Customer Reviews

Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's here. One of my favorite movies - and most eagerly-awaited DVDs - ever. And EVERY single bad scenario I could think of for its DVD release has been stamped out soundly by Tokyo Shock/Media Blasters. Because THIS is exactly what I wanted from a DVD of "Matango" (Attack of the Mushroom People). My dream came true, and it's sitting in my hands.

The movie? Some of you might remember seeing it back when there were things called "local UHF television stations" :) that showed lots of cheap movies - mostly bad ones, some good ones, but almost universally fondly remembered regardless of their narrative quality. Back when we were kids, all we remembered about the movie was the ghost ship, the mushroom people, and the narrator's unforgettable final lines (dubbed in English, of course). And that it was cool. We may not have noticed that the script is very effective, the character interaction and motivations convincing, and the production design truly remarkable... and there's plenty more about the film that elevates it WAAAAY up above your average Japanese monster movie.

The DVD? Well, now we can finally really see the movie and rediscover it. The DVD boasts a beautiful clean print presented in anamorphic widescreen. The aspect ratio is stated as 2.35:1 on the back cover, which is correct for TohoScope, but the ratio actually measures out to be about 2.53:1. Add to that the fact that the image is actually windowboxed (when looking at the full image, say, on a PC screen, there are black bars on the sides as well as top and bottom), and this movie looks VERY wide on a television.

Just like the other recent DVD release of "The Mysterians" (q.v.), there is a wealth of audio selections: the disc includes a 5.1 surround English audio mix, a mono English track, and a mono Japanese track. There is also a commentary track from Akira Kubo, who plays the lead role of Kenji Murai in the film. It is in Japanese, but there are subtitles for the film AND the commentary... and you can even turn them BOTH on at the same time if you want (one subtitle appears at the top, the other at the bottom).

Just a glorious presentation of the film (at last!) would be enough to please me and other fans of the film, but we also get some marvellous extras. There is a 17 minute 41 second piece called "Spoken Word from Matango writer Masami Fukushima" which is a written narrative of the story accompanied by widely varied video - sometimes stills, sometimes behind-the-scenes footage, and so on. There is also a very generous, in-depth and fascinating interview with special effects cinematographer Teruyoshi Nakano. The interview runs 27 minutes 38 seconds and covers the film from all angles, accompanied at times by some great production stills and behind-the-scenes photos detailing the set, makeup, pre-production artwork and more. It's clear from what he says that "Matango" was MEANT to be a cut above the rest, and the loving care they put into its production really shows in the movie itself. Also included on the DVD is a trailer (16:9 WS), plus previews for "Dogora" (1964), "The Mysterians" (1957), "Varan" (1958) and "Gappa" (1967).

One more thing... if you're already familiar with the movie, you'll probably just want to watch it in the Japanese language with English subtitles on. The impact of the ending is undeniably weakened in the Japanese (original) version, believe it or not. So you, and ESPECIALLY those who have never seen the movie before, will want to watch the movie both ways at least once, and I'll even go so far as to suggest your first viewing be of the English dubbed version. (Don't think it to be sacrilege; the Japanese version is right there waiting for your second viewing, which you'll want to do anyway.) Anyway... THANK YOU Tokyo Shock/Media Blasters for having such remarkable respect for the material to present it to us with every bit as much loving care and attention as any other recent Hollywood blockbuster film released to DVD. Buyers, start your debit cards! You don't want to be without this title!

I happen to suffer a severe financial disability, I have this incredible urge to purchase almost every 1930's thru 60's classic and not so classic Sci-fi and horror title that hits the market. Last month, I purchased an excellent Toho movie from Tokyo Shock entitled MYSTERIANS which I had always heard good things about but had never seen. I was pleasantly surprized how truly good this movie was when I watched it. After the movie, I watched the trailers and noticed that a movie (which I had always figured in the past MUST be just the cheesiest and worst Japanese sci-fi movie ever made due to the stupid title) entitled "Attack of the Mushroom People" was due for release. Well, being a fan of the genre, I was now excited to have this "screen gem" in my collection which I figured would be filed away with my Ed Wood collection alongside Phil Tucker's ROBOT MONSTER. I never had the chance to see this movie shown on TV so I had no basis for my opinion other than it's title.

