Mushrooms

Mushrooms is a delightfully twisted black comedy from Australia.

This not-quite-cannibal tale tells the story of a couple elderly widows- one an agoraphobic; the other a raging kleptomaniac- who are just out there trying to survive...when sh*t starts to hit the fan.

Everything begins, when they start to look for a lodger to help cover the bills and make ends meet.

Upon posting a notice- advertising the availability of the room- their home is taken over by a bank robber, who is seeking to board there, discreetly, for the time being.

However, the police show up a short time later; looking for him. And one of the officers involved in the investigation- himself, approaching retirement- becomes so infatuated by one of the women; that he signs on to live in the free room- with hopes of getting a chance to woo her.

But there are clearly secrets buried in the gardens of these women's past...

Hence, why, when the officer accidentally gases the criminal to death...these ladies opt to cover up the crime, instead of coming clean. They fear the police will blame everything on them. And aren't too fond of coppers, generally.

Que the subtly twisted hilarity, as these two not-so-innocent old ladies, concoct a scheme to get rid of the body. And then further schemes to cover up their cover ups!!! Their ideas are actually quite clever...and productive!!! Eventually providing the film with it's title.

When all is said and done, it is really quite a mild film. But it is saturated with just enough black humour- so twisted- that it manages to keep you intrigued throughout. It's not often, that you find a film existing somewhere in the grey area between being a cannibal film; and not being a cannibal film at all.

Stylistically, it is really quite plain. But this only acts to compliment it's bizarre nature: as normality clashes with the extreme. I was a bit disappointed with the ending...which I felt was too mild. I thought they could have spun in something slightly more twisted; but it is certainly appropriate for what it is.

A fun little film. Worth a watch.

6.5 out of 10.

I saw this movie at the Seattle Film Festival in 1995 and it stayed with me as one of the better films I've ever seen at that festival. After 13 long years, this finally gets a release on DVD. The Film to DVD transfer is pretty poor and the DVD is remarkably low budget but I guess you can't fault the company for taking a chance on a film that never received wide release. Mushrooms is pretty funny with some clever writing and some gross but cute horrors and gross-outs. Lots of good laughs and a pretty good cast of nobody actors I recommend it to indy comedy fans and maybe even horror fans though there really isn't any 'horror,' just cannibalism.

This is one of those gems I caught at the film festival and thought surely would get a release. What happened! It is a charmer, a black comedy that treads the thin line perfectly. Hey you studio guys, get on the ball and release this film, forget the rest of that dreck that you keep churning out!

Sheer comedic genius, fabulous black comedy that had my mother and I chuckling for days after watching and it remains one of our favourites. Very clever story-line and writing, superb acting. This needs to be rereleased. This pair of old spinster sisters show how creative people can be at problem-solving.. Seconds anyone?

If you like twisted and a little bit dark humor, go see this film!!! I nearly laughed my intestines out! A must for true cineasts! Perhaps a little warning to people with weak stomachs is in place when the movie is a little bit flirtatious with cannibalism.