Fungicide (2002) (Blu-ray Review)
DIRECTED BY: Dave Wascavage
STARRING: Wes Miller, David Weldon, Mary Wascavage
RATED: UR/Region: O/1:33/1080P/NUMBER OF DISCS 1
AVAILABLE FROM Visual Vengeance
There are movies that carefully balance tone, realism, and artistic restraint. And then there’s Fungicide (2002), directed by Dave Wascavage, a movie that looked at the concept of killer mushrooms and said, “What if we made this as aggressively weird as humanly possible?”
Thankfully, nobody involved stopped to reconsider that idea.
Released on Blu-ray by Visual Vengeance, Fungicide is the kind of no-budget regional horror-comedy that feels less like a movie and more like a dare between friends that somehow escalated into a feature-length production. The plot revolves around mutated killer fungus attacking people, which already tells you exactly what kind of cinematic experience you’re signing up for. If you’re looking for elevated horror exploring grief through metaphorical trauma landscapes, this ain’t it, chief. This is a movie where evil mushrooms murder people while actors deliver dialogue with the energy of sleep-deprived theater kids trapped in a public access nightmare.
And honestly? It’s kind of wonderful.
The movie is absolutely drenched in early-2000s DIY horror charm. The effects are gloriously cheap, the acting swings wildly between earnest and hilariously over-the-top, and the entire thing feels fueled by caffeine, practical effects goo, and complete creative freedom. Fungicide knows exactly what it is and fully commits to the bit. There’s something deeply lovable about filmmakers going all-in on such an inherently ridiculous concept without a shred of irony poisoning the fun.
Sure, the movie is rough around the edges. Very rough. Sandpaper rough. But that’s part of the appeal. Movies like this feel handmade in the best possible way. Every awkward cut, every rubbery creature effect, every bizarre line delivery just adds to the strange little ecosystem the film creates. It’s impossible to confuse Fungicide with anything made in a corporate boardroom, and that alone gives it more personality than half the horror movies dumped onto streaming every week.
And then there’s the Blu-ray itself, which is peak Visual Vengeance
insanity.
Seriously, this label treats obscure shot-on-video oddities like they’re long-lost cinematic masterpieces discovered buried beneath the Vatican. The packaging is once again incredible, packed with reversible artwork, special features, and enough love to make physical media collectors start clearing shelf space immediately. Even better, this release actually comes with real seeds, which might genuinely be the first time I’ve ever seen a boutique Blu-ray label include gardening supplies as bonus content. That’s either brilliant marketing or the setup for the world’s dumbest ecological disaster.
Either way, I respect the commitment.
The extras are stacked too, including the RiffTrax version of the movie, which honestly feels like the perfect companion piece for something this gloriously chaotic. Watching comedians lovingly roast a movie about homicidal fungus somehow makes the entire experience even more endearing. It’s the cinematic equivalent of inviting friends over to laugh at a bizarre VHS tape you found in somebody’s garage.
And that’s ultimately why releases like this matter.
Fungicide isn’t “good” in the traditional sense. It’s messy, goofy, technically rough, and occasionally feels like it was edited during a sugar crash. But it’s also funny, memorable, sincere, and bursting with creativity. It’s exactly the kind of regional indie horror movie that would’ve completely vanished into obscurity without companies like Visual Vengeance
preserving it with absurd levels of care and enthusiasm.
Plus, any Blu-ray release that lets you watch a killer mushroom movie and potentially start a garden deserves at least a little admiration.
Extras
- Director-approved SD master from original tape elements
- New commentary from director Dave Wascavage and co-writer / co-prodcuer Mary Wascavage
- Archival commentary with Dave Wascavage, Mary Wascavage and David Weldon
- Commentary from Sam Panico of B&S About Movies and Bill Van Ryn of Drive-In Asylum
- Commentary from Schlock And Awe Films
- The full RIFFTRAX version of Fungicide
- Alternate opening credits
- Deleted Scene
- Outtakes
- Image Gallery
- Troubled Moon Trailer Reel
- Fungicide – Producer Trailer
- Fungicide – Visual Vengeance Trailer
- Visual Vengeance Trailers
- Reversible sleeve featuring original home video art
- Folded mini-poster
- ‘Stick Your Own’ VHS sticker set – FIRST PRESSING ONLY – WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
- Limited Edition O-Card – FIRST PRESSING ONLY – WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
- Limited Edition ‘Grow Your Own Killer Mushroom’ seed packet – FIRST PRESSING ONLY – WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
- Optional English subtitles
