Movie Review: “Twisters”

As we all know, remakes of movies are happening more and more often these days, and a majority of these remakes result in mixed reviews from long-time fans. “Twisters” seems to have broken this cycle when it came roaring into theaters to an overwhelmingly positive reception, even garnering the spot of number one movie in the U.S for a while.

How does a film with such a ridiculous plot attract so much attention? Well, it all started when a film by the name of “Twister” was released in 1996, instantly becoming a cult classic. The film eventually went on to become  one of the most popular disaster movies of all time.

The original film revolved around a group of storm chasers who tracked and gathered data on tornado storm cells in Oklahoma. “Twisters” is not technically a remake, though it could be considered a standalone sequel. This is because other than a few small details, there are not any major details that connect this film to its predecessor.

The few similarities found in the film simply build onto the original’s plot with just a few minor details that are difficult to notice. There are no character cameos or direct mentions of any events from the first film, but it is implied that the research conducted during the first film was successful and went on to be used by the protagonist of this film.

The plot of “Twisters” is roughly the same as the first. We follow a group of scientists and storm chasers attempting to gather data as they pursue and put themselves in the paths of several tornadoes across the state of Oklahoma. The crews now have high-tech gear fit for the 21st century.

Our main protagonist is Kate, portrayed by Daisy Edgar-Jones. Kate is a traumatized ex-storm chaser who once tried to “kill a tornado” with her group of storm chasers. She has since been living in New York, studying weather patterns to escape her past. At the start of the movie, she is recruited to go back to Oklahoma by her old friend named Javi — played by Anthony Ramos — who has a new method of gathering data on tornadoes.

The plot immediately begins to pick up, and audiences are  introduced to the main supporting actor, Glen Powell, who plays Tyler Owens. Owens is the face of a YouTube storm chasing group known as “The Tornado Wranglers.” Oh, Glen, how far you have come since your start in “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.”

Powell and Edgar-Jones both do a very good job throughout this film. The two actors bounce off each other well on screen, seem to have good chemistry when working together, and portray their roles believably.

One of the most noticeable successes of this film is how well the cinematography is — or seems. It is hard to tell what is CGI and what is actually on screen, which is a testament to how much CGI has improved since the first film.

More importantly, this film has a much more serious tone regarding the tornadoes. Each time we see a tornado, we are also shown how devastating it can be for the land and infrastructure surrounding the impact zone.

The first film tried to do the best it could, but it was limited by technology. This film takes the opportunity that proper CGI has given it to show viewers the massive impact that this type of natural disaster can cause to small and large communities alike.

Once again, the “Twister” franchise uses product placement from Dodge — now Ram — that allows our characters to press on through the harsh weather and destruction around them. This time, instead of a shiny brand new Dodge pickup truck, Powell's character Owen drives a beat-up Ram dually outfitted with all of the essential storm-chasing gear he may need to “wrangle” the tornadoes ahead. This is a much more convincing rig than the first film, which makes sense considering that the first film's protagonist was not expecting to chase tornadoes.  

There is only one major complaint that can be made about this film: The trailers. Although, this is a complaint that can be made about most modern films.

The trailers for “Twisters” really showcased every major event and all of the quotable material throughout the entire film. If you watched the trailer, nothing in the entire movie is likely to surprise you, which is disappointing, considering it had a great opportunity to be quotable and surprising if the trailer had been better edited.

Overall, “Twisters” is a great addition to the franchise, even if it is almost 30 late to the party. It makes for a perfect disaster flick, with lots of anticipation in the development of the characters while also having amazing scenes that showcase the brutality of nature. It is no wonder that this film has captivated audiences this summer.