Cold Storage (MA) – 99 minutes

Strap yourselves in for a wild ride in this darkly comedic science-fiction zombie movie.

The set up comes in the wake of Skylab (America’s first space station) falling out of orbit in 1979.

Most debris on board burnt up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, but some did not, notably a tank containing a parasitic fungus.

It crashed into the remote Western Australian outback, where it remained intact until 18 years ago.

Then, microscopic cracks enabled the hazardous organism to escape and multiply, causing a major incident in the small town where the tank was an attraction. 

The Pentagon dispatched experts into the field to contain the situation, which they believed they had, notwithstanding a further tragedy.

A single vial of the pathogen was transported by personnel in hazmat suits to a secure, underground, cold storage vault in a military base in Kansas.

The facility was subsequently decommissioned and the ground above it turned into private self-storage.

The manager is a shonky and overbearing boss named Griffin (Gavin Spokes).

Working nightshift are Travis “Teacake” Meacham (Joe Keery) and a newbie, young mum, Naomi Williams (Georgina Campbell).

Teacake begins hearing a repetitive beeping sound and when he and Naomi investigate, a deep dive uncovers the rapidly growing fungus.

As all hell breaks loose, the two, ageing former Pentagon bioterror operatives who were sent to remote WA all those years ago are called back into action.

They are Major Robert Quinn (Liam Neeson) and Colonel Trini Romano (Lesley Manville).

Adapted from his 2019 book of the same name, writer David Koepp (Jurassic Park), together with director Jonny Campbell have crafted a zany, but most enjoyable film.

In short, in an unlikely combination that works, science is crossed with the absurd and the outrageous. 

The result is at times dramatic, morphing into humorous splatter horror.

In the body of humans and animals, the parasitic organism quickly takes over the brain, resulting in the walking dead, before a lights out explosion.

Cold Storage is ridiculous fun.

As Major Quinn, Liam Neeson’s earnestness is weaponised and contrasted with the laid-back adventurism of Joe Keery as Teacake and Georgina Campbell as Naomi.

It is the latter pair that do much of the work here. Individually and collectively, they come across as personable, but clearly out of their depth. 

As usual, Neeson proves to be a safe pair of hands, but this time there is an edge to his he-man persona, while Lesley Manville leans nicely into her supportive role.

Gavin Spokes makes for a pompous, self-serving villain.

Also be on the lookout for a memorable turn by Vanessa Redgrave as an elderly, suicidal storage facility client.

With several bizarre scenes, there is an attractive energy about Cold Storage.

The off the wall script kept me involved and entertained throughout.

Rated MA, it scores a 7½ out of 10.