A fresh spin on creature horror with a comic edge
Joe Keery, best known for Stranger Things, heads into new genre territory with Cold Storage, a sci‑fi creature thriller that leans as much on dark humor as on body‑horror thrills. The film positions itself between gross‑out suspense and offbeat comedy, centering on a rapidly mutating, parasitic organism trapped beneath a former military site that begins to spread through a self‑storage facility. The result is a premise built to deliver jump scares and absurdity in equal measure — the kind of hybrid that often finds a devoted following long after its initial run.
The premise — danger beneath the storage units
Cold Storage follows two night shift attendants, Naomi (Georgina Campbell) and Travis, nicknamed Teacake (Joe Keery), who work at a self‑storage company situated on the grounds of an old U.S. military base. During an otherwise ordinary late shift, their investigation into a mysterious alarm sets off a chain of events that awakens a sealed parasitic fungus in the base’s lowest sublevel. As underground temperatures rise, the microorganism multiplies and mutates, becoming highly contagious and unleashing “brain‑controlling, body‑bursting” horror on everyone — human and otherwise.
What the exclusive sneak peek reveals
Collider’s exclusive preview zeroes in on a character moment that frames the film’s tone: Naomi and Teacake on an uneventful night, poking around the storage facility after a beeping alert. The clip shows the pair crawling through a wall to investigate, returning to the main area where a playful, flirtatious rapport surfaces — Teacake chides Naomi for pushing him past his comfort zone, they trade banter, and he reluctantly agrees to resume the search. That ordinary human chemistry is undercut by the looming threat they haven’t yet recognized, setting up the film’s mix of understated character beats and escalating, grotesque stakes.
Cast and creative team
- Joe Keery as Travis “Teacake” Meacham — leaning into a different kind of leading man for a creature piece.
- Georgina Campbell as Naomi Williams — bringing a grounded presence opposite Keery.
- Liam Neeson — a supporting role that lets him play to his action‑hero roots while exploring comedic beats.
- Supporting cast includes Sosie Bacon, Lesley Manville, and Vanessa Redgrave.
- Director: Jonny Campbell (known for work such as Informer).
- Screenplay: David Koepp, who adapted the script from his own novel; Koepp is also known for his work on franchise‑level thrillers.
- Producers include Gavin Polone.
This ensemble and creative lineup mixes veteran gravitas with younger genre talent, giving the material both bite and playful energy.
Why it could catch on as a cult favorite
Several factors point to Cold Storage’s potential to become a cult hit:
- Conceptual originality: Parasite‑style fungi that control minds and physically erupt from hosts hits a sweet spot for viewers who like their horror inventive and bodily.
- Tonal balance: The film’s blend of dark comedy with genuine creature mayhem can cultivate a niche audience that appreciates off‑kilter horror.
- Strong, eclectic cast: From Keery’s pop‑culture recognition to Neeson’s genre credibility and performances by celebrated character actors, the cast gives the film hooks for different fan communities.
- Proven genre pedigree behind the scenes: David Koepp’s adaptation of his own novel, combined with a director experienced in suspenseful storytelling, suggests attention to both scares and story.
These elements, combined with a memorable monster concept, create the kind of film that viewers talk about — and return to — long after theatrical runs end.
Release details and viewing information
Cold Storage received a limited theatrical release beginning February 13. The film runs approximately 99 minutes and is rated R. Collider premiered an exclusive sneak peek ahead of the film’s select cinema debut.
Bottom line
Cold Storage pairs everyday late‑night workaday characters with an increasingly deranged biohazard, threading wry humor through visceral set pieces. With a cast that spans rising stars and seasoned icons and a premise built to provoke both laughs and screams, the film looks positioned to attract a dedicated audience — the kind of cult following that thrives on repeat viewings and lively fan discussion.