Directed by Jonny Campbell and produced by STUDIOCANAL, Pariah (Gavin Polone) and David Koepp, who also authored the original novel, the project places MPC Paris at the very heart of the film’s technical and artistic craftsmanship.
A large-scale international collaboration
Cold Storage mobilized 431 people to deliver 541 VFX shots over an 18-month production period, driven by MPC teams. The technical scope is massive, encompassing set extensions, full CG environments, creatures, macroscopic sequences, explosions and large-scale destruction, as well as meticulous digital retouching of SFX makeup. This diversity engaged every department within the studio, leading to the development of numerous bespoke assets and technical solutions.
“Cold Storage was a true challenge because we covered the entire VFX spectrum, from invisible clean-ups to the total destruction of environments, including creatures and digital set extensions,” explains Co-VFX Supervisor Nikolas D’Andrade.
VFX supervision was orchestrated as a duo by Bastien Chauvet and Nikolas D’Andrade, supported by a production team led by Cyprien Andronikof, Fanny Bilani, and Alice Neichols.
The Fungus, a character in its own right
At the center of the plot, the Fungus serves as the primary visual element. Conceived as a true character, it required extensive organic research to appear credible and menacing without ever possessing a face. Its identity relies on precise work in textures, colors and animation to ensure clear visual readability, whether viewed at microscopic scale or during massive contamination sequences.
“The Fungus is the real star of the film. Everything rested on the animation and the visuals to give it a distinct personality, without ever becoming too over-the-top,” highlights Bastien Chauvet.
Global expertise, from lab to final delivery
Beyond the visual effects, MPC Paris handled the entire image post-production, managing an exceptional volume of conforms and multiple grading sessions through to final theatrical and video deliveries, including Dolby Vision masters. By providing an integrated Lab and VFX workflow, MPC Paris simplified exchanges between editorial and color management, ensuring optimal visual consistency and a streamlined process for all creative teams.
Throughout production, collaboration with STUDIOCANAL and the entire creative team was built on trust and constant communication. MPC warmly thanks STUDIOCANAL, Gavin Polone and David Koepp for their confidence, as well as all the artistic and technical teams whose talent brought this ambitious project to life.
About Cold Storage
STUDIOCANAL developed and fully financed Cold Storage, handling worldwide sales and theatrical distribution in the UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Benelux and Poland. Samuel Goldwyn Films acquired North American rights from STUDIOCANAL in 2025 and releases the film in US theatres on February 13.
Jonny Campbell directs the film, produced by Gavin Polone, and written by David Koepp, screenwriter of major box-office successes including Jurassic Park, Spider-Man and Mission: Impossible. The film stars Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) and Liam Neeson (Taken, Star Wars).
Teacake and Naomi, two young employees of a self-storage company built on the site of an old US military base, face their wildest night shift when a parasitic fungus escapes from the lowest sublevel of the facility, where it was sealed by the government decades earlier. As temperatures rise underground, the highly contagious microorganism multiplies and unleashes its terrors on the site’s inhabitants, human and otherwise. With time running out, the pair, helped by a hardened bioterror operative, must contain the rapidly mutating menace and prevent the explosive extinction of humankind.
About MPC Paris
For 40 years, MPC Paris has been a key player in Europe’s visual effects industry, supporting studios, directors and producers at every stage from early preparation to final delivery. With teams in Paris and Liège, the studio places creative collaboration, technical precision and production quality at the heart of its work. Recent projects include Emilia Perez, Under Paris, Dracula: A Love Tale, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and Anatomy of a Fall. MPC is part of TransPerfect, the world’s largest provider of language and AI solutions for global business. More information is available at www.mpcvfx.com.
About TransPerfect Media
TransPerfect Media elevates storytelling for audiences worldwide with media creation and globalization solutions delivered through a network of company-owned and operated studios in 21 countries. Its hybrid model combines advanced AI technology with creative expertise within a cloud-based content creation platform that enables streamlined localization and distribution. With high-level talent, Dolby Atmos and Dolby HDR projection capabilities, and services that include image and sound post-production, subtitling, dubbing, accessibility, voiceover, multi-platform delivery, preservation and restoration, TransPerfect Media brings boutique expertise together with global scale to help tell stories in any language. More information is available at www.transperfect.com/media.
