Customer Reviews
excellent classic horror 
2007-04-23
I remember this movie from watching Creature Double Feature movies on my local tv station. I had a video copy and the dvd is much better.
This movie is an excellent choice for sci-fi classic horror fans. Its best qualities are: atmospheric creepiness, editing that supports tension and creepiness, and visually arresting color schema that focuses on neutral colors offset by primary colors. I also enjoyed the fashion. The imagery is haunting and creepy. If you like such imagery as passengers shipwrecked on a deserted island, rotting boat sails, and misty fog curling over questionable sea and landscape I recommend this film for you. There are also psychological connections to nuclear radiation, escapism and drug culture, and man's inhumanity to man and city life.
This movie may seem slow to viewers not accustomed to or attracted to the acting and story pacing of older monster films. The creepiness and tension build at a slow pace and viewers familar with the instant gratification, fast pacing, and more realistic acting of modern horror films may be disappointed by the film.
My memory of this movie from childhood is that it was black and white and I am wondering if the one I saw from childhood was a different version? I am into some of the arty aspects of filmaking and I was entranced by the editing and imagery of this film. I really enjoyed it!
Well, I agree with everyone in part, but...... 
2007-02-21
I, too, bought this movie because of the traumatic impression the original made on me as a kid. Actually, I thought this movie was the original, It is not and I was quick to update the Amazon listing with "2005", however, I see the listing owner changed it back to "1963".
I expected with modern film-making and many more talented actors/actresses it would be better a better movie than the 1963 original.
What a disappointment!! Are the reviewers on Amazon just actually trying really hard to sell their copies?! (In fact, the first reviewer wrote on 3/10/2005, before the moview was even released... probably the Amazon distributor!!)
Where are the capture scenes where the monsters pick nasty s****t off their faces and then try to make their prisoners eat it? The old movie, as I remember it, was not only terrifying but made you ill thinking about it. I saw it once 35 years ago and never forgot it!
The original production was the perfect 'B' movie that deserved better.
This version is not, I'm sorry. Actually, it tries to be a love story, an 'eat mushrooms and get high' presentation, and reminds me of 'Survivor' island instead of everyone actually trying to help each other. The acting just sucks, and no monster stuff until the last 30 minutes. The monsters don't 'attack' as such, the actor just happens upon them and screams (in cameo) a lot.
(Sigh) Somebody who likes Japanese 'B' movies may feel otherwise.
In the meantime, I'll look for the Avon Fantasy book on Amazon from which it was based on.... "The Voice in the Night" by William Hope Hodgson, taken from his book, "Men of Deep Waters".
A 3-Star Film: But 5-Stars For Those Childhood Memories! 2007-01-16
First, to be honest, "Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People" is actually very silly and not a very good film. So why the 5 stars? Because this film creeped me out big time when I was a child. And for that, this film gets five stars from me. Moreover, it is because of this film that my love for Japanese cinema blossomed. I DO NOT believe this film is a masterpiece of 1960s Japanese Horror by any stretch of the imagination. However, long before I began viewing great Japanese films, by such greats as Akira Kurosawa; Yasujiro Ozu; Hiroshi Teshigara; Masaki Kobayashi or Kenji Mizoguchi; to name just a few great Japanese directors, this film "Mantango: Attack of the Mushroom People," by director Ishiro Honda, was my introduction to Japanese cinema.
I remember every time the film was shown on the late night weekend program known as "Creature Features," that I sat riveted to the TV and curled up to see this creepy film. This film may not appeal to many people, but for me, I really like it due to the many memories this film has left me with. But in all honesty, it is also very shallow in both the acting and the eeriness which I once felt with this film. As we grow older, we see things differently. Yet, at one time I had to have by elder brothers sit and watch this with me, because it scared the heck out of me. Looking at the film nowadays, I can see where a young child's imagination can get the better of them. And from the many good reviews on amazon, I can see that I am not alone. The film does not have a very intelligent plot, and the screenplay and is not that good. However, I do recommend it for those who can recall this film from their childhood. All others, proceed with caution.