Last night, I watched this movie for the first time and let me state how absolutely wrong my pre-conception was. Please keep in mind this movie was inappropriately re-titled for the American audience and that MIS-titling of the movie lowers it's viewer's expectations to the ranks of such Toho "classics" as SON OF GODZILLA. There are many amazing, classic movies of this era that suffer from terrible titles (such as the awesome I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE) but this is a movie whose title suffers from Americanization.

Anyway, let's get back to the movie. Others who have reviewed this seem to have wonderful childhood memories of this movie, something I lacked while viewing it. The nostalgia would have been nice but the absolute freshness of this movie to me was what truly sold me. There is nothing like seeing a movie that you have dismissed as cheesy fodder (don't get me wrong, I do LOVE cheesy fodder) only to discover a brilliantly executed tale. This is a well-acted, well-directed story that really caught me off guard. The actors tensions continue to build realistically throughout the movie as they find less and less to eat. The sequences in the abandoned "ghost" ship are truly gripping but what grabbed me the most were the psycedelic scenes shot in the mushroom fields. As demetia and insanity saturate the minds of the castaways, the wonderful cinematography captures the kaliedoscopic fungal phantasms amazingly well with it's unnatural lighting and frenzied sequencing. These scenes near the end of the movie are actually mildly disturbing. The musical score seems to reflect human voices screaming in agony and torment. What a great added touch. And the surprize ending...I didn't see it coming so I won't ruin it for to those of you who have never seen this hidden treasure.

This morning I sat down to a breakfast of sugar-coated vowels and consonants and ate my words with gusto. Don't be fooled like I had been by this movie's American title. From this day forth, this movie will now be placed in the top rank of my sci-fi collection with the best of the best and it will be filed under "M" for MATANGO!!

I think most people have a film that they saw when they were younger, one that stayed with them, perhaps even haunted them, into their adult years. For example, one of my friends can't watch the film Trilogy of Terror (1975), specifically the scenes with that little Zuni doll, without having a full blown freakout ...my youthful cinematic scarring occurred at the hands of Mantango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1963) aka Curse of the Mushroom People, Fungus of Terror, Matango the Fungus of Terror, Matango: Fungus of Terror...I remember seeing it on WFLD in Chicago (before it got co-opted by FOX) on the Son of Svengoolie show in the early 80's, and while I didn't remember much of it prior to watching it last night, certain visuals from the film have been stuck clearly in my mind for the past 20 years. Funny thing is I've hesitated watching this film, as I purchased it back in January of this year, but, there comes a time when one must face his or her demons...looking back, I can see how this could have warped me at a tender young age, given the strength of some of the scenes, but since having learned the true horrors of life (working for a living and such), the film seems more bizarre than frightening now, so many years later. Directed by the legendary Ishirô Honda (The Mysterians, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Mothra), appearing in the film is Akira Kubo (Gorath), Kumi Mizuno (Frankenstein Conquers the World), Hiroshi Koizumi (Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster), Yoshio Tsuchiya (The Monster Varan), Kenji Sahara (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla), Hiroshi Tachikawa (Gorath), Miki Yashiro (Godzilla vs. Mothra), along with Eisei Amamoto (King Kong Escapes), credited as `Skulking Transitional Matango'.

The story begins at the psych ward at Tokyo Medical Center as we listen to what appears to be an internal monologue from a patient, but it's hard to tell as his back is to the camera. This segues into a flashback with some very peppy pop music and 7 people (5 men and 2 women) crusing the ocean on the sailing yacht Aho Dori, which, I think, means short-tailed albatross. Aboard the yacht is Mami (Mizuno), Akiko (Yashiro), Etsuro (Tachikawa), Kenji (Kubo), Fumio (Tsuchiya), Naoyuki (Koizumi), and Senzo (Sahara). Anyway, night falls, a storm hits, one that features giant waves pounding a miniature boat, and the next day we see a very damaged yacht adrift in foggy, unknown waters. Hope arrives in the form of an island, and the group makes their way to shore, and begin searching for food and water, noticing an unusually large amount of mushrooms growing throughout the area. While traversing the seemingly deserted island, they find a derelict, beached, research ship grounded on the beach, one covered with fungus. After finding some canned goods on the ship, they decide to take up residence, and begin making plans to fix their yacht. Tensions build as the food runs out, and it appears they may not be alone on the island as shadowy, lumpy figures visit the ship during the night. What happened to the crew of the research vessel? There weren't any corpses on the ship, and the captain's log offers little in the form of answers...perhaps their disappearance had something to do with the fungus that populates the island (you bet your mold covered bippy it does)...

