Matango, Part 2: Welcome to the Island

Well here we are... Part 2 of Matango. You may remember in our first descent into Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People, we saw our band of seven seagoers' day of pleasure rudely interrupted by a storm that wrecked their yacht and sent them floating helplessly toward a mysterious island. It's here that we pick up the story. (Approximately at the 20:00 minute mark.)

Dragging themselves to the shores of the island they immediately are suspicious of their new habitat. Lots of fog and a rocky slope into a dark, tree-covered forest will do that to you. They also see the ghost ship-of-death that they weren't so concerned with before. Now they are a bit more wary.



They are given some hope however when they hear a trickle of water half way up the slope. Happy to find fresh water they stop for a drink before continuing higher. At the top they are able to see their derelict ship below them and decide to search if for shelter, food, and perhaps some answers as to where they are. I know... perhaps this is not a great idea, but it could be worse... it could be night.

Several of the men volunteer to board the ship as the others wait to be attacked... sorry, wait safely outside the hulking ship. Once aboard they are confronted with first, moss...



Then mold...



And then... are you ready?



Finally! At the 30:30 mark we have our first mushroom. Now, it's not rampaging or anything. It's actually quite docile sitting there in a large cabinet. But make no mistake... we've got a real live radiation-mutated mushroom. How do I know its' mutated? Well, in the scenes that follow they find a captain's log that describes how the last crew were on a scientific mission searching for ways to battle seawater pollution... or something like that. This mushroom is identified as "Matango." That's right... see how things are coming together?

After surveying the rooms of the ship, all seven board. Much of the ship is covered in a strange, red, pollen-like substance. They do find a box of tins filled with food. Some of them dive right in, gobbling them down with no thought for their fellow shipwrecked mates. Will Matango find them first? Sorry, I don't want to assume too much here.

Our crew decides to split up. (Of course.) One team goes to collect water. One team attempts to trawl the shore for fish. And one, armed with rifles they find on board, go into the woods to hunt for birds or whatever they can find. Before leaving though, they are smart enough to realize (which doesn't happen often in these kinds of movies) that the mushrooms should not be picked or eaten. They agree and venture out.

Next time: Part 3: What's Out There?