After sitting on the shelf for two years, Cold Storage finally arrives as a surprisingly watchable entry in the sci-fi horror comedy genre. Director Jonny Campbell adapts screenwriter David Koepp's own 2019 novel into a film that, while not groundbreaking, delivers enough retro charm and committed performances to justify its existence. The story centers on a mutating fungal organism from space that threatens to break free from its containment facility and transform humanity into biological weapons.
The film opens with a cheeky title card declaring, "Pay attention. This shit is real," immediately establishing its tongue-in-cheek tone. This sets up expectations for a wild ride that the movie only partially fulfills. While the humor doesn't always land with consistent impact, there are moments of genuine wit, including a throwaway pandemic-related joke that proves surprisingly effective despite the generally uneven comedic timing throughout the production.
Joe Keery, sporting bleached hair and a slacker attitude, headlines the cast as a facility worker who becomes an unlikely hero. His presence will undoubtedly attract Stranger Things fans, as the film blends '80s nostalgia with creeping dread, gory set pieces, and character-driven banter that echoes the beloved series' wavelength. However, Cold Storage feels less like a direct homage and more like a generic patchwork of familiar elements—comfort food that hasn't been fully seasoned.
The narrative kicks off with a clever historical hook: the 1979 crash of the Skylab space station. According to the film, while NASA believed they had recovered all debris, one oxygen tank remained overlooked in a remote Western Australian Outback town. Decades later, residents begin dying under mysterious circumstances, prompting a rapid response team of scientists to investigate. Sosie Bacon plays Dr. Hero Martins, a microbiologist who arrives on the scene alongside veteran NASA bioterrorism expert Robert Quinn, portrayed by Liam Neeson in a role that leverages his gravitas without demanding his usual action-hero intensity.
Georgina Campbell provides solid support as a key player in the containment effort, while Lesley Manville appears as Quinn's associate Trini Romano. The casting choices raise eyebrows when considering the minimal screen time afforded to acting royalty like Manville and Vanessa Redgrave, whose involvement remains one of the film's pleasant mysteries. Their distinctive talents add weight to even the briefest appearances, elevating material that might otherwise feel disposable.
Campbell's direction, particularly his experience with horror-humor hybrids from his work on the BBC-Netflix Dracula series, shows in the film's competent pacing and occasional playful scares. Koepp, adapting his own source material, knows the story intimately, which results in a screenplay that hits all the necessary beats without taking significant risks. The 99-minute runtime moves briskly, never lingering long enough to become boring, yet rarely pausing to develop its more interesting ideas.
The Australian Outback setting provides a visually striking backdrop for the containment facility, creating isolation and tension through geography alone. The fungal virus itself makes for an intriguing antagonist—constantly evolving and capable of turning infected hosts into explosive biological hazards. This concept generates some genuinely creative gore effects and suspense sequences, though the film occasionally pulls its punches when it should lean into the body horror more aggressively.
Where Cold Storage stumbles is in its inability to carve out a unique identity. The retro aesthetic, while appealing, feels borrowed rather than earned. The sci-fi elements sit comfortably in Koepp's established wheelhouse, but lack the innovation that made his earlier work memorable. The horror-comedy balance tilts unevenly, with some jokes feeling forced against the genuinely unsettling premise. The result is a film that's enjoyable in the moment but fades quickly from memory.
The cast's commitment cannot be faulted. Keery brings an everyman quality that grounds the absurd premise, while Neeson provides necessary authority without overshadowing his co-stars. The generational mix of established legends and rising talent creates interesting dynamics, even if the script doesn't always capitalize on these pairings. Bacon, in particular, makes the most of her substantial role, conveying scientific urgency without becoming a caricature.
For a film that faced a two-year delay, Cold Storage looks remarkably polished. The production design of the facility feels authentic, and the visual effects work effectively within the modest budget. The fungal mutations are rendered with enough detail to be disturbing without becoming cartoonish. The score reinforces the retro vibe without becoming intrusive.
Ultimately, Cold Storage occupies a middle ground in the genre spectrum. It's neither infectious enough to become a cult classic nor deadly enough to be dismissed entirely. The film delivers exactly what its premise promises: a competent, occasionally thrilling B-movie experience with better performances than it strictly requires. For viewers seeking undemanding entertainment with a sci-fi twist, it provides sufficient diversion. Those hoping for the next evolution in horror-comedy may find themselves wanting more.
The movie's greatest strength lies in its self-awareness. It knows it's not reinventing the wheel and doesn't pretend otherwise. This honesty, combined with the cast's professionalism and Campbell's steady direction, transforms what could have been a forgettable direct-to-streaming title into a respectable theatrical experience. Cold Storage may not linger in your memory for years, but it won't make you wish for those 99 minutes back either.