Someone else mentioned this, and it occurred to me as well, in as far as at times I got a sense I was watching an episode of Gilligan's Island, if David Lynch had directed it. We have a small ship that runs afoul of some adverse weather, and the seven castaways are stranded on a deserted isle. As far as characters go, there's Mami, a professional singer/part time strumpet, who would be the Ginger character, Akiko, the student, is Mary Ann, Naoyuki is the Skipper, Etsuro, the goofball writer, is Gilligan, Kenji, a university professor, is obviously the Professor, Fumio, the rich businessman (who's also the dork dressed in full sea captain gear including the hat), is Mr. Howell, and Senzo, the deckhand would have to be Mrs. Howell only because there's no one else left (sorry Senzo). But seriously, this has to have been one of the strangest films I've seen in awhile. The story was pretty slow throughout, but I found it really interesting as director Honda does an amazing job creating a moody, oppressive, nightmarish atmosphere that permeates the film much like the fog on the island. Looking at the title, one would get the impression of a silly B type movie, but the tone is pretty serious, about as serious as one can get given the antagonistic fungi factor involved. The performances and characters were decent, but what really sells the film is the overall direction, extensive sets, and appropriately creepy musical score, along with some fairly sophisticated special effects (for the time). There were some scenes near the end where I felt like I was watching a Sid and Marty Krofft (the pair responsible for such wiggy 70's television fare as H.R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos, and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters), particularly when the giant fungus creatures become more active, but the overall production worked well to overcome any minor silliness attributed to limitations on the visual effects regarding the giant shrooms. Is there a moral implication present with regards to the consumption of the mushrooms (they induce psychedelic hallucinations, among other things) and their harmful after effects? There sure is, and it worked on me...I've never eaten a mushroom I've found in the woods. I think my favorite scene in the film was when we saw Etsuro Yoshida, the goofy writer character (the Gilligan character), sitting in a patch of mushrooms, consuming them with a silly grin on his face. Oh, and by the way, I'd rather eat my left foot than any food I might have found on that wreck of a vessel, especially if I thought the ship was involved in some sort of nuclear research.

Media Blasters presents a superior anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) picture, along with three audio tracks including English 5.1 Surround, English mono, and Japanese Mono (I'd recommend the Japanese mono with English subtitles, but to each his own). There are some worthwhile extras including a commentary track by star Akira Kubo, an interview with chief assistant director of special effects Teruyoshi Nakano, a spoken word piece with scenes and stills from the movie by writer Masami Fukushima, and an original theatrical trailer. There are also previews for other Media Blasters releases including Dagora, the Space Monster (1964), Gappa, the Triphibian Monster (1967), The Mysterians (1957), and Varan the Unbelievable (1962).

Cookieman108

I have been a long time fan of Japanese sci-fi films. Unfortunately, I have never seen Matango until Tokyo Shock/Media Blasters released it onto DVD earlier this year. And let me tell you, this film is much better than most films Hollywood flushes out nowadays.

Many folks have already told the story of the film here so I will not go into that. I was very surprised, however, how much care was given into this film and how effective the story was at bringing you into the film itself. You don't see the Mushroom people much throughout the film, but the story is just so interesting that, in the end, you really find more interest in the conflicts among the characters than the Mushroom people. The best thing I love about this film is the message it has, that being society is always torn apart by individual wants and needs. No one thinks about society as whole; they put themselves first. It is a message that still works, perhaps better, in today's society. Greed and corruption on the individual level.

Another thing that I love about this film is the atmosphere it creates. It creates an atmosphere that is very mysterious, troubling, haunting, and just downright creepy. It sent chills up my spine in certain areas of the film, and the ship the characters stake as their home, is creepy itself.

