Why Screen "Attack of the Mushroom People"? (1963)

The dirty secret is, most of the classic Kaiju movies, are not particularly scary per se, they are more akin to opera with giant radioactive mutant dinosaurs made of foam rubber as the defacto stars and vocalists. "Attack of the Mushroom People" (AKA "Matango, Fungus of Terror", I am sure that title is way more frightening in Japanese) is a genuinely scary and unsettling Kaiju by every measure. A collection of Japanese Bourgeoisie are shipwrecked on a radioactive desert island presided over by an invasive species of sentient mushrooms, intent of absorbing the castaways into that malevolent vegetable collective. Director Ishiro Honda, clearly wanted to comment on the hedonism and selfishness that came along with Japan's hallowed post war economic miracle...and what better prism by which to do that than a grim little Kaiju movie? The irony is, the film was not a box office success in Japan and the international rights were sold off to American International Pictures where it was duly dubbed and dumped on the US Television where locally it was creepy little staple on WLVI TV 56's "Creature Feature" for years. So far as I can tell, the film has never had an proper theatrical screening in the USA...at least not in the 21st Century as its very much not in that Japanese Kaiju classic repertory canon (I'm looking at You, Gojira!). Channel Zero, as always thinks that is a shame, and bids on Friday October Fifth to kick off the local Repertory Halloween Season with a screening of "Attack of the Mushroom People" in the Somerville Theatre's Micro Cinema. "Be Prepared, To Be Scared! This is a Kaiju Like No Other!!" The Somerville Theatre (micro-cinema) Friday, October 5th 8pm (sharp!) 55 Davis Square Somerville Ma. 617) 625-5700 Admission $7.50 (Cheap! Cash Only) And while yer at it, why not join our official Facebook Fan Group for all the early word on Upcoming Screenings?