28 years after the original, Twisters picked up where the original left off.
Twisters, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, is an interesting film to say the least. A spiritual sequel to the 1996 classic Twister, this is not a continuation of the original storyline, but an updated version that takes time to honor the original as well as build its own legacy.
The film centers around a meteorologist named Kate, who experiences the raw power of an EF5 tornado during an experiment and struggles with survivor’s guilt and PTSD as she is encouraged to reenter storm chasing by a close friend. From here, she meets Tyler, a misfit storm chaser who lives on the wild side. From here, everyone is thrown into an adrenaline rush where powerful tornadoes are ravaging Oklahoma as they look to gather data to both track tornado data and possibly stop them.
One thing to note about the film, is that both Twister movies focus on a female lead, and both do a very underrated job of it. In a profession as male dominated as storm chasing, a film could’ve easily focused on Bill and Tyler from their respective films as the lead, but Jo and Kate lead both as an expert and nobody bats an eye. Another thing to note is the overarching themes of PTSD in both, as both leads lost someone important to them in a tornado that led them to the events of the film and how it looms over their lives. They create a strong emotional center and rely on their intellect to help save lives from tornadoes.
Something to understand with Twisters is that it tells a full story and it has fun as often as possible. While not perfect, it goes 100% into the 1990s action format but takes several liberties to distinguish itself as a modern film. There is a love story within that isn’t a love story, but plays it strong enough to let implications do their work. As Kate tries to accept her past and grow, she’s constantly put in situations that reflect what happened to her and shows why she should continue, which is a sign of great writing work in a film. The film also recognizes the past by referencing Dorothy from the first film, and several cameos for the more eagle-eyed viewers. The movie doesn’t outright make it one because it knows to stay focused on the titular weather phenomenon. This leads to the elephant in the room.
Though story and characters are the center of the film, the movie is aware that the audience is here for tornadoes. It does not disappoint. The tornadoes were AWESOME! Modernized effects and technology help the tornadoes to pop off the screen, and the build up to each tornado scene is enhanced by the amazing visuals. Just as important, the film also understands that tornadoes cause damage, and takes time to show the destruction it leaves behind as well as the lives affected. Storm enthusiasts will note the effort that was made to replicate EF5 damage, as well as the call back to a record-breaking tornado.
Twisters knows what it is: It’s a throwback action film that relishes in the past and its predecessor. It looks great, keeps the viewer’s attention, and has some of the most jaw-dropping effects in film this year. There will be a lot of comparisons to the original, and rightfully so, but it does enough to stand on its own and is wildly entertaining. As a fan of the original, nothing can replace it, but Twisters fills a void for tornado films and has a good time doing it. If you feel it… CHASE IT!!