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Twisters (2024)

A dramatic scene from the movie "Twisters" (2024), showing a chaotic moment inside a theater. Debris is scattered across the floor as a woman in worn clothes and fingerless gloves is suspended in mid-air, reaching out desperately to a man who is stretched out on the ground, attempting to grasp her hand. Other individuals are seen crawling for cover amid the destruction, with red theater seats and scattered popcorn creating a vivid contrast to the intense action.

Twenty-eight years after the original tornado-chasing adventure, Twisters roars back onto the scene with a vengeance. This time around, we follow Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a brilliant meteorologist haunted by a past twister encounter. Lured back to the storm-battered plains by her tech-whiz friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) to test a revolutionary tracking system, Kate finds herself face-to-face with the charismatic, social media-savvy storm chaser Tyler Owens (Glen Powell). As a monstrous storm system brews, both teams race to capture the ultimate data—and the biggest social media buzz—while outrunning nature’s fury.

Director Lee Isaac Chung, known for his poignant character studies like Minari, takes a sharp turn into blockbuster territory here. While the film undeniably delivers on the spectacle front, the characters and plot feel like retreads of familiar disaster movie tropes. The banter between Kate and Tyler is peppered with cheesy one-liners and a forced will-they-won’t-they romance that feels predictable from the get-go. You can’t help but compare it to the original’s Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, whose bickering brilliance crackled with genuine chemistry.

However, Twisters redeems itself with its jaw-dropping visuals. The special effects are truly top-notch, conjuring up twisters that are both terrifyingly realistic and breathtakingly beautiful. The slow-motion close-ups of the swirling debris and the use of colour to depict the storm’s intensity are particularly effective. The film also benefits from a pulse-pounding score that heightens the tension during the chase sequences. The editing is slick and fast-paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat, even if you can guess what’s coming next. 

Speaking of performances, Edgar-Jones struggles to fully inhabit Kate’s role. While she conveys the character’s intelligence, the emotional vulnerability that could have made Kate more relatable is missing. Powell, on the other hand, leans into Tyler’s bravado with gusto, delivering a performance that’s charming but lacks depth. The supporting cast, including the ever-reliable character actor David Corenswet as a rival storm chaser, is mostly wasted on underdeveloped roles.

Twisters is ultimately a popcorn flick, a movie designed to thrill rather than provoke. While the characters and story are forgettable, the film succeeds in delivering a visually stunning and exhilarating experience. If you’re looking for a no-brainer thrill ride with mind-blowing special effects, Twisters will definitely satisfy that craving. Just don’t expect to be swept away by anything deeper.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.