mushrooms.

[Erin]

For some reason, the line "Fool! They're half mushroom!" had me in stitches. Anyway, the movie sounds like an allegory about the inability of people to work together for the common good, yada, yada, yada.

[Kaiju Fan]

I really enjoy this film. One of the better Toho's movies. When given the limitations on when this was made (63 correct?) then you kinda have to give this movie a break. But hey I'm a B movie fan and kaiju fan (hense the name) so I guess that has to do a lot with my opinion on the film.

[Torgo]

Man, glad to see someone else besides myself and my friends have had to suffer through this cinematic atrocity.

This film was my pick for our monthly "Bad movie night" and noone who was there that particular session has forvigen me for it yet.

[JGreeb]

I remember seeing this movie in the 70's (my pre-high school years) on a local UHF station (CH 45 out of Cleveland) that would show B-grade horror movies on Saturday afternoon (the host was called SuperHost- wore a cape and everything).  All I remember is the people turning to mushrooms after eating them.  However, the movie made a big enough impression that I still remember it after all these years and probably kept me from eating mushrooms until I was in college.  

[Peter]

I think this is a great movie! THe rain and smell of mushrooms! If only this movie could be released in Australia so people can buy it! A spoky film

[Stefano Jodice]

It's worth to remember that "Matango" was directed by Inoshiro Honda, (disciple of Akira Kurosawa) the author of the original, 1954 B/W "Godzilla" movie.

[chris conley]

This is actually a very good movie from the creator of godzilla. I'm glad that Tokyo Shock released a widescreen uncut japanese language print of this recently this film is very eerie and belongs in the b movie circuit not the z movie it's kind like lord of the flies and is very emotional in it's orginal language.

[Xenorama]

Is this the edited American version or the longer Japanese version? The longer Japanese version is suppose to be better. Whatever?! One does wonder whether the creators of "Gilligan's Island" were aware of this film, before creating "Gilligan's Island.

there is no "edited American version".  they are both the same movie, nothing was cut from the US tv release. 

Honda was in the movie business before Kurosawa, but was drafted and Kurosawa got more time in the industry.  neither was a disciple of the other.

David

[Chris Conley]

Why is everybody hitting this film hard this is good certainly better that manos the hands of fate or plan 9 from outer space and this is not a z grade picture your missing the inner symbolism towards drugs and danger towards them which inshiro honda put into this film this is a underrated classic a minor classic you should watch in japanese then its  better the american dub loses the great acting the japanese actors have