Cold Storage gives other comedy horrors a run for their money in 99 eccentric minutes, led by a witty Joe Keery and a fantastic Georgina Campbell.
Director: Johnny Campbell
Genre: Dark Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Body Horror
Run Time: 99′
Rated: R
U.S. & Canada Release: February 13, 2026
U.K. & Ireland Release: February 20, 2026
Where to Watch: Globally in theaters
Travis (Joe Keery, of Stranger Things) is about to have his first eventful day at his boring job as a floor worker at a secluded storage facility when he begins to hear a repetitive beeping noise behind the wall. Along with new co-worker Naomi (Georgina Campbell, of Barbarian), the pair set out to investigate where exactly the noise is coming from, which leads them to a ladder deep underground. Little do they know that this now seemingly innocent warehouse was once part of a US military operation that kept the most deadly substances known to man locked away.
And the worst of them all, a lethal green virus that can alter the brain until it makes you explode has found its way into the outside world, eager to spread to as many living organisms as it can.
Cold Storage is driven by great performances, with Keery being the standout of the film. It’s one of his best performances to date. Travis, also known as Teacake, a name he was reluctantly given by his friends, is a comical lead, aided by Naomi’s curiosity to get to know him. It helps that they’re both likable characters, each with ambiguous backstories that get unravelled slightly throughout the movie. The two bond almost immediately upon meeting, which is the most ideal outcome when a killer virus is merely metres away from entering their bloodstream.
Whilst it may be an implausible premise at first glance, writer David Koepp (also co-writer of Jurassic Park, and writer of Black Bag and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man) wanted Cold Storage to be founded on real life science. The bits of truth to the story are based on the 1979 Skylab debris falling to earth, which is mirrored in the opening of the film, and then sets the tone for the rest of the runtime. Koepp’s imagination links the idea of horror into the scenario: what if something deadly came back to earth along with the wreckage?
The film adds to the evergrowing universe of Liam Neeson (The Naked Gun) being stressed on the phone. Here, he’s ex-military and virus know-it-all Robert Quinn, who has limited screentime but an important supporting role. Twenty-something years before, he was part of an operation – the opening scene – that was kept secret from the rest of the world. Quinn still plays over the events of that very day in his head, frightened and scarred. But, most importantly, he’s just a call away if something similar were to happen again, to make sure as few people as possible are harmed (and boy, will they need him!).
Cold Storage is a black comedy at heart with elements of sci-fi simmered in throughout, and many justified jumpscares that are certain to have you on the edge of your seat. It manages to be both gory and funny, in the vein of its modern day predecessors like Freaky and Happy Death Day. You know there’s something to be scared of but you also know there’s something around the corner that will make you laugh. Be prepared for possessed animals and a whole bunch of carnage!
Cold Storage: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Two workers at a storage facility in the middle of nowhere are about to have their most eventful day ever when they realise a killer virus that has been brewing underneath them for the last 20 years has found its way out into the atmosphere.
Pros:
- Great performances across the board, especially Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell
- A perfectly cast film, including all of the ‘zombies’
- Perfect for someone who wants an unserious sci-fi movie
Cons:
- Sometimes can be a little too silly, especially in the special effect department
- Script could be expanded to reveal more about the main characters
Cold Storage will be released theatrically in in Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, China and Finland on January 29-30, 2026, and in select European and Latin American countries on February 5, and globally throughout February-April. The film will be out in U.S. and Canadian theaters on February 13, 2026 and in U.K. and Irish cinemas on February 20.