By Matthew Moorcroft

Solid Recommendation

• Directed by Lee Isaac Chung
• Starring Daisey Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea
• PG-13

The belated sequel to the 1996 disaster B-movie classic – though sequel could be something a stretch considering how little it has to do with said prior installment – opens with, what else, a tornado sequence for the ages. An EF5 tornado appears and swallows up our lead and her team as they attempt to try and figure out a way to stop it, leaving our lead traumatized in it’s wake. It’s a very similar opening to the original film, but instead of leaving our protagonist with a fascination to chase, our protagonist is instead drawn to running away, going the opposite direction to wherever the twister wants to go. And that should be the right thing to do, of course, but sometimes the thrill of the chase is too much to ignore.

As old school as you can get even down to the “bickering turned sexy romance” at the center of it’s story, Twisters feels like the return of a bygone era of blockbusters even moreso then recent throwbacks like Top Gun: Maverick. While that film was still indebted to modern conventions – especially in regards to it’s action scenes – Twisters genuinely feels pulled out of the era in spite of itself. It’s characters are plucked from the 90s, giving out random slogans and easy to sell trailer fodder on constant basis (“We got twins! Twins!”). There is a corporate villain who openly doesn’t care about the people who get affected by said tornados and instead wants to profit from them. Both of our leads are quick witted and sexy, with that being one of the big draws of the picture. For those who bemoan the lack of variety in big studio pictures nowadays, Twisters with those throwbacks can feel like a breath of fresh air.

It certainly felt that way to me at least. Disaster movies have come and gone on multiple occasions, but there was once a time in the 90s where the expansion into CGI meant disaster films could come back in a way never before seen. And while that has mostly died off, the original Twister‘s impressive special effects have led it to stand the test of time in spite of it’s ludicrous script. The only way to really top it is improve on said script, and Twisters thankfully does that, redoubling it’s efforts on crafting a screenplay with likable leads and an emotional core to do most of the heavy lifting. None of it is particularly revolutionary, but it’s solid stuff and both Powell and Edgar-Jones, two up and comers with a ton to prove, are up for the challenge. Powell in particular in a born movie star here, being able to spout technobabble while remaining in “aw-shucks” country boy mode with ease while also managing to pull off the more stunt heavy sequences in the film’s second half.

This is still a disaster movie though, and for those who are just in the mood for some fun tornado nonsense will definitely get it. It’s far more focus on the aftermath and human cost then other films in it’s genre, which gives Twisters a topical edge in the era of climate change awareness. A mid-point rodeo storm sequence is a standout of tension building, ending a gutting climatic moment where our heroes survive simply through luck and determination rather then planning or quick thinking. While Lee Isaac Chung is mostly known for his humanistic dramas and the way he shoots gorgeous landscapes (which are definitely here), this does mean he is a perfect fit for the large scale destruction sequences while the stakes personal and small scale.

If it does have any clear obvious failing, it’s that with it’s throwback nature comes a level of predictability and stock, and while this isn’t a bad thing, it does mean Twisters is clearly uninterested in actually pushing the genre forward beyond simply being a great version of it. And it definitely is! It’s basically as perfect as this kind of film can get, warts and all, and Chung deserves most of the praise here for making sure everything clicks and feels tangible.

Will Twisters reignite the flames of a once thought underperforming genre? Hard to say, and it’s nature as a legacy sequel means this could also be the sign of people still more interested in IP then specific kinds of films. But nevertheless, Twisters is a great time and worth the money spent, and hopefully lets Hollywood know that there is a market for these kind of blockbusters again in our current day and age. Very good!