Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1963) | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Directed by Ishirô Honda

Cinema Dream Network Custom Region-Free Blu-ray/BD-R Release

Sourced from a Japanese Blu-ray with added English subtitles.

Title: Matango (1963)

Alternate Title: Attack of the Mushroom People

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction

Plot Synopsis:
A group of seven individuals, including vacationers and crew members, become stranded on a remote island after their yacht encounters a severe storm. As they explore the island, they discover a derelict ship covered in a peculiar fungus. With limited food supplies, they face the temptation to consume the island’s abundant mushrooms, despite warnings that doing so may have dire consequences. The narrative delves into themes of survival, human nature, and the unknown dangers lurking in isolation.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Ishirō Honda
• Producer: Tomoyuki Tanaka
• Screenplay: Takeshi Kimura
• Story: Shinichi Hoshi, Masami Fukushima
• Based On: “The Voice in the Night” by William Hope Hodgson
• Cast:
  • Akira Kubo as Kenji Murai
  • Kumi Mizuno as Mami Sekiguchi
  • Hiroshi Koizumi as Senzô Koyama
  • Kenji Sahara as Masafumi Kasai
  • Yoshio Tsuchiya as Saki Chûdôin

YouTube Trailer:
Matango (1963) | Trailer

IMDb Link:
Matango (1963)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Schratzi – ★★★★★
   “There can’t be that many movie directors who brought as much pure joy and entertainment to so many viewers as legendary Japanese monster maestro Ishiro Honda. ‘Matango’ is a testament to his versatility, delivering genuine horror and a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll.”
2. mosquitodragon – ★★★★½
   “This is not your typical Ishiro Honda movie. This is genuine horror. A group of people hopelessly adrift in a grim, grey ocean. Washing up on an island that feels like an outpost of Fulci’s Beyond – all dim mists and dank forest, totally lifeless apart from pale fungus growing everywhere, the air thick with spores. It’s a slow burn – the eeriness of the premise taking its time to manifest.”
3. Kaijuman – ★★★★
   “Hopeless fog-covered dread. Grotesque body horror fueled by addictive mushrooms worse than any drug imaginable. The increasing tension of a group of despondent castaways blinds them to the ever-growing horror spreading outside.”

Meta Description:
“Matango” (1963), also known as “Attack of the Mushroom People,” is a Japanese horror film directed by Ishirō Honda. The story follows a group of castaways on a mysterious island who encounter a strange fungus with horrifying effects. The film explores themes of survival and the unknown dangers of isolation.