There’s a storm brewing at the box office with the new disaster flick Twisters. Not only is this slick blockbuster chasing tornadoes, it’s also chasing after audience’s heartstrings — and the story (surprisingly) succeeds.
Nearly 30 years after Twister first stormed the box office, its fast-spinning spinoff Twisters has pulled off a surprising feat: it’s the rare popcorn-munching summer blockbuster that’s a genuinely and significantly better sequel than the first film was.
Loosely inspired by 1996’s Twister, this new chapter doesn’t follow any of the characters or plot lines from the original. Instead, it’s a new story about two rival groups of storm chasers in Oklahoma as a set of record-breaking tornadoes is ripping through the state.
One team is trying to capture scans of tornadoes, led by scientists Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Javi (Anthony Ramos), researching ways the storms might be stopped, but working for a startup with questionable motives. The other team, led by YouTube star Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), is making videos online, but also fundraising to help Tornado Alley victims.
When the whole ensemble comes together, that’s when Twisters starts spinning at full force. There’s some unrealized promise in the conflict between the rival storm chasing teams, but it’s no matter: the real story and heart is Kate trying to finish her research experiment to tangibly help people and keep them safe.
The morals of how to help innocent people is a strong underlying theme that’s given a balance of smarts from a great set of new characters. Better still, the script’s tone is never pandering or forceful, which is a great balance for this kind of special effects driven mega-movie.
Joseph Kosinski, best known for directing the massively successful Top Gun: Maverick two years ago, is credited for his work on the story of Twisters, and it’s interesting this is the second time he’s revived an old Hollywood favourite by making a stronger sequel.
Credit is due also to the detailed, earnest direction from Lee Isaac Chung (Oscar nominee Minari), and great work from screenwriter Mark L. Smith and charismatic, honest performances in the film’s lead trio of Edgar-Jones, Powell and Ramos.
All in all, there are a lot of parts in Twisters that could have spiralled out of control. Instead, strong efforts both in front of and behind the camera have led every aspect to fit together right. There’s not much here that’s groundbreaking, but the film is built on solid foundations and executed well.
There’s rightly strong criticism that Hollywood has become too dependent on sequels to sell tickets. Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad if more franchise films were as carefully made as Twisters, renewing hope that sometimes — like rival storm chasing teams — great things can happen when filmmakers and studios get along.
Twisters
8 out of 10
Rated PG, 2hrs 2mins. Disaster Western Drama.
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos.
