Cold Storage: A Refreshing Genre Horror Comedy

While a large part of audiences are so focused on awards season and the Oscars, sometimes a good genre film makes for a nice distraction. Not taking itself too seriously and not trying to be anything more than it is, that is oftentimes enough to be successful. This is the case with Cold Storage, based on the book of the same name by famed screenwriter David Koepp (who also writes the script). It is simple, it gets to the point, and it’s out there, but not too out there as far as sci-fi horror comedies go. Instead of leaning on the silliness of its premise, putting the focus on the human element and banking on stars Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, and Liam Neeson, just to name a few, proved to be the right choice. Playing plenty flawed characters who are merely trying to survive, though the character development may not necessarily be there, their likeability and chemistry go a long way in making it work. Not without flaws, the cast help cover up most of them, making for a fun watch that, if anything, brings a decent number of laughs, tension, and brutality to the table. Not reinventing the wheel in terms of plot, the film makes the most of its sub 100-minute runtime, delivering a treat for genre film fans, but lacks much in the way of staying power.

Best not to think about it too much and to just let things happen, Cold Storage is centered around a dangerous and highly contagious green alien fungus that escapes from a sealed government facility under the nose of Travis (Keery) and Naomi (Campbell), two young employees working the night shift at a self storage facility. Locked away in a cold storage locker and lost in time by a US government that had essentially moved on, little did Travis and Naomi know, they were working above a believed to be decommissioned government research facility. A curiosity fueled by a mysterious beeping noise and sheer boredom, they set out to investigate what was going on. Victims of circumstance, they did not particularly like their jobs, nor their sleazebag boss, but they were characters with little options. While not the most familiar with one another before this fateful shift, the best part of the film was the arc of their relationship, as they got to know one another through their shared adversity. Going deeper and deeper, the pieces would start to come together, connecting to the opening where the fungus, and its abilities, were first introduced and how it eventually got to where it was. As audiences have a knowledge advantage over Travis and Naomi, there is an inherent tension in that fact that is heightened by how likeable they are, in spite of their flaws.

That being said, Travis and Naomi do deserve some credit. More than just fodder for the latest big bad, instead of driving the plot forward, the plot drove them forward. Meanwhile, they would not be alone in this endeavor, as their respective circumstances also played a part in the outcome. If only to remind audiences of the stakes, they all amount to window dressing with little impact, other than to shield Travis and Naomi against what was to come. As the fungus continued to propagate, the sheer insanity level continued to rise. From there, the story comes full circle as a major figure involved in the discovery of the fungus was called in to investigate the outbreak. Former bioterrorism agent Robert Quinn (Neeson), a man who has consistently voiced his concerns about the fungus that have gone largely unheard for decades (slipping in some not so subtle government bureaucracy commentary). Reuniting with long time partner Trini Romano (Lesley Manville), their different dynamic made for a fun diversion that the film failed to tap into nearly enough. However, the story is about Travis and Naomi but as far as Robert was concerned, he was ready for it all to be over. Over the course of a night that has not been easy for anyone, the climax was the epitome of this, where it was truly life or death. Finding tension in the predictable, audiences will be too busy rooting for the characters to notice. The only question left when all is set and done is whether or not it is really over?

Despite being set primarily in one location, the film keeps things moving at a strong pace. Between the clean self-storage facility, and its grim underbelly, there is more than enough going on as it straddles the line between too much and not enough. Boasting some decent VFX, the film is more about laughs and tension than all out brutality, doing a decent job at establishing the green fungus as a threat. Above all else, the best part of Cold Storage is its cast. From Keery and Campbell, to Neeson and Manville, they are all game. As the former pair carry much of the film, the latter pairing, in limited screen time, are just as entertaining. However, Keery and Campbell are the clear standouts. Depth of character aside, their charm and spectacular chemistry makes the film work at the end of the day.

Cold Storage is a fun sci-fi horror comedy that delivers all the genre thrills and laughs thanks to a short running time and strong cast.

still courtesy of DeVuono Releasing/Samuel Goldwyn Films

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.