Twisters
Before I went to Twisters (2024), I made sure to watch Twister (1996). I had never seen it before and considered it crucial research before taking in the sequel (I’m a serious amateur film critic here; they don’t just let anybody have a website). Despite being legitimately terrified of bad weather, I give this movie a 10 out of 10, would watch again. Between Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton, decent weather effects for the time, and just enough emotional heart to carry the story, it was a solid summer thriller. And I have to say, the sequel lived up to the challenge.
Twisters (2024) follows retired tornado-chaser “Kate” (Daisy Edgar-Jones) reluctantly returning to her native Oklahoma at the urging of her friend “Javi” (Anthony Ramos). But even with new technology and a new crew, all might not be as it seems as Kate fights to save her home.
Truth be told, in the slightest of spoilers, Twisters (2024) is a sequel to Twister (1996) in name only. There’s a plethora of perfect references, including a nod to the old machine, "Dorothy," but the majority of the cast and story are new. Same goal chasing tornadoes, but a different crew. I’d encourage y'all to rent Twister while it’s still on sale on Amazon Prime before seeing this new one to catch all the little throwbacks. And honestly, who doesn’t want some nostalgic summer fun anyway?
First off, Daisy Edgar-Jones as “Kate” is fantastic. She’s plays a woman haunted by past trauma well, shining particularly bright in the flashback scenes. The before and after of her character is realistically jarring and she sells it. Then, there’s Anthony Ramos as “Javi.” I was a fan of him in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and I’m a fan of him here. He’s solid next to Edgar-Jones as the friend who gets Kate back in action, trying to find his own way to deal with their shared trauma. Finally, there’s “Tyler Owens” played by Glen Powell. He’s introduced as a flashy, YouTubing “tornado wrangler” with catchphrases and t-shirts and Powell certainly captures that charm. But he’s also quite adept opposite Edgar-Jones in the more serious scenes, meeting the emotional moment.
I do want to give this movie props because not only did they include a number of nods to the original Twister, but they also shot on location in Oklahoma, same as the first film. There’s a richness to the cinematography as it beautifully captures the landscape of the state. Not to mention, the weight it brings to the tornado aftermath scenes because, in the back of your mind, you know you’ve seen this footage before on the news when another storm rips through Tornado Alley. The devastation, both emotional and physical, wrought by these storms is on full display here and integral to the plot.
The devastation, both emotional and physical, wrought by these storms is on full display here and integral to the plot.
Which brings me to Twisters’ tornadoes. The sound design has an atmospheric quality, ratcheting up the tension alongside the editing. To say that it feels like you’re “in the movie” is an understatement. The intensity of the storms is a ride (a wink to the film for when you go). Watching the old Twister must have been chaotic at the time (up to, and including, the cows). But the technology and effects for generating storms has come a long way since then and it really shows because the storms in Twisters are wildly, terrifyingly immersive.
As a final note, I write reviews because I love movies and I love movies in the theater and trust me when I tell you, you have to experience Twisters in theaters (disclaimer: I'm not even a little bit paid by Big Theater to tell you that). The final tornado scene alone was worth the price of admission.
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