Cold Storage 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Cold Storage 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 20, 2026

Screenwriter David Koepp (“Jurassic Park,” “Spider-Man,” “Mission: Impossible”) takes on adaptation duties on “Cold Storage,” which is based on his 2019 book. Why Koepp isn’t directing the picture as well is a bit of a mystery, handing the reins over to television helmer Jonny Campbell, who’s attempting to make a horror comedy with the material, which involves a vicious fungal breakout at a storage facility, putting those new to such biological horrors and those familiar with the devastation on the hunt for a way to prevent any spread of the nightmare. “Cold Storage” (which was shot three years ago) tries to play the central idea of the feature as loosely as possible, but Koepp doesn’t aim for a rollicking viewing experience, electing to slow down trouble, leaving Campbell to handle gory encounters, which the film could use more of.

18 years ago, Dr. Hero (Sosie Bacon) is summoned to a remote area of Australia, asked to investigate a fallen piece of the space station Skylab. Recognizing a fungal irregularity, Dr. Hero shares her findings with her military escorts, Robert (Liam Neeson) and Trini (Leslie Manville), who lock up the evidence, relocating it to a Department of Defense research lab in Kansas. Today, the building is now a storage center, with Teacake (Joe Keery) and Naomi (Georgina Campbell) employees looking to stave off boredom as they deal with periodic customer visits, including Mary (Vanessa Redgrave). Hearing a sound coming from behind a wall, Teacake and Naomi decide to investigate, smashing their way into the bowels of the old DOD facility, coming into contact with something they don’t understand. The fungus has escaped its container, spreading to others, inspiring the employees to contact Robert, who makes his way from North Carolina to clean up the mess, working with military contact Abigail (Ellora Torchia) to gear up for another fight with a dangerous biological threat.

“Cold Storage” offers a prologue involving Dr. Hero’s trip to Australia, tasked with understanding a distress call emerging from a corner of the world. She’s joined by Robert and Trini, studying evidence of trouble as an oxygen tank containing alien fungus shows signs of escaping, killing off all the locals in horrible ways. It’s a lengthy sequence, setting up a dangerous situation and fallible military might, with the fungus transported to a Kansas mine for safekeeping, only to have the whole facility eventually sold, turned into an everyday business. “Cold Storage” eventually gets to the introduction of Teacake, who’s dealing with a terrible boss in Griffin (Gavin Spokes), while curious about new hire Naomi, looking to connect with her during an overnight shift at the storage facility. And Mary’s visit is a bit unusual, with the senior citizen preparing to take her life in a locker, only to choose a nap before ending it all.

“Cold Storage” does an acceptable job establishing numerous characters, also clarifying the history of the storage facility as time passes, allowing its secrets to be accessed by outsiders. Koepp has a decent starter pistol for suspense in the fungal mess to come, and there’s enough people getting involved in the story, including Naomi’s ex, Mike (Aaron Heffernan), who shows up with a particular pet emergency. However, “Cold Storage” doesn’t wind itself up into a frenzy, remaining surprisingly low-key as Teacake and Naomi begin to find their way into the depths of the mine, keeping up banter that’s meant to add personal histories and develop their bond, but there’s not much electricity between the characters, and the helmer doesn’t make lengthy scenes of exploration exciting enough. It’s an unexpectedly talky picture, especially with Robert, who spends most of his screen time discussing the situation with Abigail during his trip to Kansas.

Cold Storage 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps do not fully reflect final product.

The image presentation (2.35:1 aspect ratio) on the "Cold Storage" UHD release provides an SDR viewing experience. Detail is strong throughout, exploring defined skin particulars on healthy characters and rotting ones, with CGI additions easy to spot. Costuming delivers fibrousness, ranging from heavier biohazard gear to casual wear. Interiors around the storage facility are dimensional, preserving the bigness of the location. Exteriors are limited but maintain depth. Colors are active, with green fungus spread distinct, along with orange uniforms on the storage facility employees. Colder concrete hues are maintained, balanced with warmer domestic environments. Blacks are deep, preserving evening action and low-lit investigations. Brighter lighting doesn't fare as well, delivering a blown-out appearance that could possibly be intentional. Compression issues are periodic, with banding visible. Brief moments of posterization are found as well.

Cold Storage 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides clear dialogue exchanges, handling performance choices and surges of panic comfortably. Scoring provides crisp instrumentation and dramatic support. Soundtrack selections maintain sharp vocals, though these additions sound a little underpowered, competing with defined sound effects. This could be an inherent choice. Surrounds are pleasingly active, following separation and panning effects as characters move around the storage facility. Low-end isn't too powerful, but some presence is felt with explosions and vehicle movement.

Cold Storage 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes (18:47, HD) offer a fly-on-the-wall look at the making of "Cold Storage." Cameras visit the set, examining the production process in motion, capturing cast and crew camaraderie, collaboration, and scene execution. There's also time spent with actors in the makeup chair.

• Image Gallery (10:22) collects BTS snaps.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:57, SD) is included

Cold Storage 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fungal horrors are present in "Cold Storage," and while the script plays with a few disastrous moments, Koepp saves most of the mess for the final act, which is loaded with splattery encounters involving strained quirky types, extending to Griffin, who returns to the storage facility to take care of some business. There are undeniable B-movie pleasures in watching the fungal emergency become a larger problem for all, teasing an update on zombie cinema. And little ideas, such as Manville as a pistol-packing bruiser, are fun. "Cold Storage" has sequences of proper hellraising and grisliness (CGI isn't rarely polished enough to sell grotesqueries), but there's just not enough of them to carry a somewhat dull viewing experience.