Review: Twisters

In 1996, a little movie about storm chasers touched down, creating a whirlwind of disaster movies. The original Twister was shocking, gripping, and ahead of its time. It was truly like something we’d never seen on screen before. But how do you bottle up the magic such an iconic movie created? Can it even be done?

I would not call Twisters a sequel, but I wouldn’t call it a remake. It samples ideas from the original, giving you a nostalgic feeling throughout, and weaves them into a new story fit for 2024. Like the first film, Twisters has two incredible leads whose on-screen chemistry is off the charts. Former storm chaser Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is still dealing with a tragedy that took the lives of 3 of her crew members when the only other survivor, Javi (Anthony Ramos), contacts her to help with a new storm tracking system. As Javi tries to bring Kate back into the chasing game, they clash with YouTube personality Tyler (Glen Powell) and his gang of “Tornado Wranglers.”

This film’s smartest move was not making Powell’s character a joke or the antagonist. Instead, he’s intelligent, quick-witted, and has a heart of gold. As the story begins, you almost think these YouTubers will be an annoying plot device that you can’t wait to get rid of. Thankfully, the rag-tag group wrangles your heart early on.

So, who is the antagonist? Well, it’s almost supposed to be a stuck-up tech guy who’s in it for the money, played by David Corenswet. He comes across as entitled and annoying but never poses a real threat to the story. We see the devastation that tornados bring, but because there is no outside threat from the natural disaster, Twisters lacks that connection to the people that the original had.

As I stated, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell have fantastic chemistry in this movie. There is an instant tension between the two characters that almost makes you say, “Should I be here right now? You guys need some alone time?” Unfortunately, there’s little payoff when it comes to romance, but it kind of works. There is not enough time for Kate to unpack her past trauma with Tyler to have an effective romantic story told. But, like, one kiss wouldn’t hurt, you know.

Between the chasing and the devastation, the visuals are stunning. As tensions amp up, what’s being seen on-screen has you on the edge of your seat. While seeing tornados form and even create a fire twister is cool, there are hardly any memorable moments within the scenes. And unfortunately, there are also no lines that resemble “Cow… ‘Nother Cow.”

Twisters has a great mix of action, suspense, and humor. It’s challenging to recreate a beloved movie that is just as exciting without seeming like it’s trying too hard. This movie is able to capture nostalgia while claiming its own path. The leads are fantastic and are surrounded by compelling side characters. There are stunning visuals and a nice touch of romance. Twisters could’ve benefited from a better antagonist, but for the most part, you could say it blew me away.