Sometimes audiences need a horror film that is just as fun and exciting as it is disturbing. Director Jonny Campbell (Westworld, Dracula) and writer David Koepp (Jurassic World: Rebirth, Presence) deliver just that with their latest film, Cold Storage. The film is also an adaptation of Koepp’s 2019 novel of the same name. Years ago, the military locked a highly dangerous fungus deep underground in a storage facility that has since become a self-storage unit. When the fungus escapes, it’s up to two storage security employees and a retired bioterrorism agent to stop the spread and save the world.

Cold Storage begins by introducing the audience to SkyLab, a space station that holds hundreds of scientific experiments. In 1979, that lab crashed back down to Earth. One of those experiments that came crashing back to the planet involved a highly deadly fungus. It’s a rather tense, frightening start to the film that properly conveys to the audience just how dangerous this thing is and how quickly it can grow out of control. To avoid spread, it was locked away deep underground in a government bunker in Kansas. Years later, the government sold off the bunker and the facility was turned into self-storage units. Unfortunately for the two storage employees pulling the night shift, the security measures are failing and the fungus is making its way up to the surface. There are certainly some story beats that don’t seem to serve a purpose, but the main tale of the fungus and our heroes is a delight. The ensuing hijinks are hilarious, gruesome, and filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense.

While on the surface Cold Storage seems like just another fun horror film to make audiences laugh, it does manage to throw in a few deeper themes as well. The most apparent is government mismanagement. Every aspect of SkyLab and everything that lead the fungus to its escape attempt in Kansas can be directly blamed on the US government. The government created that lab in space to test things too dangerous to test on the ground. The government failed to find all the fallen pieces upon its initial crash landing. The government time and time again didn’t listen to those raising concerns about the fungus’s containment or even calling for help. It highlights how often the government fails its citizens, with the exception of a select few who are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to keep the country safe. Another theme presented in Cold Storage is how past mistakes do not define a person. Both of the storage employees have made mistakes in their younger days. These mistakes lead to them working a minimum-wage, night-shift job just to stay afloat. If one were to only look at their past, no one would think these two could do the right thing and potentially save the world. But they’re certainly going to try to prove the world wrong.

There are three standout performances in Cold Storage. First is horror fan-favorite actor Joe Keery (Stranger Things, Spree) as Travis. It’s impossible to not fall in love with this derpy, sweet, misguided man. Keery makes it clear Travis isn’t a bad guy, despite his criminal record, but he does have a problem saying no to others and sticking up for himself. He is the unlikeliest of heroes, which will have audiences rooting for him to stop the spread of the fungus. Georgina Campbell (Lovely Dark and Deep, Barbarian) plays the newest storage employee, Naomi. Naomi is the opposite of Travis in most ways. She’s driven, independent, and doesn’t let anyone else influence her decisions. Campbell is fantastic, conveying a well-adjusted woman who made some poor choices in her youth, but doesn’t let anything hold her back. Both Keery and Campbell have great chemistry and play off of each other quite well. Liam Neeson (Taken,The Naked Gun) plays retired bioterrorism agent, Robert Quinn. While Neeson is playing a rather serious character in Quinn, he still delivers plenty of humor amidst the biological terror. Audiences will also appreciate performances from Leslie Manville (Phantom Thread), Ellora Torchia (Midsommar), and Sosie Bacon (Smile).

This wouldn’t be a splatter horror comedy without some great effects. Cold Storage uses a combination of both practical and CGI visuals to bring the fungus and the carnage it creates to life. The practical effects are grotesque in the best way. Primarily used to show the effects on the human body when exposed to the fungus, the practical effects range from more typical wounds to intense decay and massive boils filled with blue and green ooze. Adding to the terror is some surprisingly well-done CGI. For the most part this is limited to the fungus itself, especially as it spreads, and the various non-human animals the fungus infects. These effects look better than some recent big-budget blockbusters and really help deliver the horror and laughs. Another great aspect of the film is the set and production design. Cold Storage almost entirely takes place within the storage facility. With its industrial, concrete appearance and labyrinthine corridors, this location makes for the perfect set to give the film a somewhat claustrophobic feel while also appearing drab so all the color comes from the fungus and the hideous orange uniforms Travis and Naomi wear for work.

Cold Storage is an outrageously fun splatter-horror comedy giving audiences laughs, frights, and copious amounts of ecological carnage. Koepp has made a name for himself as a fantastic storyteller with an impressive filmography while Jonny Campbell is primarily known for his work in TV. Together, they’ve created a thrilling film horror fans are sure to enjoy. Not only is it an interesting story, but it’s brought to the screen with expertly crafted CGI and practical effects. Along with the wonderful performances by Keery, Campbell, and Neeson, audiences are sure to be drawn into this dangerous, hilarious situation. Be sure to see Cold Storage in theaters Friday, February 13th.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10