‘Twisters’ – A fascinating film about the tornado disaster
“Twisters,” directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, is a thrilling disaster film that focuses on the terrifying power of tornadoes. The film follows Kate Cooper, portrayed by Daisy Edgar-Jones, a weather researcher based in New York City. Kate, once an avid storm chaser, becomes paralyzed with fear after witnessing a tornado take the life of her lover. She’s reluctantly drawn back into the world of storm chasing when her old friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) invites her to her hometown of Oklahoma to test out a new storm tracking system. There, she meets Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a social media personality famous for his viral storm chasing videos. Together, they are drawn into understanding natural phenomena and preventing further disasters.
While natural disaster movies are not new to Hollywood, “Twisters” stands out for its combination of scientific exploration and deep psychological character study. Over the course of its two-hour runtime, the film delves into the human loss and emotional turmoil left after the devastating tornadoes. Early in the film, the director shows her passion for studying natural phenomena and her uncanny ability to predict the path of storms. The surprising thing is that as the story unfolds, Kate’s psychological trauma is revealed. A failed experiment in stopping a tornado resulted in the deaths of several friends, including her lover, leaving her feeling guilty and withdrawn, observing the storms from the safety of of the computer screen.
Reuniting with Javi reignites Kate’s passion, though her enthusiasm is mixed with haunting memories. Back in Oklahoma, Kate’s team finds themselves in competition with Owens’ team, racing to reach the storm’s epicenter. When Kate realizes Javi and his associates are profiting from the tragedy of displaced residents, she becomes determined to try her storm intervention experiment again. The film weaves a message about human resilience in the face of nature, glorifying courage and solidarity. When faced with adversity, the characters do not retreat but instead unite to support each other. Notably, Owens’ team used the money earned from selling merchandise to fans to buy supplies and donate to tornado victims.
The acting of the three main characters is the main highlight. Critics have praised Daisy Edgar-Jones, known for her role in “Where The Crawdads Sing”, for her portrayal of Kate. The Hollywood Reporter praised Edgar-Jones for capturing the character’s intelligence and courage through subtle facial expressions. Variety commented: “Daisy Edgar-Jones is a rising star and has proven her talent. Her natural and realistic performance makes the audience believe in her character.”
Glen Powell effectively conveys Tyler’s recklessness and humor, with his charming smile and laid-back style winning over viewers. In a gripping scene where Tyler saves his teammate Lily (Sasha Lane) from an approaching tornado, Powell’s determination shines in his eyes. Meanwhile, Anthony Ramos brings sincerity to his role, his deep voice convincing Kate to return to her roots. Despite his limited screen time, Ramos still leaves a lasting impression of his character’s efforts to make amends.
With a budget of $200 million, not including marketing costs, “Twisters” boasts impressive technical prowess in depicting tornadoes. Sound plays an important role in creating a tense, suspenseful atmosphere, simulating the sounds of howling wind, lightning and shattering debris, immersing the viewer in the chaotic fury of nature. .
The film relied heavily on CGI effects, overseen by visual effects supervisor Ben Snow. However, director Lee Isaac Chung chose to incorporate many practical effects, shoot on location in Oklahoma, and reduce production time to just 60 days.
The film crew studied three major tornadoes that devastated parts of the United States, including the El Reno tornado in 2013, the Mayfield, Kentucky tornado in December 2021, and the Kansas tornado in 2023. To portray the tornado’s devastation, the film crew used various machines to create devastation sets, along with multiple wind machines and two jet planes to simulate storm scenes.
Many viewers believe that “Twisters” is a sequel to the 1996 classic “Twister,” starring Bill Paxton. ScreenRant clarifies, though, that the new film has a standalone plot while also paying homage to its predecessor through various elements, such as the tornado research device Dorothy from “Twister.” James Paxton, Bill Paxton’s son, also appears in the film.
The film has received positive reviews from the audience. “Twisters” follows the same formula as “Twister,” but the realistic storm chase scenes elevate Lee Isaac Chung’s film to a new level. The Telegraph praised the visual effects, noting that the real breakthrough lies in the film’s intense depiction of humanity’s struggle against extreme weather. Jordan Hoffman of Entertainment Weekly described the film as an easy watch that anyone can enjoy.
But the film is not without its flaws. The film’s script is criticized for being simple, predictable, with few surprising or suspenseful details, which can sometimes make some viewers feel bored. Another reason why the film was criticized was that the film’s outdated message made the content less attractive compared to other films of the same genre.
