Twisters [Review]
Twisters’ storms impress on the big screen.
Twisters. Credit: Universal Pictures / Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment
Lee Isaac Chung’s Twisters is a stand-alone sequel to Twister (1996). The film, set in the same area as the original, features an all new cast of characters without any returning from the first. Originally written to take place around Los Angeles, Chung insisted on rewriting Twisters to shoot in Oklahoma for greater authenticity and to draw from his own experience growing up in that part of the country; he experienced his first tornado at four years old in Arkansas. Twisters is summer blockbuster fun, with thrilling, stand-out disaster sequences.
Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) quit storm chasing because of a traumatic experience from her college years. She escaped to New York and works for the Weather Service, severing all her connections to her past in tornado country, when her college friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) unexpectedly visits to try to recruit her for his cutting edge tornado research. In Oklahoma, they cross paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming but reckless storm chasing YouTube star, who throws a wrench in Kate an Javi’s plans as he competes with them to get closer to the tornadoes and questions Javi’s motives. When the storms intensify and create a series of disasters unprecedented in their frequency and proximity, Kate, Javi, and Tyler must reconcile their differences to survive.
Twisters. Credit: Universal Pictures / Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment
Twisters shines when it comes to its on-screen disasters. The movie makes some inspired choices in its action set pieces, particularly in one near the end of the film that blew me away. You need to watch Twisters on the big screen, and when you get to the film’s climax you’ll understand why.
After the power of Chung’s Oscar-nominated Minari, I was underwhelmed by the drama in Twisters. Performances were fine, but underserved by the script; the actors did their best with what was on the page. Admittedly, a summer blockbuster is far lighter fare, and for that it was fine. The supporting characters, particularly Owens’ crew that included Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding) and Sasha Lane (American Honey, How to Blow Up a Pipeline), were highlights, along with a very brief and funny appearance from Paul Scheer. I just wish that the screenplay gave them a little more to do; their appearances almost seem wasted.
Twisters. Credit: Universal Pictures / Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment
Watching the original Twister isn’t required to enjoy Twisters. Though I’d still probably recommend the original over the sequel, Twisters is solid summer movie fun in the theater. I was glad to see Lee Isaac Chung’s versatility as a director as he deftly handled action at this scale.
Twisters opened in theaters today, July 19.
