Directed By Lee Isaac Chung; Screenplay By Mark L. Smith; Story By Joseph Kosinski; Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, and Sasha Lane.
Twisters is a standalone sequel to the 1996 blockbuster hit Twister. Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos), to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. They soon cross paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler, and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.
I never had a personal attachment to the original Twister. I’ve seen it a couple times (including just a couple weeks ago). The movie as a whole just wasn’t my thing. I know it’s considered a cult classic. I know the film itself has its fans, but I’ve never been one of them. Although I’ve been to the special effects show that used to be at Universal Studios Florida, and I thought it was so much better.
Twisters is a standalone sequel to the 1996 blockbuster hit Twister. Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos), to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. They soon cross paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler, and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.
I never had a personal attachment to the original Twister. I’ve seen it a couple times (including just a couple weeks ago). The movie as a whole just wasn’t my thing. I know it’s considered a cult classic. I know the film itself has its fans, but I’ve never been one of them. Although I’ve been to the special effects show that used to be at Universal Studios Florida, and I thought it was so much better.
This movie is directed by Lee Isaac Chung, who previously delivered the 2020 Oscar-winning indie drama Minari. Whenever we see directors go from small scale films to big multimillion dollar VFX heavy tentpoles, the end results are usually pretty rough. M. Night Shyamalan had to learn that the hard way when he made both The Last Airbender and After Earth. Although to be fair, Chung also helmed an episode of the Disney+ Star Wars series, The Mandalorian. So he does have some experience in crafting big visual effects shots.
With Twisters, he takes a more grounded approach to the disaster genre. There’s not a whole lot of action sequences. But when we get them, he manages to pull them off. They may not always be as elaborate as they should be, but they still shine on the big screen. Dan Mindel’s cinematography also astonishes, even in shots where it's just lands in Oklahoma. Benjamin Wallfisch’s musical score perfectly complements the emotions felt throughout the film. The sound work is so incredible. Terilyn A. Shropshire’s editing keeps the whole thing moving at such a great pace.
One of my chief complaints with the original Twister was that I didn’t give a single sh*t about any of the characters. Despite Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton’s best efforts to inject some humanity into the proceedings, it still didn’t stick the landing for me. Yet from quite an effective opening sequence, I really cared for the main character of Kate as she went on her journey from NYC-based meteorologist to chasing storms in Oklahoma again. I was also invested in her dynamic with not only Javi, but also Tyler. That to me was a lot more interesting than Hunt and Paxton’s dynamic in the original where they were this estranged couple trying to finalize their divorce while chasing tornadoes.
Everyone in the cast gives very likable performances. Daisy Edgar-Jones makes for such a relatable leading lady as Kate. Glen Powell gives a charismatic turn as Tyler. Watching the two of them go from rival storm chasers to eventually teaming up is quite a highlight. Anthony Ramos is also good as Javi. Maura Tierney makes an appearance as Kate’s mom, Cathy Carter. She shares some very heartfelt scenes with Edgar-Jones. Of the side characters, they don't really have much to do. But I found Harry Hadden-Paton to be the most memorable as Ben, a British journalist profiling Tyler.
If you’re a fan of the original Twister, you’re gonna have a good time with this one. Although as someone who didn’t care for the original, I’ll admit that I actually had a good time with Twisters. This movie has better character work and more heart in addition to some exciting tornado sequences. Not to mention some decent comic relief. Are there parts that are flat out ridiculous? Yes, but they didn't compromise my enjoyment. Just as the original ushered in a new era of natural disaster films, maybe this one will do the same. If that happens, hopefully they'll take a lesson from Twisters (as well as 1998's Deep Impact) by putting characters more in the foreground as opposed to the background to the spectacle of it all.
Rating: 3.5/5
With Twisters, he takes a more grounded approach to the disaster genre. There’s not a whole lot of action sequences. But when we get them, he manages to pull them off. They may not always be as elaborate as they should be, but they still shine on the big screen. Dan Mindel’s cinematography also astonishes, even in shots where it's just lands in Oklahoma. Benjamin Wallfisch’s musical score perfectly complements the emotions felt throughout the film. The sound work is so incredible. Terilyn A. Shropshire’s editing keeps the whole thing moving at such a great pace.
One of my chief complaints with the original Twister was that I didn’t give a single sh*t about any of the characters. Despite Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton’s best efforts to inject some humanity into the proceedings, it still didn’t stick the landing for me. Yet from quite an effective opening sequence, I really cared for the main character of Kate as she went on her journey from NYC-based meteorologist to chasing storms in Oklahoma again. I was also invested in her dynamic with not only Javi, but also Tyler. That to me was a lot more interesting than Hunt and Paxton’s dynamic in the original where they were this estranged couple trying to finalize their divorce while chasing tornadoes.
Everyone in the cast gives very likable performances. Daisy Edgar-Jones makes for such a relatable leading lady as Kate. Glen Powell gives a charismatic turn as Tyler. Watching the two of them go from rival storm chasers to eventually teaming up is quite a highlight. Anthony Ramos is also good as Javi. Maura Tierney makes an appearance as Kate’s mom, Cathy Carter. She shares some very heartfelt scenes with Edgar-Jones. Of the side characters, they don't really have much to do. But I found Harry Hadden-Paton to be the most memorable as Ben, a British journalist profiling Tyler.
If you’re a fan of the original Twister, you’re gonna have a good time with this one. Although as someone who didn’t care for the original, I’ll admit that I actually had a good time with Twisters. This movie has better character work and more heart in addition to some exciting tornado sequences. Not to mention some decent comic relief. Are there parts that are flat out ridiculous? Yes, but they didn't compromise my enjoyment. Just as the original ushered in a new era of natural disaster films, maybe this one will do the same. If that happens, hopefully they'll take a lesson from Twisters (as well as 1998's Deep Impact) by putting characters more in the foreground as opposed to the background to the spectacle of it all.
Rating: 3.5/5