Twisters, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, cashes in on the wave of nostalgia, aiming to recapture the thrill of the original 1996 Twister. Set in Tornado Alley, Oklahoma, the film follows storm chaser Kate Carter, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones. Unlike traditional storm chasers, Kate isn't just interested in tracking tornadoes; she wants to wrangle them. Armed with a physics background and tornado ESP, Kate devises an innovative method to absorb a tornado's moisture and render it powerless. The film kicks off with an opening sequence where Kate's experiment tragically backfires, resulting in a devastating loss of lives.
Fast forward five years, and Kate has traded her storm-chasing gear for a desk job at the National Weather Service in New York. However, the call of the storm brings her back to the Great Plains when Javi (Anthony Ramos), a fellow survivor from the initial tragedy, reappears with new technology and dubious backing from a company called Storm Par. Javi persuades Kate to return, and the action picks up as they, along with their team, prepare to face a once-in-a-generation storm.
Kate is carrying trauma with her from when her friends died for the majority of Twisters. The film places a lot of weight on that opening scene and sadly it doesn't work. Chung is not an experienced action director and it shows too often. This is especially true in that opening scene where the film fails to capture the fear of being in a tornado. We never feel the intensity of the event that Kate carries with her, making her
journey back to storm chasing emotionally empty.
The film introduces us to Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a "charismatic" yet insufferable YouTube sensation. Tyler's team isn't in it for the science; they seek fame and thrills, staging themselves directly in the path of tornadoes to capture dramatic footage. This draws from real-life storm chasers on social media, although Tyler's crew feels exaggerated compared to their real-world counterparts. His team all have roles to play in capturing the footage for YouTube but none of them have personalities.
One of the key elements of the original Twister was its balance of CGI and practical effects, creating a sense of real stakes. Director Jan de Bont assembled a memorable ensemble cast, which included future stars like Philip Seymour Hoffman. Bont was also a talented action director and knew how to create tension. Twisters attempts to replicate this with a new set of characters, including Brandon Perea as videographer Boone, Katy O’Brian as mechanic Dani, Sasha Lane as drone operator Lily, and David Corenswet as a corporate antagonist. While these characters are engaging, they lack the depth and camaraderie that made the original cast so memorable.
Chung's directorial style brings a more intimate and visually rich portrayal of Oklahoma's landscape, with Dan Mindel's cinematography capturing the vastness and beauty of the Great Plains. However, the script by Mark L. Smith, based on a story by Joseph Kosinski, falters with clichéd dialogue and a lack of originality. Lines like “You have a gift,” and “You don’t just face your fears, you ride ‘em,” feel trite and uninspired. Kate's tornado spidey-sense makes her almost like a superhero but the ways in which she "storm whispers" is dumb and visually only amounts to Edgar-Jones squinting. So the wheat blows in a different direction, it means nothing because the film never lets us in on the process of how she senses a storm. The film's attempt at incorporating modern issues like climate change feels superficial, missing an opportunity to add meaningful commentary.
The chemistry between the leads is another weak point. Unlike the original's Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, whose dynamic relationship added depth to the story, Edgar-Jones and Powell's interactions lack spark. Edgar-Jones, while talented, seems miscast in a role that doesn't fully utilize her abilities, resulting in a somewhat lackluster performance. Powell does better with his natural charisma and energy, but it's not enough to carry the film.
Twisters attempts to pay homage to its predecessor while introducing new elements to appeal to modern audiences. However, it falls short of capturing the magic of the original. Fans of disaster movies may find some enjoyment, but Twisters is too often dull and silly.
2/5
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