As many other reviewers have mentioned, this film has quite a lot of similarities with "Gilligan's Island." For those who have not seen this film, you will notice this similarity is very strong. You have a Skipper, a Professor, a rich millionaire, a girl next door character and a first mate, and the starlet type actress who has a bewitching charm with some of the crew members. The film starts off with a crew of people on a boat which is caught in a storm. As they drift through the heavy fog they find themselves on a deserted Island---or so they think. Everything on a ship they run into is is fungus ridden, and the Island is filled to the brim with a malevolent mushroom. In order to survive, they must scavenge the place for food. Here they find that the Island was visited once before, when they come across a freighter ship that held a large number of people, who have since wasted away.
It's not long before some of these survivors eat the deadly mushrooms on the Island in order to survive. And what happens to them afterwards is a bit lame and silly to go along with the creepy and eerie part of the film. However, it is the memories of the film which make this film fun for me to watch. If you are looking for a GOOD, creepy and atmospheric horror type of film, this is NOT the one. But it is well worth renting just to get a good idea how some of the early Japanese horror films once were. Thankfully, they have come a long way since. I guess something from my childhood has made this silly little film part of my consciousness. I have the Tokyo Shock/Media Blasters version, which is in TohoScope, with anamorphic widescreen [aspect ratio: 2.35:1]. This film has been excellently restored, and if the price is right, I would recommend picking it up. I see them going for a few bucks in quite a few Asian outlets where I buy my films. Recommended with extreme caution. [Stars: 3]
Hang out with the mushroom people 
2006-12-23
After running aground on a mysterious island during a pleasure cruise, a group of the idle rich soon discover that they are sharing the island with previous shipwreck victims, who have mutated into mushroom monsters via the local toadstools. I wonder if this film was meant as a drug allegory. Despite a few creepy scenes when the mushroom people shamble after our heroes, they really seem to be more interested in lying around in the forest and giggling. Even though the protagonists know what will happen to them if they eat the mushrooms, they do so anyway as they give in to despair over their situation. This is a very odd film but enjoyable in a goofy way.
One of Honda's best underrated flicks! 2006-10-12
This is a great movie! The Japanese subtitled version is an improvement on the dubbed version I used to see on tv back in the early 80s. There is a great sense of menace, with more background on the abandoned ship found by the castaways. Ishiro Honda shows he can do more than the kaiju films (I LOVE those too, don't get me wrong), making an effective horror movie/morality tale.
The extras on the disc are great too, with the original story told over scenes of the movie, and another story by the same author. A commentary by star Akira Kubo is interesting, though he spends more time talking about his career in general, as opposed to Matango. A featurette on the makeup and special effects is informative and fun, also.
The script was well written, with tension among the castaways contrasted with the growing menace (the tension was done much better than in the movie Goke: Body Snatcher From Hell, another japanese movie from 1968, which I thought sucked). The monsters were well done, as was the derelict ship.
Don't pass this one up, if you get the chance. I just ordered the movie Varan the Unbelievable, and hope the same good job was done on that disc.
A GOOD WAY TO START YOUR NON GODZILLA TOHO COLLECTION 
2008-01-20
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.
Some lesser known Toho treasures 2007-12-13
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"
mushroom madness 2007-11-27
Matango is a wonderful japanese horror movie from the early 1960's.
The movie was one of the better horror movies from japan during that decade and it even found a strong following accross the world. One of the reasons for this is that the people trapped on the mushroom island have the terrible choice to starve or to eat mushrooms and become a mushroom creature. The spooky scenes of the fully mutated mushroom people who are laughing with glee at the total conformity awaiting the mushrooms victims remains a disturbing vision. It reminded me of some life long stoners I know who have become more like cabbages than people. Of course jaded viewers need not bother with old horror movies as they will just pick apart the lack of modern effects which is a shame because old movies are alot of fun.
Another must-have from Ishirô Honda 2007-08-23
This is a very mature Japanese monster movie, not at all like the classic and often amusing Saturday afternoon fare of my childhood. With a haunting storyline and images of human nature at it's worst- this is like Gilligan's Island.....on mushrooms.
This version is clean and offers both the dubbed and orig version. A must-have for fans of the genre and one of my personal favorites of all time.
Hallucinatory & unsettling 2007-06-01
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!
