Shadows on the Wall | Cold Storage

Cold Storage

dir Jonny Campbell
scr David Koepp
prd Gavin Polone, David Koepp
with Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, Liam Neeson, Lesley Manville, Vanessa Redgrave, Ellora Torchia, Aaron Heffernan, Gavin Spokes, Richard Brake, Sosie Bacon, Rob Collins, Justin Salinger
release US 13.Feb.26,
UK 20.Feb.26
26/Italy StudioCanal 1h39

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With a blackly comical sensibility, this outbreak thriller is livened up by its wide range of conflicted characters, snappy dialog and outrageous freak-out situations. This is a thoroughly enjoyable white-knuckle ride packed with witty surprises, adapted from his own novel by top-tier screenwriter David Koepp. Director Jonny Campbell has a lot of fun with excessive grisliness. And the likeable cast dives fully into the increasingly riotous mayhem.

After officials store a deadly outer-space pathogen in Kansas, it's forgotten for decades, the entrance walled over. Now it's a public storage facility where night watchmen Travis (Keery) and Naomi (Campbell) hear a strange noise, break through the wall and discover something green and nasty. They must also deal with various distractions. Meanwhile, military expert Robert (Neeson) is alerted that the deadly fungus might be escaping, and sets out to contain it with the help of his old partner Trini (Manville). On the way to Kansas, they'll need to collect a key bit of equipment.

Wrinkles fill out the plot, including that Mrs Rooney (Redgrave) is in her storage unit oblivious to what's going on outside. Naomi's ex Mike (Heffernan) turns up with what her supposedly dead cat. And their boss (Spokes) brings a biker gang to buy stolen goods. Only Robert knows that this creeping moss is a threat to life on Earth. Of course, his superiors aren't taking him seriously, and his body isn't quite as robust as it used to be.

Each actor brings a terrific grounded quality to their role, amping up both laughs and scares. Keery and Campbell make a lively duo, accidental heroes thrown together in a mind-bending situation. Because it's so easy to identify with them, it's enjoyable to watch them rise to each insane challenge in their own way. Neeson and Manville skilfully play with the strain between youthful ambition and ageing reality in ways we don't often see on-screen. And it's pretty fabulous to have Redgrave on hand in an almost ridiculously random role.

Making things even more engaging, there are nicely subtle themes woven into the story, including a clever comment on the dangers of refusing to take action in a serious crisis like climate change. And there's a nice touch in the rank-and-file intelligence officer (Torchia) whose alert actions help save the day after her arrogant boss (Brake) dismisses the situation. Refreshingly, the film never preaches any of these ideas, because it's too busy keeping us wildly entertained.

themes, language, violence 3.Feb.26

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