Joe Keery, along with co-stars Liam Neeson and Georgina Campbell, opened up about their experiences working on Cold Storage, a comedy horror film hitting theaters nationwide on Friday, February 13. In a recent interview with Tyler Treese from ComingSoon, the trio explored the film’s intriguing mix of humor and horror, while highlighting the complex characters involved in a story centered on fungal-based zombies.
Plot Unfolds in a Mysterious Military Base Storage Facility
The movie follows Teacake (Joe Keery) and Naomi (Georgina Campbell), two young employees working the night shift at a self-storage company located on the grounds of a former U.S. military base. Their routine night takes a dangerous turn when a parasitic fungus, once sealed away underground by the government decades ago, escapes and begins spreading rapidly as the temperature rises.
This contagious, fast-mutating microorganism takes control by infecting its hosts’ brains and bursting through their bodies, creating terrifying creatures that threaten everyone in the facility. With time running out, it falls to Teacake, Naomi, and a grizzled retired bioterrorism operative played by Liam Neeson, to stop this deadly menace before it causes catastrophic consequences.
Liam Neeson on David Koepp’s Captivating Storytelling
Liam Neeson praised the film’s writer, David Koepp, whose screenplay is based on his own novel. Koepp is well-known for hits like Jurassic Park and Spider-Man. Neeson emphasized that despite the fantastical elements, it is the human connections in the story that resonate most strongly.
“It always comes down to the human relationships, and they’re very easy to identify with. These incredible things can be happening in the story — fungus from outer space, whatever it is. Monsters, you name it. But he always comes back to the human relationships that are very identifiable with,”
Neeson said.
Joe Keery Discusses the Creation of Teacake’s Distinctive Character
Joe Keery explained how crafting the visual identity of his character, Teacake, was an essential part of his approach to the role. Sporting dyed blonde hair and a neck tattoo that reads “Howdy,” Teacake offers a unique and memorable impression that serves as an entry point to a more layered personality revealed throughout the film.
“I feel like I really wanted to paint a picture that would give you kind of one specific initial impression of the character that we could slowly subvert throughout the movie with the relationship that me and Georgina kind of have,”
Keery shared.
He went on to describe Teacake as
“a little weird onion that unfolds,”
where viewers gradually uncover different facets beneath the surface. This layered approach aims to create a character that feels relatable despite the bizarre circumstances.
When asked if Teacake’s blonde hair implied that blondes have more fun, Keery responded with humor,
“Yeah, I’m having so much more fun. It’s like Christmas, I’m like dressing up for Christmas or for something.”
He added lightheartedly,
“Yeah, here I am, go see the movie.”
Georgina Campbell Reflects on Balancing Humor and Horror
Georgina Campbell, who plays Naomi, emphasized how the film’s script allowed for both big stakes and comedic moments to coexist naturally, helping the actors embrace the film’s genre-blending tone. She mentioned that writer David Koepp’s script made the humorous and over-the-top scenes, like a deer riding an elevator or bizarre bodily situations, feel grounded in reality.
“Yes, there are big, high stakes, but to be able to have fun within it and enjoy these little moments. And it feels quite, as you said, human, it feels quite real that you would kind of end up laughing even though you wanna cry because everything that’s happening is so insane,”
Campbell said.
Liam Neeson Recounts Reuniting with Leslie Manville
Neeson reflected on collaborating again with Leslie Manville, an actress he considers a close friend since working together on Ordinary Love. Though the two films differ greatly in tone, Neeson expressed gratitude for reconnecting with Manville on a more lighthearted project.
“Leslie and I are dear friends, have been since we shot that film in Belfast eight years ago, I think. She’s a remarkable actress. It just seems effortless with Leslie Manville. Just effortless. I’ve seen her on stage too a couple of times, three times. She’s just one of those… She’s a great actress. She just is a delight,”
Neeson explained.
Joe Keery on Choosing Roles That Resonate Personally
Keery shared insight into how he selects his acting projects, emphasizing the importance of scripts with authentic human elements, even if the story is rooted in supernatural or horror genres. He appreciates characters and stories that feel real and inspire him personally.
“It’s like finding stories that have that little special kernel, ’cause not every script does. Things that are specific and things that inspire you in a way, or honestly, sometimes it’s when scripts remind me of people from my own life. That can be really inspiring to me as well,”
Keery said.
Behind the Scenes Moment: A Pep Talk From Liam Neeson
One notable scene features all three leads sharing the screen as they prepare to confront the fungal zombies. Liam Neeson’s character gives Naomi (Georgina Campbell) an encouraging pep talk while handing her a gun, a defining cinematic moment full of energy and tension.
Campbell described filming this scene as an exciting early experience on set.
“Oh, okay, you’re doing some good work now,”
she recalled her father’s impressed reaction when she mentioned acting alongside Neeson.
“It was great. It was amazing. It’s Liam Neeson, and I was saying earlier, I told my dad that I was doing a movie with Liam Neeson, and my dad was actually really impressed [laughs],”
she added.
Cold Storage’s Unique Appeal and What Audiences Can Expect
Cold Storage brings a fresh take on horror by combining terrifying creatures driven by a parasitic fungus with moments of levity and human connection. The performances of Joe Keery, Liam Neeson, and Georgina Campbell allow the film to balance intense suspense with heartfelt interactions, making it more than just a conventional monster movie.
As the film debuts in theaters, its blend of humor, horror, and character depth is poised to engage audiences seeking something that embraces both thrill and relatability. Fans of the genre and viewers new to these actors’ work will find moments that entertain and surprise, anchored in compelling portrayals and a sharp script.
