‘Cold Storage’ [REVIEW]: A Gory, Goofy Biohazard Blast That Knows Exactly What It Is

By Klep Napier | Wearecritix.com

There is something refreshing about a movie that understands the assignment.

Directed by Johnny Campbell, known for his work on Netflix’s Dracula and episodes of Westworld, Cold Storage takes a simple premise and runs wild with it. Backed by Samuel Goldwyn Films and StudioCanal, this dark comedy military outbreak film delivers exactly what it promises: biohazard chaos, outrageous gore, and a whole lot of messy fun.

At its core, Cold Storage is a contained military biohazard outbreak story that leans heavily into horror-comedy territory. Think along the lines of The Return of the Living Dead with a modern polish.

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The film primarily unfolds in one location, a cold storage facility that becomes ground zero for an escalating outbreak. The cast is tight, the scale is intentionally small, and the energy is big. Very big.

This is not a prestige horror film trying to make a statement about society. It is colorful. It is over the top. It is extremely gory. And it is having an absolute blast.

The film stars Joe Keery, best known to many for Stranger Things, alongside Liam Neeson and Georgina Campbell. Liam Neeson brings a certain grounded presence to the film. While the story arguably does not require that level of gravitas, his inclusion elevates the material just enough to make you momentarily take things seriously. He plays the straight role perfectly, anchoring the absurdity without overpowering it.

But the real standout here is Joe Keery.

Keery continues to prove that he has range beyond his fan-favorite status. There is an unpredictability to his performance that makes him incredibly watchable. He leans into the chaos, embracing the film’s tone without winking at the audience. If you have seen his work outside of Stranger Things, you already know he is capable of going off the rails in the best way possible. Cold Storage gives him room to do exactly that.

What makes Cold Storage click is its confidence. It never tries to be smarter than it is. It never attempts to inflate itself into something deeper or more self-important. It knows it is silly. It knows it is messy. It knows it is ridiculous. And that is the point, The pacing moves quickly. You understand the stakes almost immediately. The movie gets in, delivers the chaos, and gets out. By the time the credits roll, you are not questioning your life choices. You are thinking, that was fun.

The practical gore effects are outrageous in the best possible way. Limbs fly. Blood sprays. The color palette pops. The film has style, and it embraces that style from start to finish.

Cold Storage is not trying to reinvent the outbreak genre. It is not chasing awards. It is here to entertain. If you are into gory, messy, zombie-adjacent horror with a dark comedic edge, this one is absolutely for you. It is compact, energetic, and unapologetically ridiculous.

And sometimes, that is exactly what the genre needs.

Cold Storage is now playing in theaters. Grab your popcorn, bring your love for over-the-top horror, and check it out on the big screen this weekend. Let us know what you thought once you have seen it.