Banner image: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos, and Glen Powell in Twisters. Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures & Amblin Entertainment
Many of us have a deep nostalgia for the 1996 American monster movie, where the villain is none other than Mother Nature herself. Starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton as two almost-divorcees with unfinished business, Twister is essentially a rom-com with a disaster backdrop.
Hunt plays Dr. Jo Harding, a tornado-obsessed meteorologist leading a team of storm chasers in a deadly mission to create an advanced storm warning system. The team’s plan is to deploy ‘Dorothy’ – a device containing hundreds of small weather sensors – dangerously close to a tornado.
Jo’s estranged husband Bill (Paxton) used to chase storms, too, and actually came up with the idea for Dorothy. However, Jonas Miller (Cary Elwes), an arch-rival storm chaser who worked in the same meteorology lab as Jo and Bill, is quick to steal the idea for himself.
For Bill though, this is all in the past. He’s now a TV weatherman and, hoping to wed new fiancee Melissa (Jami Gertz), returns to Oklahoma with divorce papers for Jo to sign. But after she refuses and rushes off to chase a tornado, Bill and Melissa are left with no choice but to tag along…
As you might have guessed, it’s not long before a predictable-yet-awkward love triangle ensues, and Bill is sucked back into the thrilling world of storm chasing.
While Twister is far from a cinematography masterpiece, plenty will agree that it holds a fond place in their repertoire of classic films. It’s unrealistic, heart-stopping, goofy, exciting, romantic, and, at times, even funny. It’s a rollercoaster of a ride that captured hearts and brought meteorologists and storm chasing into the public imagination. So, it’s understandable that fans of the film, directed by Jan de Bont, could barely contain their excitement ahead of the release of the standalone sequel.
Twisters. Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures & Amblin Entertainment
This time, in 2024, director Lee Isaac Chung is in the driving seat, and we meet a new generation of Oklahoma’s enthusiastic young storm chasers. Ph.D students Kate (Daisy Edgar Jones), Javi (Anthony Ramos), Addy (Kiernan Shipka), Jeb (Daryl McCormack), and Praveen (Nik Dodani) are attempting to prove Kate’s theory on how to destabilize or “tame” a tornado when a traumatic incident changes the course of their lives forever.
Five years on, we catch up with Kate, who’s moved to New York to escape the harrowing events of the past. But, just like Bill in Twister, Kate can only stay away for so long. She’s soon lured back to the open plains by her old friend Javi. He’s testing a groundbreaking tornado scanning system and needs Kate’s instincts to get him as close to a tornado as possible. Though, like the first film, Javi, Kate, and the team aren’t in the field alone…
Enter Glen Powell as Tyler Owens, a YouTube storm chaser nicknamed, ‘The Tornado Wrangler’. Driven by clicks and notoriety, Owens’ team sells merchandise to fans, shoots fireworks into tornados, and takes unnecessary risks in a drive for more attention. Of course, Kate and Tyler are instantly weary of one another. At least, that’s what it seems until Tyler develops an overnight fondness for Kate, offering her the chance to finish the work she started back in college.
What follows next is a heart-stopping ride. You can expect even more tornadoes, flying bodies, and close calls than the 1996 original; and the tornado scenes are nothing short of spectacular. The Earth-shattering, spine tingling roar of the twisters, and scenes of luckless bystanders being ripped from their hiding places, will haunt you long after you leave the cinema.
Sasha Lane and Glen Powell in Twisters. Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures & Amblin Entertainment
We also quickly learn that when we think we know a tornado, we definitely don’t… Their unpredictability is showcased through an eclectic mix of twister personalities, including a gigantic EF6 tornado, a flaming tornado, and one with two spouts.
Edgar-Jones, probably best known for her role in Normal People and Where The Crawdads Sing, gives a decent yet somewhat unremarkable performance as Kate – and her US accent is often questionable. Meanwhile, Powell (Top Gun: Maverick and Hitman) is well-suited to the role of the charming yet reckless storm chasing cowboy even if, at times, his presence does feel superficial.
This is especially true in one rainy scene where Powell walks to his truck in a lingering, catwalk-style fashion, wearing the stereotypical tight, white t-shirt, blue jeans, and cowboy hat. At this point, there were a few wolf whistles from the audience, which, although fun, did add an element of silliness and plasticity to the film.
The relationship between Kate and Tyler is also a strange one. Their romantic potential seems to blossom from absolutely nowhere; and then builds at such a slow pace, it’s almost frustrating. Meanwhile, Javi and Kate’s relationship remains largely unexplored, despite their long history. The film misses an opportunity to delve deeper into their connection, leaving viewers to wonder about the nature of their bond and how it influences Kate’s decisions throughout the movie.
But, refreshingly, the romantic threads running through the film aren’t the central theme – letting the science and tornados really shine. That said, the idea that Kate could use chemicals (in a few barrels strapped to the back of her truck) to successfully make a tornado vanish felt far-fetched, even if the theoretical science was sound. Experts have also confirmed that the theory is firmly planted in science fiction, as, in reality, the sheer scale of the chemicals needed for this to work is inconceivable.
It’s this, along with the skin-deep relationships and the eight life-altering tornados experienced by the characters in a single week that leaves the plot gaping wide open.
While science and romance lovers may be left disappointed, those who thrive on explosive action and adventure scenes (or just love tornadoes!) may still be blown away. Tyler Owen’s famous tagline is, “If you feel it, chase it” – and a chase is one thing that’s guaranteed. In fact, I knew I’d been sucked in by the film’s blockbuster energy when my Garmin watch told me to relax. So, would I see Twisters again? For me and my inner storm chaser, the answer is undoubtedly yes!
Twisters is available in cinemas now.
Are you planning to watch Twisters? Or have you already seen it? If so, what do you think? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.