Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People

Contrary to what the title might suggest, “Matango” doesn’t belong to the – mediocre – giant monster genre which Ishiro Honda’s films are generally known for. On the contrary, taking inspiration from the wonderful story “The Voice in the Night” (1907) by William Hope Hodgson, the director brings to the screen a fine example of sociological science fiction which lays bare the hypocrisies, the crisis of value, and the contradictions that typify capitalistic society.

Representing various aspects of the Japanese upper-middle class in the early 1960s, the characters gradually become meaner and pettier as the story progresses. Their potentially explosive selfishness and weaknesses come to light as they are forced to confront their crisis. Honda mercilessly depicts the overwhelming, God-like power of money that dehumanizes people and leads them to carry out despicable acts (the famous money-for-eggs scene).

Everything is rendered even more meaningful by a profusion of melancholy dialogue along the lines of: “They get more money than brains… they’ll be children no matter how old they get” or “A bunch of parasites sponging off people… but that happens to be the way of the world”. Radiation and its mutagenic effects are themes that do crop up in the director’s prior work, however, particularly in “The H-Man” (1958), “The Human Vapor” (1960) and “The Secret of the Telegian” (1960).

The film tends to drag, so “Matango” isn’t the best choice for fans of action and thrills.