Twisters (2024)

Twisters (2024) is a true spectacle that invites audiences to revisit the thrilling world of tornado chasing, blending nostalgia with modern storytelling to create a blockbuster that doesn’t just roar with intense action, but also packs an emotional punch. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, whose delicate touch on family drama in Minari (2020) sets him apart in an industry of fast-paced genre filmmaking, Twisters is as much about characters overcoming personal tragedies as it is about facing nature’s most destructive force.

At its core, Twisters is a tale of redemption. The film introduces us to Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a scientist and storm-chaser who once lost two of her closest friends in a catastrophic tornado event. The emotional scars of that fateful chase continue to haunt her, prompting her to retreat from the storm-chasing world, opting for a quiet life in New York. It’s a bold opening that juxtaposes nature’s mercilessness with the internal emotional turmoil that shapes Kate’s character.

Enter Javi (Anthony Ramos), a former storm-chasing comrade turned tech entrepreneur, who lures Kate back into the storm-chasing fold with an ambitious new project. Javi’s enthusiasm contrasts sharply with Kate’s hesitance, setting up a compelling dynamic of push and pull between them. This is where Twisters excels—the film does a great job of building personal stakes around the action. While the high-octane tornado chases certainly keep the adrenaline flowing, it’s the interplay of Kate and Javi’s fractured yet deeply rooted friendship that anchors the narrative.

Glen Powell as Tyler, the charismatic storm-chaser who leads a team of daring chasers, adds another layer to the film’s emotional landscape. His crew is a mix of thrill-seekers and data-driven scientists, all with their own motivations for chasing danger. The team dynamic is refreshingly grounded, with Tyler’s upbeat, almost reckless energy creating a sharp contrast to Kate’s more measured and cautious approach. Powell’s undeniable charm, coupled with his chemistry with Edgar-Jones, brings an authenticity to the film’s core relationship. The on-screen romance between Tyler and Kate develops gradually, never feeling forced or overly romanticized—again, a mark of how Twisters prioritizes realism and emotional depth.

The film does an excellent job of balancing personal storylines with the grand spectacle of nature’s fury. A standout sequence occurs when a massive twister tears through an abandoned mall, sending debris flying and forcing the crew to take extreme risks in order to survive. But it’s not just the breathtaking visuals that stick with you. It’s the tension between human ingenuity and the natural world’s overpowering force. Each storm is an existential reminder that no matter how advanced our technology becomes, we are still at the mercy of forces beyond our control.

Chung’s direction of these sequences deserves particular praise. His ability to combine visceral disaster-action with quieter, more intimate moments elevates the film beyond typical disaster fare. The scenes of destruction—be it buildings being uprooted or vehicles caught in the tornado’s grasp—are jaw-dropping, but it’s the emotional aftermath that gives them weight. The focus on character vulnerability as the storm surges serves as a poignant reminder that nature’s chaos can mirror the chaos within ourselves.

The cinematography in Twisters is something to behold. The Oklahoma landscape, with its vast plains and open skies, serves as the perfect backdrop for the film’s storm-chasing narrative. The storms themselves are captured in all their destructive glory, the tornadoes twisting and tearing through the land with a sense of almost poetic inevitability. The tornadoes are a reflection of the characters’ internal battles, representing their fears and the trauma they are struggling to overcome. The feeling of helplessness in the face of something so powerful is palpable, yet there’s also a sense of awe that permeates every frame, evoking the same mix of dread and wonder that these storm-chasers experience.

Beyond the action, Twisters has an underlying theme of resilience. The film explores how each character processes their past differently. Kate’s attempt to control her environment by studying tornadoes is a way for her to reclaim some agency over a world that took so much from her. Javi, on the other hand, seeks redemption through innovation, building new tech that could revolutionize storm-chasing. Tyler, whose brashness could be seen as a defense mechanism, deals with the trauma of his past by diving headfirst into every chase.

However, Twisters isn’t perfect. While Powell’s dynamic performance is electric, Edgar-Jones, although solid, sometimes feels out of sync with the film’s faster pace. Her character’s more introspective moments can occasionally come across as stilted compared to the high energy of the storm-chasing scenes. Nevertheless, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise compelling narrative. The film’s true success lies in its ability to make the audience care deeply about the characters’ journeys, rather than just watching them survive tornadoes.

The film also touches on the broader themes of technology and humanity’s ongoing battle with nature. Kate’s idea to harness science to predict and even stop tornadoes is as ambitious as it is dangerous, and the film doesn’t shy away from asking the difficult question: Should we tamper with forces beyond our understanding? The dialogue on climate change is subtly woven in, not through overt preachiness, but in how the film explores the increasing intensity of the storms. This layer of ecological consciousness adds an intellectual depth to the film, making it more than just an action-packed spectacle.

As Twisters ramps up to its thrilling climax, the stakes become higher, and the emotional payoff feels earned. The film doesn’t rely on cheap thrills or simplistic resolutions. Instead, it offers a thoughtful exploration of trauma, redemption, and the need to face both the storms outside and within. The finale, a heart-stopping chase through an oncoming mega-storm, brings everything to a head, reminding us of the power of nature—and the human will to survive.

Twisters may not completely eclipse the original Twister, but it brings a fresh perspective to the genre, blending classic disaster thrills with deeper emotional storytelling. It’s a modern sequel that balances high-flying action with grounded human drama, making it a film that will leave you thinking long after the storm has passed.