Title – Twisters (2024) 

Director – Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) 

Cast – Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos, Maura Tierney, David Corenswet

Plot – Tornado chaser Tyler Owens (Powell) and energetic meteorologist Kate Cooper (Edgar-Jones) join forces with a collection of fellow adventurers to study and unlock the secrets of deadly tornados.  

“If you feel it, chase it”

Review by Eddie on 17/07/2024

Arriving almost 30 years since its forefather blew onto screens in 1996 to become one of the most popular disaster movies in cinematic history, while at the same time becoming itself one of this Summer seasons biggest unknowns, Twisters proves itself worthy of its long-gestating addition to the Twister name with a solidly entertaining throwback experience that is undeniably slight and throwaway as it goes about providing an old-school feeling blockbuster experience that is sure to please crowds expecting what is on offer here. 

Helmed intriguingly by Minari director Lee Isaac Chung, who goes from the small-scale to the very large-scale with this Steven Spielberg produced blockbuster that is based off a screenplay by Mark. L Smith and Top Gun: Maverick mastermind Joseph Kosinski, Twisters won’t be creating any long-standing legacy in the forthcoming years but considering the odds stacked against it to succeed this significantly budgeted popcorn flick is a surprisingly mid-tiered winner. 

Following a colourful collection of characters that includes future Clark Kent/Superman David Corenswet and the seems to be everywhere Anthony Ramos, Twisters builds itself around future Oscar winner Daisy Edgar-Jones as the traumatised meteorologist and storm chaser Kate Cooper and Glen Powell’s self-confessed tornado wrangler Tyler Owens as the two start a budding friendship/relationship in the midst of a huge storm season in the American state of Oklahoma, that is seeing a collection of tornados like the world has never seen. 

To call the story at the heart of Twisters mostly irrelevant and nonsensical would be an understatement but no one loved or recalls the 1996 original because of its story nuances or deep character development, rather flying cows and windy destruction and while there are no cows here (this time around fowls are the order of the day) this time around thanks to Edgar-Jones and Powell’s undeniable screen presence’s, Chung’s intent direction and some fantastic set-pieces, Twisters ensures that it’s a slightly above average Hollywood affair that never tries to do anything unnecessary along its way. 

There are some moments within the film that drag proceedings down, even at a brisk sub-two hour running time there are some more character focussed segments that don’t exactly grip while an extended portion of the film spent at Kate’s old family home starts to get a little irritating but there’s never too much quiet time before the next country music ditty or swirly wind arrives on the scene to ensure audience enjoyment is ticking along nicely as we sit back and enjoy our popcorn. 

Certainly not a film that would feel out of place in the 80’s and 90’s heydays of disaster action/thrillers, that saw mankind up against mother nature or seemingly impossible survival situations, Twisters is an old piece of Hollywood with a modern sheen and shine, giving us a solid new addition to this years blockbuster crop and adding to the Twister brand with sullying it. 

Final Say – 

It may not have all the ingredients that made the first film such a well-liked audience favourite but Twisters is a hugely enjoyable slice of blockbuster filmmaking that at the same time continues the cause of Edgar-Jones and Powell to become titans of Hollywood. 

3 chicken coups out of 5