Twisters
James Brown
In Oklahoma’s verdant, tornado-prone landscape, “Twisters” swirls onto the screen with a vigor reminiscent of its 1996 predecessor, “Twister,” yet it boldly seeks to carve its own path through the stormy skies of cinematic legacy. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, “Twisters” pairs heart-pounding spectacle with an emotional core, though it doesn’t always find an equilibrium between them.
The film centers on Dr. Joanne Harding (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones), a stormchaser whose reserved demeanor belies a steely determination. She is a character of quiet intensity, driven by a complex blend of scientific curiosity and personal history. Harding’s partner in the meteorological mayhem is the charmingly rugged Ben (Glen Powell), a cowboy-like figure whose bravado adds a dash of humor and fun to the narrative. With his effortless charisma, Powell counters Edgar-Jones’s more restrained performance. However, the chemistry between them occasionally feels manufactured, a forced echo of the magnetic tension that defined Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton’s dynamic in the original.
Chung’s direction emphasizes the natural beauty and peril of the Oklahoma plains. His previous work, such as “Minari,” showcased his talent for blending human stories with the grandeur of nature, and “Twisters” benefits from this sensibility. The cinematography captures the ominous grace of the storms with sweeping, almost reverent shots that imbue the tornadoes with a kind of primordial majesty. However, while technically impressive, the film occasionally leans too heavily on CGI, which lacks the tactile realism that practical effects could have offered.
"Cinematography captures the ominous grace of the storms with sweeping, almost reverent shots that imbue the tornadoes with a kind of primordial majesty."
The narrative structure of ‘Twisters’ is familiar yet effective. The script, penned by Mark L. Smith, hits all the expected beats of a disaster film: the calm before the storm, the escalating danger, the climactic showdown between man and nature. Yet, in its quieter moments, ‘Twisters’ finds its true voice. A subplot involving a community grappling with the aftermath of a devastating storm allows the film to deeply explore themes of resilience and solidarity, grounding the high-octane action in a more human context.
Despite these strengths, “Twisters” is not without its flaws. The pacing could be more balanced, with the first act dragging before the narrative momentum builds. Some supporting characters, while competently acted, are given scant development, serving primarily as fodder for the film’s more dramatic sequences. The romantic subplot, though intended to provide emotional stakes, often feels shoehorned in, detracting from the more compelling storylines.
‘Twisters’ is a film caught between its desire to honor its predecessor and its ambition to forge a new path. It succeeds brilliantly in delivering visceral thrills and poignant moments, engaging the audience in a whirlwind of emotions. Though it sometimes stumbles under the weight of its expectations, it ultimately is a film about the unpredictability of nature and the human spirit’s enduring quest to understand and survive it. In this, ‘Twisters’ finds its heart, even as it navigates the stormy waters of franchise filmmaking.
Final Thought
"Twisters" delivers a captivating blend of heart-pounding spectacle and emotional depth.