Movie Review - Cold Storage

Director: Jonny Campbell
Genre: Horror/ Comedy
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, Sosie Bacon, Liam Neeson, Vanessa Redgrave, Leslie Manville,
 
Description: When a highly dangerous fungus escapes from a secret laboratory, a former bioterrorism agent (Liam Neeson) is called back into action. Alongside two young employees (Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell), he must confront an invisible and out-of-control threat.
 
Review: With “Cold Storage”, director Jonny Campbell delivers a delightfully nostalgic yet spot-on genre blend that strikes a balance between gory body horror and deadpan comedy. The screenplay was written by David Koepp, who based it on his own novel of the same name. It doesn’t shine in terms of originality, but more than makes up for it with the pace and a healthy dose of self-aware humor.

The story starts simple and effectively: the young, somewhat laconic night guards Travis “Teacake” Meacham and Naomi Williams are expecting a dead-boring shift at a large-scale storage complex. What they don’t know, however, is that this complex was built right on top of a sealed-off, underground military base. Due to a sudden rise in temperature, a decades-old parasitic fungus escapes from its containment chamber. This microorganism multiplies at lightning speed, takes control of the human brain, and causes bodies to explode in spectacularly gruesome ways.

Two prevent the inevitable apocalypse, the two twenty-somethings are forced to team up with Robert Quinn, a seasoned and cynical former bioterrorism expert who tries to contain the situation. The film’s true strength lies in its outstanding cast. The chemistry between Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell practically jumps off the screen. They are the perfect level-headed counterparts to the chaos surrounding them.

But it’s Liam Neeson who steals the show portraying his familiar, tough persona with a delightful wink and deadpan comic timing. The visual effects and the over-the-top gore immediately bring to mind classic 1980 B-horror films, giving the movie a fun, tangible atmosphere that never gets too pretentious or terrifying. Still “Cold Storage” stumbles here and there.

“Cold Storage” is a slightly predictable yet extremely entertaining rollercoaster ride, that fully delivers on the promise of a wacky, bloody night at the movies. For fans of sci-fi and horror comedy, this film is definitely worth watching.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Review - Barbarian

Director: Zack Cregger
Genre: Horror/ Thiller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Drake
 
Description: A woman (Georgina Campbell) staying at an Airbnb discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems.

Review: What happens when you go to see a movie that is said to be so scary, it made people sick? You watch it do find out of it really is that scary. Most of the time, it’s not really as scary as they say is it. But “Barbarian” really is extremely creepy and disturbing. When seeing this, it’s best to know as little as possible, because this way it will shock you to the core.

Tess rents a house in an abandoned Detroit neighborhood, because she has an important job interview. When she arrives, it appears to be double-booked. A guy named Keith seems as surprised as she is, when he discovers they both booked the same house. There is not really anything else to find last-minute, since it’s the middle of the night, so Keith offers to sleep on the couch when Tess can take the bedroom. When Tess is in bed, her bedroom door suddenly opens and it seemingly gets harder and harder to trust Keith.

To give away more would be a shame, because the strength of the film is that you are in the dark about what will happen next. You have no idea what is coming, because you have no idea what’s going on.   
By putting Tess in an unfamiliar house with a stranger who is trying very hard to gain her trust, the unease quickly creeps in. That tension lingers and builds quietly.  Until very quickly it goes from second to fifth gear.

What eventually transpires is disturbing, but also sad. It creates mixed feelings, but that is clearly the intention of the creators. The evil in a horror film, in any form, is more beautiful when its not black and white.

“Barbarian” is a very creepy movie, at least on the first viewing. It would probably not be as scary when you’re watching it a second time. The acting is really strong, especially from Georgina Campbell. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of her in the future. “Barbarian” is one of the best horror movies I have seen in a while.

Rating: 4/ 5