I first saw Matango aka Attack of the Mushroom People at the long-lost and much-lamented Vancouver B Movie Festival. It was, without a doubt, the finest evocation of the Gilligan’s Island mythotype (Ginger, Professor and all!) in an hallucinogenic, nuclear-aware Japanese context that I have ever seen, then or since. In fact, since it appeared a couple of years before GI did, it can be considered the immediate predecessor thereof. Both are, apparently, descendants of William Hope Hodgson‘s short story, The Voice in the Night. There also exists the possibility that the whole thing resulted in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. There, don’t say ya never learned nuthin here.
I also recall the goofy first mate’s habit of greeting every surprising twist of events with his signature “Huh? Oh.” After the fourth time, the audience just chanted it along with him.
Just how freaky was this flick? Let me put it this way: the following video actually makes more sense than the film itself does, and here’s the vid writeup:
A music video set to Richard Cheese‘s lounge music version of Disturbed‘s “Down With the Sickness“, using footage from TOHO Studio‘s Matango. Don’t question it, you’ll be much happier.
True, dat.
“Down With The Sickness”Can you feel that?
Ah, shitDrowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems what’s left of my human side
Is slowly changing in me
(Will you give in to me?)
Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes (oh no)
There is no turning back now
You’ve woken up the demon in me
[Chorus:]
Get up, come on get down with the sickness [x3]
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me
I can see inside you, the sickness is rising
Don’t try to deny what you feel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems that all that was good has died
And is decaying in me
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems you’re having some trouble
In dealing with these changes
Living with these changes (oh no)
The world is a scary place
Now that you’ve woken up the demon in me
[Chorus]
(And when I dream) [x4]
No mommy, don’t do it again
Don’t do it again
I’ll be a good boy
I’ll be a good boy, I promise
No mommy don’t hit me
Why did you have to hit me like that, mommy?
Don’t do it, you’re hurting me
Why did you have to be such a bitch
Why don’t you,
Why don’t you just fuck off and die
Why can’t you just fuck off and die
Why can’t you just leave here and die
Never stick your hand in my face again bitch
FUCK YOU
I don’t need this shit
You stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore
How would you like to see how it feels mommy
Here it comes, get ready to die
[Chorus (last line changed to “Madness has now come over me”)]
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raincoaster 
Wow…I’m very glad you shared this with us. What a fantastic looking cheese-fest! So how does the “story” go? Do they turn into mushroom people by eating or do they just die? If you think about it, you probably see crap like that when you die from eating mushrooms, so perhaps this movie has more credibility than is assumed at first glance! I’m kidding of course.
In honor of this cheesified celebration of movie greatness, Here are my thoughts:
:19 The ocean seems to be rising vertically behind the boat….or is that the sky?
:30 Oh that sneaky erotic symbolism!
1:45 Never bring a knife to a shotgun fight. Especially when semi-attractive Japanese women are watching your foolish demonstration of manliness. You might wind up looking like a mushroom-head.
1:50 …..you know what they say about mushroom men with big hands?
1:52 I think we grew that in my closet at college!!!
2:00-2:05 …..dude….that’s enough…seriously….just back away from the bong.
Thanks again for sharing!
You’re welcome. The movie is totally Freudian, much moreso than the short story (linked above), as all the mushroom people look like huge penises! And yes, you become infected by eating.
Make of that whatever metaphor you will…
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Oh! My! God! They killed the Parliamentary Chicken Video!