When a dangerous parasitic fungus escapes from a long-sealed military facility beneath a storage complex, a small group must contain the outbreak before it spreads beyond control.
Directed by Jonny Campbell and written by David Koepp from his own novel, Cold Storage opens with a strong setup. The premise is engaging, though some of the exposition is a little repetitive in the opening. Koepp’s script has a few novel surprise sequences throughout, including infected people, rats, cats and deer. It’s sharp, with plenty of nods and references that never become tiresome.
The tone carries modern echoes of The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Lifeforce (1985), The Cabin in the Woods (2011), Slither (2006), and The Last of Us — pulpy creature horror with a knowing sense of fun. Laid-back Joe Keery and the grounded, excellent Georgina Campbell make likeable leads, while Liam Neeson adds gravitas as the veteran bioterror operative. The supporting cast are on top form: Smile’s Sosie Bacon appears, along with Lesley Manville — acclaimed for Phantom Thread and Mrs Harris Goes to Paris — and the legendary Vanessa Redgrave, to name a few. Richard Brake cameos as Wesley Jerabek, and leather-clad Justin Salinger is memorable.
What stands out most are the production values. The production design and on-location feel give the film weight, and even the tighter interior spaces feel convincingly claustrophobic rather than stage-bound. The subtle score by Mathieu Lamboley, along with a solid soundtrack including Blondie, complements the on-screen shenanigans, while cinematography by Tony Slater-Ling helps maintain the tension throughout.
The CGI is pretty good for the most part. There’s a strong contrast between the military and the storage workers.
Entertaining — a pulpy, modern B-movie with plenty of atmosphere and craft to make it worth a watch, with plenty of Campbell spore-creature chaos to elevate it even further. Destined for cult status…
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