This Delightfully Absurd Horror Comedy Pairs a 'Stranger Things' Alum With an Action Legend

Sometimes, we all just want to watch a movie that doesn't require much intellectual effort and doesn't claim to be a masterpiece, yet still faithfully fulfills its purpose as a film of its genre. And Cold Storage is exactly that.

This comedy horror, directed by Jonny Campbell and written by David Koepp, who wrote Jurassic Park and the first Spider-Man, is pure B-movie fare with a touch of nostalgia for the horror flicks of the 1990s.

What Is 'Cold Storage' About?

In 1979, an orbital station crashes in Australia. While most of the debris burned up or was disposed of, one fragment carrying an alien fungus survived. Decades later, a sample of the fungus ended up at a military base in Kansas, where it was placed in a special storage facility.

Nowadays, part of the base is rented out for individual storage units. One night, night-shift workers Travis and Naomi are suddenly confronted by the awakened fungus, which begins to spread rapidly.

The infection spreads to rats and deer, and then to a biker gang. Robert, a military man who encountered this before in the Australian outback, comes to the night shift workers' aid.

'Cold Storage' Is a Lighthearted Horror Comedy Starring Liam Neeson & Joe Keery

Joe Keery, forever etched in the hearts of Stranger Things audiences as Steve, plays a slightly confused yet charming young man who suddenly finds himself at the epicenter of a biological disaster.

Travis is the perfect guide for viewers of Cold Storage because he's not a hero, scientist, or special forces soldier – he's just a clerk trying to survive.

Liam Neeson, for his part, plays a weary soldier who has seen this kind of thing before and knows how to handle it. He delivers his character, the classic "very dangerous old man" he's played for decades, with a touch of self-irony and without unnecessary pathos.

'Cold Storage' Doesn't Try to Be a Masterpiece, but It Maintains a Perfect Pace

Screenwriter David Koepp, who wrote Jurassic Park and many other cult movies, seems to be phoning it in here – but his half-hearted effort is better than many modern horror flicks.

The plot moves briskly, and the slightly over ninety-minute running time keeps viewers entertained, the silly yet gripping scenes are memorable enough to discuss over dinner.

Director Jonny Campbell doesn't try to squeeze dramatic depth from the material – he simply makes a fun, fast-paced B movie that embraces its derivative nature.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Cold Storage'?

• Cold Storage has 76% from both critics and viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.4/10.

• On Letterboxd, Cold Storage scored 2.9/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Cold Storage'?

Cold Storage is currently playing in theaters.