Director Lee Isaac Chung was the last candidate I’d expect for a project like Twisters. On paper, the project doesn’t sound appealing: A legacy sequel that smells like a cash grab, with no original cast returning. A singular title turned plural. Where do you go with this “film series” after all the cows stop flying around? However, Twisters is more than what it sounds like on paper. Chung takes the heart and authenticity he’s brought from his previous projects like Minari and, in turn, creates a blockbuster with real feelings and emotions behind it. Twisters is all that and more.
Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, Twisters follows former storm chaser Kate Cooper (Edgar-Jones), who returns to Oklahoma years after a tragic miscalculation in a storm chase ended the lives of three of her closest friends. Dragged back into the world of storm chasing by fellow survivor Javi (Anthony Ramos), Kate meets a new group of viral sensation chasers led by Tyler Owens (Powell), the self-proclaimed ‘Tornado Wrangler.’ It’s a simple plot that’s elevated by some truly impeccable direction and acting, along with impressive visuals.
The chemistry between Edgar-Jones and Powell drives much of the main story, and the backdrop of a tornado outbreak only helps to elevate the tensions, especially with Kate’s past trauma. Chung takes the disaster premise of the first movie and uses it as a storytelling device to make Kate’s story and struggle feel so much more real and easy to empathize with. Much like previously successful legacy sequels such as Top Gun: Maverick (directed by Joseph Kosinski, who incidentally receives story credit here), the film doesn’t rely as much on what came before as it does on the strength of its lead characters.
Of course, there’s also the titular twisters that really blow viewers away. The film doesn’t waste time showcasing phenomenal visual effects, as the opening scene gives viewers an idea of what to expect from the monstrous force of nature on screen. Throughout the film, natural disasters are shown as both a malevolent force of nature and something beautiful when they are not on a path of destruction or just forming. Much like every other natural facet of the world, humans’ relationship with these natural occurrences is a mixed bag.
However, when the twisters do take victims, it is horrifying. Chung cleverly uses a screening of Frankenstein during a particularly intense scene to convey that the storm has a life of its own. Uncaring and unbiased in its destruction, the storms serve as a personification of Kate’s fears, trauma, and insecurity. It is all tied together perfectly by Chung’s determination to make the Oklahoma backdrop a character in and of itself, not dissimilar at all from his semi-autobiographical Minari, which itself took place in Arkansas, a neighboring state.
The backdrop of Twisters is far more important than it was in the original film, allowing the locale to showcase its identity. Whether it’s Kate’s upbringing, the killer country soundtrack, or the fans who follow Tyler’s Torando Wrangler outings, there’s a real sense of stakes whenever the twisters arrive because the locations they’re about to destroy actually feel lived-in. Kate and Tyler’s strong cultural ties only accentuate the impressive acting and make the characters incredibly likable.
READ: ‘Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle’ Review: “A Love Letter To Volleyball’
There’s also a celebration of science in Twisters, as both Kate and Tyler are meteorologists who are as much fascinated about the science behind tornadoes as there is in the thrill of chasing them. Glen Powell’s Tyler is more than just a charming adrenaline junkie. Chung plays with perspectives from different characters to transform how audiences perceive Tyler from the beginning to the end of the film. Powell nearly steals the film from the heroine, Kate, but the third act does enough to make her stand out more when it’s all said and done. Edgar-Jones has such playful energy about her character that you can root for her no matter what.
One complaint would be the stagnant development of Anthony Ramos’ character, Javi, a compelling character in the first half who only becomes part of the background by the second half. Ramos is a fantastic actor who deserves a more fleshed-out character. Lee Isaac Chung took everything that worked with the original film and managed to provide his own unique and personal take on the disaster movie. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell elevate their somewhat cliche romance, and the end result is a truly fun blockbuster movie. It’s nothing revelatory, but Twisters packs enough of a punch to hopefully take audiences by storm.
Leave a Comment