Twisters is a 2024 action thriller disaster film directed by Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant). Produced by Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, the producers of the Jurassic, Bourne, and Indiana Jones series of films. It is a standalone sequel to the 1996 film Twister, written by the late Michael Crichton.
Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where the Crawdads Sing) stars as Kate Cooper, a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City. She is lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Golden Globe nominee Anthony Ramos, In the Heights) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell, Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You), the charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew, the more dangerous the better.
As storm season intensifies, terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed, and Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives.
Additional cast members include Brandon Perea (Nope), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Daryl McCormack (Peaky Blinders), Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Nik Dodani (Atypical). and Golden Globe winner Maura Tierney (Beautiful Boy).
Twisters made its debut in theaters July 19th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Back in 1996 notable actors Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton starred in the disaster thriller Twister, and it became an instant classic. I still remember seeing the movie in theaters and just thinking how absolutely crazy it was. I’ve seen it a number of times since then of course and it has always stood out to me as one of the better realistic disaster films. Plus all these years later it still holds up as an action-packed film that requires a big bucket of delicious popcorn. I always felt like Twister was in a league of its own so I never really expected another movie, but when Twisters was announced I was very much intrigued.
So, was my excitement for Twisters warranted? Let me just give you a resounding hell yes!! This movie was amazing in so many ways, from the impressively engaging story, great character development, and massively impressive visuals, this is what going to the movie theater is all about. I really loved the screenplay, I thought the characters were very well developed, and I just had so much damn fun while absolutely laughing my ass off. The technical elements are top-notch in every way imaginable, and you really should see this movie in a theater with the biggest screen and best sound possible, even if you have to drive an hour. It is worth it. Twisters is just one of those movies that I simply could not wait to recommend to people, and trust me when I say that of you have an appreciation for movies, you will fall in love with Twisters right away.
I knew Twisters would be a heck of an experience as far as visuals etc but I did not expect the story to hit as hard as it did. Mark L. Smith really accomplished something with this screenplay as he somehow found a way to make the story stand out amongst the mind-blowing action sequences that most viewers came to see. Smith put together a story that resonated with me immediately as he was able to construct a strong emotional element thanks to a life-altering opening sequence. The film centers around the character of Kate, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, and the ability to get audiences invested in her character right from the jump really is the backbone of the film.
I genuinely cared for Kate and I really wanted to see where life was going to take her next, and it is not easy developing a character to that extent so quickly. She just felt familiar to me, and this allowed the supporting cast the opportunity to make their mark as viewers were already sold on the films primary protagonist. I also loved how perception is tested in Twisters as well, and even though you feel like you know the type when you meet the charismatic and good-looking Tyler, played by Glen Powell, he is not as easy to read as you would initially think. Ultimately the film has an amazing message and as a viewer I felt fulfilled emotionally which was just the cherry on top after the incredible action sequences.
Glen Powell is a man on a damn mission I swear, ever since he took the world by surprise in Top Gun: Maverick he has been in damn near everything and has been nothing short of fantastic each time. This guy has enough on-screen charisma and personality to fill 10 movie theaters, and I am just loving the fact that he is doing so well and genuinely seems to enjoy his work as an actor.
I am a heterosexual male with a wife and kids but I am comfortable enough to admit that Powell is a damn good looking dude. As far as acting talent, charisma, and good looks are concerned he has found himself in the same conversation as Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling, and that is no easy feat. Twisters was great from the start, but when Powell is introduced it just gets that much better. Powell plays Tyler, a self-proclaimed “tornado wrangler” with a thriving YouTube channel that features his daring adventures as a storm chaser.
Starring alongside Powell is the absolutely gorgeous Daisy Edgar-Jones who I also thought was amazing in this film. Edgar-Jones plays the films primary protagonist named Kate, a massively talented storm chaser who is struggling after a traumatic incident involving close friends of hers. Although Twisters is clearly built around the amazing action sequences and incredible special effects, screenwriter Mark L. Smith crafted a really strong and dramatic story that works perfectly thanks to a very believable performance from Edgar-Jones.
Anthony Ramos is fantastic as Javi, a former friend and colleague from Kate’s past who convinces her to resume her calling as a storm chaser. I really like Ramos as an actor and I thought he was perfectly cast here and added a ton of value to the film thanks to his overall performance and chemistry with Edgar-Jones. Notable supporting cast members include Brandon Perea as Tyler’s sidekick who helps in providing the comic relief, Maura Tierney as Kate’s mom, Harry Hadden-Paton as a journalist from London tagging along with Tyler and his team, as well as great performances from Tyler’s other team members including Sasha Lane and Tunde Adebimpe.
From a technical standpoint Twisters is out-of-this-world as expected. The opening sequence had me pretty much holding my breath, and trust me when I say things barely slow down the rest of the film. The tornados look amazing and I was so mesmerized by what was happening on-screen that I swear I forgot I was watching a movie. Seriously, I was just so immersed in Twisters that the experience itself took over and that really is the exact reason why I go to the movies in the first place. Not once was I checking the time or wondering how close we were to the third act, Twisters just had me glued to the screen and I honestly didn’t want the movie to end.
The special effects really are as advertised, and I’m pretty sure my mouth was wide open for most of the film. The cowboy mentality that Tyler and his team bring to the film is just so much fun and just adds that adrenaline-junkie vibe so many people will be fascinated by. I mean I lived in Florida for a good chunk of my life so I have seen some pretty crazy storms, and people that have experienced them in person just understand that unique feeling of being there and feeling the mixture of fear and excitement. But literally driving into a massive tornado, that is another level of crazy. Twisters is just a blast and an experience you won’t soon forget. Also the score and soundtrack blew me away and compliments the action so perfectly. I have since added the soundtrack to my Prime Music playlist.
THE VERDICT
A perfect blend of intense edge-of-your-seat action and laugh-out-loud humor thanks to a fantastic cast led by charismatic actor Glen Powell, Twisters is an adrenaline fueled cinematic experience that reminds us why we go to the movie theater in the first place. The term white-knuckle comes to mind because I swear this movie took a few years off my life. Director Lee Isaac Chung’s vision matched with a powerful screenplay from Mark L. Smith made for an experience I won’t soon forget. I can’t wait to see Twisters in theaters again and I highly recommend you see it as soon as possible.
TED TAKES RATING - 8.7/10
Twisters is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.