Words simply cannot describe how great this film is! Many people may be thinking that since it's a Japanese film, it will have the same ole cliches of other Japanese sci-fi films. That couldn't be further from the truth. The film is just grand at telling a story that just keeps you glued to it and you actually feel for the characters. How many Hollywood films could you say about that nowadays? Also, there really isn't much in the way of special-effects here except the Mushroom people costumes and the makeup used to show some of the characters transforming into Mushroom people.

I highly recommend that everyone see this movie! It is a model for great storytelling and is sure to become a favorite with just about everybody who sees it! After watching this for the first time, it has become one of my all-time favorite films; and I have seen a lot of movies too! Definitely worth renting at least!

After seeing the trailer for SPACE AMOEBA on Youtube, I definately wanted to buy the dvd. Space Amoeba was not available at the store, but I saw this Toho Pack. So after a few moments of deliberation I figured three movies for 20 bucks. I'll take a chance. First up THE MYSTERIANS. This is a great old school science fiction "Aliens invade earth" movie. Presented in 2:35.1 Widescreen with choices of English dubbed, Japanese spoken and a few other features I'm too lazy to write about. After sending A wierd looking giant robot to destroy a town the aliens known as Mysterians reveal themselves, stating they meant no harm but only to display their superiority. Then they ask to remain on earth in a small 2 miles radius, and for permission to marry Earth women. As if they would except "NO" for an answer. Despite the corny premise this movie is really cool. Next up is VARAN THE UNBELIEVABLE shown in Black & White but also presented in 2:35.1 widescreen. In fact all three films in this set are 2:35.1 the true widescreen, so that's really cool. Not to be confused with the 1:85.1 phoney widescreen which really isn't widescreen at all just a cropped picture. This is the Japanese Spoken version only. I wish they also included the Myron Healy English dubbed version because I never got to see that and it's so hard to find. For those of you who don't know who Myron Healy is. He was the Bully of Dry Gulch in the 1950s classic Superman tv series. Another thing I found interesting was the music motiff we associate with Rodan was really from this movie. In fact you can hear many well known Akira Ifukube signature themes that have been used in many Toho films. They were rewritten and played in various styles, but their teeth were cut here. Finally we have MATANGO Attack of The Mushroom People. Critically acclaimed and deservedly so because it is a well done movie almost in a Hammer Horror style production. But it's lack of Daikaiju (Giant Monsters) made it a little dull for me. Maybe only roughly a third of TOHO PRODUCTIONS had Giant Monsters, but to me Toho movies with out giant monsters is Toho in name only. Still a good set to buy. I hope Tokyo Shock puts out a second TOHO PACK that will include ATRAGON, DOGORA, and LATITUDE ZERO.

At long last! Three terrific Toho terrors available in a handsome three-box set!
First: Mysterians, a wonderfully-gaudy special effects film with dazzling effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, gritty direction by Ishiro Honda and a terrific musical score by Akira Ifukube. Wonderful wide-screen format in glorious color.
Then: Varan the Unbelievable. Although one of the lesser efforts, this film still has much to recommend it. Although with Honda's taut direction is Tsuburaya's usually fine work (and a wonderful monster costume worn by Haruno Nakajima) by possibly Ifukube's finest monster score.
Finally: Matango, Honda's best horror film and a truly creepy picture from a terrific script by Takeshi Kimura.
What really makes the icing on the cake are commentaries by those who were there. In all, this box set is a wonderful tribute and would make a fine introductory gift to those interested in the genre.
---Peter H. Brothers, author of:Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda

While most Japanese monster movies from the 1960s are loads of fun, this one is in a creepy class by itself. The horror isn't in the obvious mushroom monsters, but in the peeling back of civilization as the shipwrecked characters encounter the real monsters -- their own dark selves, stripped down to the primal core. The allegory is never overbearing, but the cast is clearly a microcosm of then-contemporary Japan, and by extension the modern, post-nuclear world. Beneath the glossy, fast-paced surface of the technological cityscape, irrational forces still fester, ravenous & unrelenting.

The film itself looks terrific, drenched in rich color & mood. Rather than rely on gore & easy shocks, it builds atmosphere & dread as the casual veneer of each character begins to disintegrate. And exactly what are those mushroom people, anyway? Symbols of those who have abandoned reason & responsibility in favor of self-absorbed hedonism? The true face of the alienated public, which is concealed beneath flash & pop culture? The desire to hide from & deny the looming terrors of the world? Perhaps all that & more.

