Joe Keery Cold Storage follows two night shift workers who race to stop a deadly fungus from wreaking havoc in a remote storage facility. Released after a two-year delay, the film blends horror and comedy while highlighting Keery’s playful performance amid a cast that includes Georgina Campbell and Liam Neeson.
A Horror Comedy Rooted in Nostalgic B-Movie Style
Cold Storage is adapted from David Koepp’s 2019 debut novel and reflects his fondness for blending horror with lighthearted fun, akin to cult classics like Tremors from 1990. The story centers on Teacake, played by Joe Keery, a parolee working the overnight shift at a former military base converted into a storage warehouse. He teams up with Georgina Campbell’s Naomi, a bright but underemployed woman, as they confront a reawakened fungus that causes explosive and grotesque symptoms in its victims. The film manages to deliver some of the oddball humor promised by its premise, supported by an ensemble willing to embrace the absurdity.
Keery’s portrayal of Teacake is characterized by easygoing charm, although the character’s backstory lacks originality, preventing deeper engagement. Campbell’s Naomi injects vitality and intelligence into her role, contrasting with her late-night job, while Liam Neeson appears as Quinn, a bioterrorism expert with a gravelly voice who offers a grounded presence. Together with striking practical effects—such as exploding heads and projectile vomiting—they form the core appeal of this dark comedy, which nonetheless struggles to leave a lasting impression.
Plot Overview: From Space Debris to Storage Room Horror
The film begins 18 years prior with NASA consultant Dr. Hero Martins (Sosie Bacon) investigating deadly fungus discovered after a Skylab satellite crash in the Australian Outback. Joined by Quinn and his partner Trini (Lesley Manville), their probe reveals the fungus’s dangerous effects, including violent bodily ruptures. To contain the threat, the fungus is stored underground at a military base in Kansas.
Years later, the site has been repurposed as a storage warehouse, seemingly forgotten until Teacake and Naomi’s overnight shift. When a mysterious beeping noise leads them to a breach, the fungus escapes confinement, unleashing chaos. As the infection spreads, the two workers must navigate a hazardous environment while facing infected victims, including Naomi’s obnoxious boyfriend Mike (Aaron Heffernan) and their sleazy boss Griffin (Gavin Spokes), who is involved in illegal activities within the facility.
Direction and Visuals: Restraint Meets Gore
Jonny Campbell, known for his television work on Doctor Who and Westworld, returned to feature filmmaking with Cold Storage after a long hiatus since 2006’s Alien Autopsy. With most scenes confined to the warehouse’s interior, Campbell favors a straightforward approach, focusing on building tension largely through grotesque and unsettling imagery. The film effectively uses practical and CGI effects to depict the fungus’s horrific influence, especially showing it penetrating and decomposing its victims.
Despite these strengths, the pacing often feels slow, with an extended sequence where Teacake and Naomi painstakingly investigate the source of the disturbance. The script leaves much room for more dynamic direction, inviting comparisons to what Edgar Wright might have achieved with the material. Liam Neeson’s rescue efforts, alongside assistance from NASA operator Abigail (Ellora Torchia), add a procedural element as they attempt to contain the outbreak remotely.
Cast Performances and Supporting Characters
Joe Keery provides a laid-back, comedic energy as Teacake, though he is somewhat hampered by a conventional backstory. Georgina Campbell’s Naomi shines as a smart and resourceful co-worker, delivering a performance with more depth than the role initially suggests. Liam Neeson’s Quinn stands out as a seasoned specialist, bringing gravitas without seeming overburdened by the role. Other characters, such as Naomi’s irritating boyfriend Mike and their corrupt supervisor Griffin, serve as additional sources of tension within the facility.
Notably, the film features a brief, curious appearance from Oscar-winning British actress Vanessa Redgrave, whose small role feels unexpectedly minor given her stature. Ellora Torchia’s Abigail supports Neeson’s character by offering scientific expertise from NASA headquarters, contributing to the containment efforts during the crisis.
Final Act and Overall Impact
The film’s concluding act delivers its most energetic moments as the fungus steadily overruns the warehouse, with visually unsettling scenes that mix body horror and dark humor. Campbell’s direction makes efficient use of limited locations, while Koepp’s writing keeps the story moving toward a climax filled with gross-out comedy and suspense.
Cold Storage ultimately achieves a modest level of entertainment through its inventive premise and committed cast but falls short of evolving into the cult classic horror-comedy it evidently aims to be. Its restrained tone and protracted pacing limit its impact, leaving viewers wishing for a tighter script and more distinctive direction to elevate the experience.
With Joe Keery Cold Storage highlighting the actor’s comedic strengths amidst a scare-filled narrative, the film underscores Koepp’s niche of horror with humor, yet it remains a lightweight entry in the genre spectrum. Future projects from those involved will likely benefit from lessons learned here in balancing tension and levity more effectively.
