Cold Storage Drips With Extraterrestrial Slime And Retro Flair

I was initially drawn to Cold Storage because it shared the same title as a short story I’d written awhile back, a masterpiece if I may say so.  Sadly, Hollywood didn’t call to adapt it.  Their loss, but hey at least they still made a movie with the same name.  Picture Tremors from the 90’s, sprinkle in some alien goo, add a dash of government incompetence and voilà Cold Storage. The film stars Joe Keery as Teacake, a lovable ex-con trying to leave his past behind and Georgina Campbell a determined veterinary student with a knack for uncovering parasitic organisms.  Their chemistry is surprisingly delightful as they bicker, bond and dodge deadly space goo together.  Liam Neeson takes on the role as obligatory muscle with Leslie Manville as his action packed partner.  Moreover, I would be remiss to not mention Vanessa Redgrave’s cameo as the smart octogenarian with a gun.  In turn, reminding us all that age is just a number unless you’re counting parasite victims.  Cold Storage opens with a shocking desert scene evocative of Scream and shifts to a high-security underground facility where the alien parasite has been accurately chilling.  While the film excels in pacing and character chemistry, I found myself wishing for a deeper exploration of the parasite’s backstory.  Understanding its evolution, potential intelligence and sinister motives could have intensified the stakes and transformed a green blob into an existential nightmare.  All in all, Cold Storage is a humble homage to creature features but with better special effects and fewer mullets.