HorRHIFFic 2026: ‘Cold Storage’ Review
Stars: Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, Liam Neeson, Rob Collins, Sosie Bacon, Lesley Manville, Gavin Spokes, Vanessa Redgrave | Written by David Koepp | Directed by Jonny Campbell
There’s something inherently entertaining about weaponised fungus. Maybe it’s the lingering cultural trauma of The Last of Us, maybe it’s just that mushrooms are already a bit suspicious. Either way, Cold Storage leans hard into the concept – delivering a splattery sci-fi horror-comedy that’s uneven but undeniably fun.
The setup is deliciously pulpy. A long-abandoned government facility, once housing a mutated-from-space fungal virus, has been converted into a self-storage unit. Because of course it has. Cue a temperature malfunction, a thawed-out pathogen, and night-shift workers Teacake (Joe Keery) and Naomi (Georgina Campbell) suddenly facing mushroom monsters that explode to spread infection. Yes, explode.
Director Johnny Campbell keeps things brisk, and while this isn’t an outright comedy, the script peppers in sharp one-liners and dry exchanges that stop the tone from tipping too far into grim, dark territory. Keery leans comfortably into his affable, slightly hapless charm (fans of Stranger Things will feel right at home), while Campbell brings grounded energy to the chaos. Their characters may be thinly sketched, but they’re likeable enough to carry us through the carnage.
Then there’s Liam Neeson. Neeson’s government-agent subplot – involving his attempts to reach the facility and contain the outbreak – feels almost like a separate film stitched in. It’s entertaining, and Neeson clearly enjoys blending his grizzled tough-guy persona with a wink of self-awareness, but the extended detours create a disjointed rhythm. His storyline works in isolation, yet feels oddly disconnected from the central siege narrative.
When the fungus hits, though, Cold Storage delivers the goods. Infected victims mutate in increasingly grotesque ways before detonating in splattery bursts of spores. Animals aren’t spared either – deer, rats, even a cat fall victim – and while the effects skew more cartoony than traumatic, there’s enough gooey body horror to satisfy genre fans. Think Evil Dead lo-fi horror rather than big-budget fear flick.
The downside? The CGI can look a touch ropey. It’s serviceable, but rarely convincing, and occasionally drifts into SyFy Channel territory. More problematic is the plot armour protecting our leads, given the sheer volume of airborne spores flying around, realism isn’t exactly the film’s strong suit.
Still, what Cold Storage does surprisingly well is balance goofiness with genuine threat. The fungal outbreak feels dangerous, even as characters crack jokes. It’s a tricky tonal marriage, but mostly successful.
Cold Storage isn’t top-tier horror-sci-fi, but it is a pulpy, fungus-fuelled romp – it might not always stick the landing, but remains an infectiously fun watch.
*** 3/5
Cold Storage screened at this year’s Romford Horror Film Festival.
