Konichiwa! The Rad Revival House returns to the Land of the Rising Sun with a look at the bonkers Japanese monster thriller MATANGO, OR ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE!

Writer and Japanese cinema aficionado Jennifer Upton returns as Special Guest Lecturer to lend a helping hand in discussing this unique picture. Directed by the mastermind behind iconic Kaiju movie beast GODZILL, Isihiro Honda, MATANGO is a significant departure for Honda as he tackles an emotionally-deeper, thought-provoking tale, wrapped in a bizarre monster motif. Seven Japanese tourists on a yacht in the middle of the Pacific ocean survive a brutal storm and land on a deserted island, only to encounter a brand new threat: mysterious and deadly mushrooms. Faced with possible starvation, the survivors must resist eating the strange fungi as they work to return to civilization. However, lack of proper sustenance, the rough natural elements, and volatile bickering among the survivors lead to drastic measures, before the arrival of the dreaded mushroom people themselves!

Jennifer and host, Professor Cesare Augusto, discuss director Ishiro Honda’s bizarre, yet ultimately prolific vision, how his experiences of the WWII horrors shaped his creative style, and his overall artistic contributions to the world, including his Godzilla pictures. Both reviewers agree that filmmakers can indeed create a striking, emotionally-charged picture despite set within a seemingly-goofy premise, provided it is armed with strong writing, convincing characters, and a powerful creative outlook!