Storage 24 - DVD

Movie: Actually, Charlie (Noel Clarke) and his best friend Mark (Colin O`Donoghue) just wanted to stop by the container storage facility Storage 24 to confront his ex-girlfriend Shelly (Antonia Campbell-Hughes). But all Shelly really wants to do is pack up her things as quickly as possible together with her friend Nikki (Laura Haddock) and the cheeky Chris (Jamie Thomas King) and then disappear from Chalie`s life for good. But before it can come to a real confrontation between the former lovers, a creepy being makes them there a proper thwart. Shortly before, a military transport plane crashed not far from the container warehouse and now the top-secret cargo is haunting Storage 24. And whoever gets in its way is in for a not really pleasant fate. Luckily Charlie is already really pissed off anyway and so he is only too happy to take up the fight against the deadly danger...

Storage 24 is quite a thrilling monster horror that lives especially from its oppressive atmosphere. The idea to let the whole thing take place in a sealed off container warehouse proves to be a real stroke of luck for the film, which dramaturgically has to struggle with rather flat dialogues and one-dimensionally drawn characters. Director Johannes Roberts (F - London High School Massacre) creates a decent amount of suspense using fairly simple means, which is mixed with some nice effects and a bit of humour to create a coherent whole.

Where the film suffers a little is the fact that the good initial idea is repeatedly thwarted by the long dialogue scenes between the only marginally likeable characters. Since the unnecessarily complicated story about Charlie, Shelly and Nick in the end is of little importance to the actual plot, but takes up a not insignificant part of the just 84 minutes running time, this of course comes at the expense of suspense. A little more alien action and use of the claustrophobic location would have really done the whole thing good.

But even if Roberts exploits his good idea only to a limited extent and actually only towards the end until the wonderfully trashy, but quite effective final shot really gets going, Storage 24 offers enough atmosphere, suspense and also enjoyable entertainment, to despite the dramaturgical hangs can still be called worth seeing. No masterpiece, but for a nice DVD evening this alien invasion is enough.

Picture + Sound: The action in the container warehouse takes place mainly in the gloom. Nevertheless, the picture can convince with a decent overall sharpness and also in the dark sequences with decent contrasts and a coherent color scheme. The sound is still rather restrained at the beginning, but then provides again and again with well-implemented sound effects for a decent use of the surround channels. Good!

Extras: As a bonus, the DVD features a very entertaining audio commentary by director Johannes Roberts and lead actor/screenwriter Noel Clarke. At some moments the two talk a bit wildly, but overall their conversation is very insightful and amusing. Commendably, optional subtitles are also available for the commentary.

The DVD also has a short making of (approx. 7 mins) to offer and allows the viewer to spend a day on set with Noel Clarke (approx. 5 mins) and Colin O`Donoghue (approx. 3 mins). Finally, there is a photo gallery. Good!

Conclusion: Storage 24 is an atmospheric monster horror, where especially the originally chosen and extremely atmospheric location consoles over some dramaturgical lengths and too hackneyed dialogues. Although the film could have done with a bit more biting humour and a touch more suspense and action, the small production is entertaining in any case. Technically, the DVD is well done, the bonus material is not stunning, but quite entertaining to watch. For this there is then overall despite some weak points still a decent: Worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp