Twisters Review
There’s no doubt the past few years have given audiences some shaky sequels to classic films. Beloved movies like Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, and Mad Max have all received the sequel film treatment with a range of response. So, when it was announced that 1996’s Twister was getting a new installment, there were some concerns about what a follow-up to the iconic disaster flick would be. However, with Twisters, Lee Isaac Chung has blown that all away with a heartfelt homage that confidently balances character, emotion, and the wild life of tornado chasing.
Twisters follows Kate Cooper, the survivor of a terrible tornado encounter, as she gets pulled back into the daring unknown by her friend Javi. However, she crosses paths with the internet-famous Tyler Owens, a star made popular from his tornado wrangling livestreams. With disaster season intensifying in Oklahoma, the two find themselves in a competition to see who can outdo the other all while living on the edge.
It goes without saying that the effects and practical action of Twisters undoubtedly go hand-in-hand. Each set piece intensifies itself ten-fold from the previous one and the tornado variations fire up (literally) the fear factor over and over again. While some may be wondering how scientifically accurate these situations might be, the film definitely knows how to up its ante while still playing into the humanity of itself. Plus, the vehicle-on-vehicle action adds a fun excitement to the ramblings of Twisters’s cast.
For those who might go in thinking that Twisters is all spectacle, this film certainly provides more than that. At its core, Twisters’s story about embracement, resilience, and morality adds these layers of complexity that were merely touched in the past. Kate was this daring scientist who was like Tyler, yet because of this incident and the failure from it, she wants to move on. However, she still wants to do the right thing to make up for that, but these corporate and “cowboy”-ing worlds tug her to determine what to do. As such, the film provides a compelling groundwork that drills itself deep only further because of its leads.
Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones showcase this with such strong performances that really humanizes their characters. Edgar-Jones brings this heavy conflict as Kate, who wants to do the right thing but is unable to let go of her trauma and can’t return that easily. When she does, she’s too afraid to fully commit to the dangers of the storm, when they do come. She perfectly bounces off Powell’s Tyler, who more easily embraces tornado-chasing from his on-field experience. Powell’s Top Gun: Maverick and Hit Man charisma is put to work and it really shows in the close scenes we get between the two, especially in Twisters’s second half.
Anthony Ramos’ Javi is very peculiar as he has these interesting shifts in personality. He still wants the best from his best friend Kate in addition to doing the right thing. However, the only way he knows how is through his upstart weather business, funded by the likes of a corrupt real estate developer. Javi’s gradual change in morality, spurred by his no-goody-two-shoes partner (played by David Corenswet) and Kate and Tyler’s growing bond, lended a hand in enhancing the film due to the editing. Every ending shot that puts Javi in the spotlight gives that “umph” that adds that needed suspense as to if he’ll make that change at all.
All of this is to say that Twisters’s thematic undertaking of “if you feel it, chase it” definitely works. Though some parts in its beginning felt slow and similar to the original, the film manages to drive this message in with the journeys of its main characters. Kate, Tyler, and Javi feel like real characters that sometimes struggle with embracing what they truly want. They all want to do the right thing for the people, they just take different paths in doing so. Whether it may be for-profit or for charity, these characters’ decisions never feel forced into the film for the sake of it. As such, Twisters committing to exploring this idea feels natural all the way through.
Twisters is undoubtedly this year’s summer blockbuster thanks to its complex characters, deep thematic exploration, and its awesome, high-flying action. Lee Isaac Chung has proven that he’s able to take an established property and enhance it with his direction and collaboration. It results in such a fun film that not only serves as a good homage to Steven Spielberg’s classic film, but an exciting showcase of what creativity can bring.
Twisters arrives in theaters July 19.
Rating
★★★★☆
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.