Cold Storage (2026) - Movie Review

You gotta see this.

What if I told you that the screenwriter responsible for 1996’s Mission Impossible and 2002’s Spider-Man just dropped the best horror comedy of the year?

Nah, no bullshit this time.

Let’s discuss.

Cold Storage is a 2025 horror/comedy brought to us by director Jonny Campbell and writer / Living Legend, David Koepp.

No, that’s not a typo.

There is only one writer on a Hollywood film!

Better yet, the absolute mad lad, David Koepp adapted his award-winning novel of the same name. A practice he perfected in the mid-90s, adapting massive hit novels like Michael Crichton’s 1994 epic, Jurassic Park. Koepp is one of those writers who is so talented that you think he was from a bygone era and passed away decades ago. Don’t think his name is familiar. Let me provide you with a few more highlights from his CV.

You would be hard-pressed to find a writer in Hollywood History with as diverse or successful a filmography as Koepp. He’s written in almost every genre to widespread success. Has he written some shitty movies? Sure, but to a much lesser extent. He is most famous for adaptations of other authors’ novels. Still, he shows his ingenuity and wit in adapting his hit novel without sacrificing any of its pacing, humor, or gruesome violence.

The film focuses on a shady self-storage facility that was built over a secret military facility. The military base itself is no secret, and the storage company purchased the land under the understanding that the base had been decommissioned and the three underground floors had been decontaminated. This was true, but the military neglected a few details. Mainly, the original facility had six subbasements, and those additional three floors were a prison for a horrific discovery the military made in decades past. When a broken sensor ignites the curiosity of the two employees working the overnight shift, they make it their mission to solve the mystery. They discover a hidden route into the labyrinthine catacombs and uncover the military’s dirty secret. A secret that is bursting to get out. What follows is a gory, violent, and hilarious romp. Will the workers make it to the end of their shift, or will they be consumed by our government’s dirty secrets? Find out in tonight’s feature, Cold Storage.

This movie is 1995’s Outbreak meets 2002’s Cabin Fever.

I can’t stress how perfect that comparison is. This movie brings incredible body horror gore, incredible action set pieces, and a huge amount of heart. The sharp, exposition-free script is a big part of the film’s success, but the small but mighty cast really make it shine.

Steve—ahem, I mean Joe Keery brings his over-the-top likeability and organic delivery to the leading role. I can’t lie, the only reason I watched Stranger Things through season three was that I wanted to see where they took Steve’s story. The ending of season three gave him a new outlook on life and a best friend in the incomparable Maya Hawke. So, it was the series finale for me. People used to give me shit for it, but after the series had its actual finale, most agree. Keery’s character here is a fantastic mix of the old 90’s loser with a heart of gold trope mixed with the all too relatable, millennial wageslave hopelessness. He’s also an actual dude, a guy, a bro. He’s not helpless, but he’s also not skilled. He’s just trying to make it through a really bad day at work.

I think it’s about time Georgina Campbell gets recognition as a modern scream queen.

Not only has she been working her ass off in the genre, taking physical and diverse roles. She has exclusively worked in horror since 2022. Has she done some shit? Yes, and recently, 2025’s Psycho Killer might end up being one of the worst horror movies in a generation. But, she also carried the incredible 2022 hit, Barbarian. Even in bad films, she’s unbelievably likable, and in good films—she glows. This is a good film, and she absolutely brings an anxiety-inducing energy to the role of our leading lady. Her chemistry with Joe Keery’s Teacake is palpable, awkward, and felt real.

Both actors have been saddled with roles in modern Netflix-style trash productions where exposition is put in place of story as an adaptation to the modern audience who prioritizes watching the social media feed over paying attention. However, this film is exposition-free, constantly moves the story forward, and doesn’t take breaks to let you catch up. You can really see a difference in the energy on screen. All the actors look like they are having a blast shooting this film, and from the behind-the-scenes stories I’ve read, they did.

The last thing I expected when sitting down for this film was a gun-wielding Vanessa Redgrave.

That’s right, she’s still alive. I was surprised too. The 89-year-old legend of the silver screen, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, is in this small horror comedy. Does she phone it in? Does she ever? She gives a beautifully emotional and equally hilarious portrayal of a woman experiencing grief at a level most of us will never understand. She relays thirty years of pain without saying a word in a twenty-second scene. It’s poignant, heartfelt, and an absolute masterclass in acting. There’s a reason she’s a legend, and she just keeps proving it again and again.

Oh, and Liam Neeson’s in this movie too.

I don’t know what I could say about Liam Neeson. He’s solid gold in every role, especially comedic roles. He’s the perfect dry, once-a-badass character actor. His biggest asset is his ability to be the biggest name on the poster without overshadowing his co-stars. His performance here has limited face-to-face interactions with the other characters, but the brief moments are absolutely hysterical.

The special effects are uneven, but the art design makes up for the obvious budgetary constraints. The practical effects are all impressive, especially the sculptural elements of the initial desert scene and the slime and mold that are omnipresent at the end of the feature. The work done by Igor Studios and MPC Paris melded perfectly, and they honestly defied my expectations for a lower-budget film, given the set pieces they attempted. When paired with the flawless original score by composer Mathieu Lamboley, it’s perfection.

You need to get a group of friends together, grab some snacks, drinks, and THC, and watch this one as soon as possible.

It’s currently in theaters and available for rent/purchase on digital.