YMMV / Matango

• Adaptational Displacement: The movie is a Cult Classic that is much more well-known than the short story it's loosely based off of.
• Alternative Character Interpretation: Sakuta's final note on the ship, claiming the other castaways died, offers a lot of room to ponder his fate. Did his isolation on the ship cause him to hallucinate the others dying? Did his guilt over abandoning them motivate him to try and leave a message that absolved himself? If so, did he truly feel guilty, or did he just want to protect his reputation? Or did he discover the mushroom spores were airborne and offed himself before he could infect the mainland?
• Awesome Music: Sadao Bekku’s moody and atmospheric score, which encapsulates the feelings of dread and isolation perfectly.
• Cult Classic: While not as well-known as the Godzilla films are, it's considered one of the greatest Japanese horror movies ever made and possibly Ishiro Honda's best film.
• Fridge Horror: Given that the "roar" of the Matango quite literally sounds like an evil, sadistic laugh, which aside from relying on Rule of Scary, could indicate that not only are they sapient, but enjoy what they are doing.
• Nightmare Fuel: The Matango themselves are this! Their "roar" in particular is disturbing in that it’s not even a roar, but a deep, bellowing cackle that’s heard every time they’re around.
• Sacred Cow: It’s universally hailed as one of Ishiro Honda’s finest works, one of Toho’s greatest films made during the Showa period and one of the best made Japanese horror films. It would be unwise to critique it anywhere.
• Visual Effects of Awesome: Even nearly 50 years after its original release, Matango's effects by Eiji Tsuburaya are still awe-inspiring.

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