Directed by Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) and starring Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (Fresh), Twisters is one of the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the summer. Its 1996 predecessor Twister has gained cult status over the years, renowned for its excellent special effects, entertaining action and terrific performances from the likes of Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Many would argue that this story has been begging for a sequel for years, with Twisters being a long overdue sequel almost 30 years later. Twisters follow Kate Carter (Edgar Jones) as storm season intensifies, and she collides with reckless social-media superstar Tyler Owens (Powell). The pair and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in a fight for their lives. Adding in every ingredient needed to make a successful blockbuster, Twisters is a triumph. The performances shine, the visuals are jaw-dropping, the story is intriguing and the script is equal parts funny and frightening.
Due to fans’ adoration for Twister, it’s plain to see that Twisters has big shoes to fill and will fall victim to comparison regardless of its approach. The team behind the movie plays things smartly – it has an equal balance of standing well on its own two feet, whilst having fun nods to the original that compliment it perfectly. Steering clear of cameos and returning characters, Twisters introduces audiences to fresh blood, and it manages to avoid copying the story of the original by including its own themes and plot points. This means it doesn’t feel like a re-hash remake and it often doesn’t feel like a sequel, either – it’s just a fun movie set in the same storm-chasing world as the original. By doing this, it avoids feeling unnecessary and steers clear of delivering the same tropes as legacy sequels tend to. Fans of Twister will certainly enjoy the callbacks, as it includes Wizard of Oz references aplenty (even Dorothy herself!), animals being sucked up into the sky, a developing romance between a bickering pair and groups of storm-chasers that are very different in personality. These are undeniably all the ingredients that made Twister a blast, and it’s fun to see Twisters pay homage to the original and include them too. However, by having its own cast and fresh ideas, it feels different enough to enjoy them side by side. It modernizes things slightly by including newer technologies and social media streaming, which feels very timely and fits seamlessly into the narrative. The approach taken here feels perfect for both old fans and new.
Glen Powell, after his breakout performance in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and following it up with Anyone But You (2023) and recent release Hit Man (2023), has been the topic of conversation for quite some time. Many would even go as far as pegging him the modern movie star. His performance in Twisters definitely lives up to expectations, as he is the highlight of the cast. His character Tyler, similarly to that of Hangman in Maverick, is cheeky and cheerful, starting out as quite douchey and cocky until gradually peeling back the layers and revealing a softer side as the movie progresses. An internet famous self-proclaimed ‘tornado wrangler’, Powell plays every side of his character Tyler with ease. He is excellent at delivering comedy with bundles of charm and is equally good when the script requires a little more nuance and emotion from him. Starring opposite is Daisy Edgar-Jones who is a perfect match for talent. Kate is quite a complex character, navigating grief and anxiety after some tornado-chasing in her younger years goes horrifically wrong. Edgar-Jones delivers an incredibly emotional performance, and is so natural when allowing her character to gradually come out of her shell and get some of her spark back. The pair are believable at all times. The supporting cast is admirable, featuring so much young up-and-coming talent. Sasha Lane (American Honey), Kiernan Shipka (Longlegs), Anthony Ramos (In the Heights), Brandon Perea (Nope) and Superman-to-be David Corenswet are just a few names that bulk out the rest of the cast, and they’re all fantastic. Of course, this issue with having so much talent in one place is underutilization. Fans of the supporting actors and actresses may be let down by the lack of screen-time available for their favorites. The most notable victim of this is Katy O’Brian, who gave one of the year’s best performances earlier this year with Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding. She doesn’t get much to do here.
Twisters is a summer blockbuster, so the main thing it aims to deliver is fun. With action aplenty and bundles of charm and humor, it certainly achieves this. The characters are animated and adventurous, particularly Powell’s Tyler and his cronies, they’re always a joy whenever they’re on screen. There is loud music, bull-riding, car chases and oodles of energy that ensure every viewer has a great time. The humor injected into the script genuinely lands, and there’s a good amount of it which makes it feel natural. On the flip side of this, Twisters excels with its tense scenes, creating many a memorable edge-of-your-seat moment. The stakes are super high, lives are lost, and our well-developed and enjoyable characters are often in harm’s well. The storyline does well to balance the humor and light-heartedness with the weather-induced horror, allowing for a whirlwind of a ride as its title suggests. The script is also a lot deeper than expected, exploring grief, guilt and the danger caused by tornadoes with thought and care. There’s a real focus on helping those who suffer from the damages caused by tornadoes, losing their homes, possessions and often their loved ones. It also has a running theme of chasing things, whether that’s a storm, a girl or your lifelong dreams – it has a lot to say and it aces its messages, thoroughly exploring every idea it presents.
One thing that Twisters has to nail before it can even be considered as mildly successful is its visuals, and lucky, it exceeds expectations. The trailer and title suggest that the ante is upped from the original, and it remains true to that promise. Featuring twin tornadoes, EF5’s (the most violent tornadoes on Earth) and even a scorching fire tornado, it features a satisfying amount of nail-bitingly bad weather and looks great whilst doing so. The action sequences are shot very nicely, with the cinematography mimicking the fast-paced, dangerous nature of the scene perfectly. It also pays attention to the gorgeous country setting, applying focus to the beautiful green landscapes, often showing them in all their glory making for a visual treat. Another element that’s not to be underestimated is the sound, which makes the tornado sequences all the more sinister and scary. The whooshing wind and banging of the hail’s downfall are sometimes even more effective than the look of the twisters, and the team realizes this. Indicating when the tornado is close enough to pose a threat, the sound is expertly used. As far as sound design goes, the score and soundtrack is also admirable. There’s a large focus on music, with the original soundtrack featuring great tracks from the likes of Lainey Wilson, Conner Smith and Luke Combs. The country music matches the tone and the setting so well, making for such a cohesive and immersive watch that fully thrusts you into Oklahoma. Director Lee Isaac Chung showcased his craft with 2020 Oscar front-runner Minari, and he easily proves his talent could transfer from indie darling to big blockbusters. He employs his knack for visual story-telling, showcasing of setting and focusing on character study and perfectly places them into big-screen territory.
Twisters is a legacy sequel worth seeing at the theater. It entertains audiences with jaw-dropping action set pieces, a chemistry-induced budding romance, high stakes and toe-tapping country music. It also adds a lot of heart, emotion, important themes and resonant messages to ensure it leaves a lasting impression. It isn’t perfection, as it underutilizes a lot of the talent it employs resulting in flimsy supporting characters, but for the most part, it’s a fun, thrilling adventure perfect for summer.