As usual, Media Blasters has done a superb job of restoration & providing all the extras you could want. The commentary by lead actor Akira Kubo is informative & charming, and the additional special features are a treat. In its own way, as profound & challenging as the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," this is not to be missed -- most highly recommended!

This is really a very scary movie about horrible mutations. Some Japanese tourists are stranded on a foggy south seas island and find an abandoned science ship. Starving for food some of them eat a mysterious mushroom called MATANGO. Soon they are infected by a
fungus that takes over the human body and causes homocidal insanity.
The mutated make-ups are pretty scary (they resemble the 1986 version of THE FLY with Jeff Goldblum) The american TV distributers decided that camp was a good selling point and came up with the crazy "MUSHROOM PEOPLE" title. The original title is simply "MATANGO" and it is not campy at all. The ending is a real shocker.

Okay, so I have owned this Toho Shock print since it came out in 2005 and waited 6 years
to write a review, I am little slow!
Anyway, I pulled it out of my library last night since I had not seen in it for a while.

As others have said, this film is completly unlike any Jananese "monster movie" ever made.

The intellegent scrip, acting, set design and oppresivly unrelenting gloomy atmosphere transports you
into a surreal nightmare unlike anything I have seen since. A movie with this much imaginative skill at
really creeping the hell of of people could never be done today.
Best viewed by your self, late at night, and on a big wide screen TV.

I never saw this one as a kid, and never even heard about it untill I was well into my 30's when I came
across a bookleg of it on eBay and forked over the money in the hopes of seeing something different.
And WOW! this is different. This has got to be one of the darkest, bottomless and depressing nightmares
ever filmed. BTW, with the release of this very fine print, I can gleefully toss those bootlegs :)

I have not listened to any of the extra commentary yet, but it seems obvious that Honda was serious about
this project. It has been noted by film historians that Honda uses many metaphors and scocial commentary
about human nature and the duallity we all share.

Our charactors here are not particularly likeable. They are selfish and narcissistic. We have little sympathy
for them, indeed, even before they are shipwrecked, we have a pretty good idea about there personalities.

Each charator is well written, and actions throughout are perfectly logical for their perspective.

The few plot holes, are easy to overlook after we become suspended in the gloomy, atmosphere and the way better than
average (for a Japanese monster movie) acting. The scene where they discover the "ghost" ship off in the misty
distence is at once surreal, creepy, mysterious and beautiful all at the same time.

The set design, esp inside the ghost ship, covered with fungus, is very effective and heighens our sense of
dread and mystery. The lighting and attention to set detail is flawless, as is the use of colors.

Even when we see the mushroom creatures, with their haunting, eckoing laughter, the effects do not deminish
the mood with it's silly looking rubber costumes. The creatures, though some say look silly, to me were very
scary looking because of the way Honda chose to film them.
Using thick atmosphere effects, rain, fog, shaddowy lighting, and that background of extremly creepy laughter,
the final encounter with the unfortunate humans [turn mushroom] is truly nightmarish.

There is a scene where one of our charators, who has resisted the temptations of the mushrooms which are everywhere
on this island, finially is seduced to eat them, he goes into a kind of LSD trip.
We are also told that once you start eating the mushrooms, there is no stopping!! Pretty clear metaphor of the
consequences of drug abuse, even if Honda was not conscience of it at the time.

With the silly and lurid US re-titelling of "Attack of the Mushroom People", few took this movie very seriously.

That is a shame, but now we finally have a wonderful DVD transfer, and I hope this fine work of surrealist art
can be re-discovered by a new American audience.

For both the film the the DVD quality transfer, I give this 5 well deserved stars.

These three offerings are almost always overlooked (or should I say overshadowed) by Gojira and other Toho films. This is a shame for they are all interesting bits of toho History. The Mysterians has one of the most stirring Military (read battle) music compositions . Varan and Matango are also fun films in their own right. This is a worthwhile set to pick up-suitable for the whole family. Turn out the lights, grab some popcorn and reminisce about staying up late as a kid and watching "Creature Features"