Review: Twisters – A storm in a teacup
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung
Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos
6/10
Twister certainly had its moment. The film caused quite a storm when it was released in 1996. In part, this was due to a phenomenal cast, a strong action director in Jan de Bont (Speed), and an aggressive advertising campaign highlighting the chemistry between the leads and the special effects.
However, although it’s remembered, it’s not a film that has left an indelible mark on the pop cultural zeitgeist. Yet thirty years later, we finally get a sequel in Twisters. The question is, can lightning strike twice?
Traumatised by a scientific expedition gone wrong, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) has moved far from ‘tornado alley’ to pursue her meteorological career. Years later, she’s approached by a fellow survivor of the tragedy (Anthony Ramos) with an improved plan to gather data on a tornado. Drawn back into the world of storm-chasing, she finds a chaotic cavalcade of characters led by YouTube celebrity (Glen Powell), all willing to pursue the wild weather for their own ends.
A spiritual sequel where the only legacy character is Dorothy (the probe from Twister) is an interesting choice, or would be if Twisters was anything better than a soft remake. Although Twisters has the veneer of a different plot and initially mixes up the character dynamics, it pretty rapidly falls into an ‘action beat by action beat’ remake of the 90s blockbuster. By comparison, it falters. Not because it’s bad or that the original is a masterpiece, but simply because it doesn’t do enough to justify the remake.
Which is not to say there’s nothing to recommend it in its own right. The opening action sequence is beautifully handled, hiding the threat of the tornado in the rain and making it seem like a stalking beast, effectively raising the tension. Lee Isaac Chung (who previously directed Minari) also manages to capture the romanticism for both the American rural heartland and scientific endeavour that the original had.
Finally, the chemistry between the leads is somewhat replicated. Daisy Edgar-Jones as the haunted Kate is solid, managing to serve as both action hero and romantic lead. Glen Powell steals the show as the redneck tornado wrangler, exuding roguish charm with every frame. Only Anthony Ramos is underserved by the film, as despite a number of face-heel and heel-face turns, he seems unengaged with the role.
At the end of the day, though, Twisters is a film that relies heavily on nostalgia for its draw power and brings little new to the table. It’s serviceable popcorn fare, but not enough to reignite that spark.
DAVID O’CONNELL