“Twisters” Review: A Bold Recreation That’ll Blow You Out Of Your Seat!

Before the 2000s, the world was absolutely crazy about disaster movies. Almost every other year, we’d have a film about earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, meteors, and, yes, twisters. One of those films was “Twister” back in 1996, a disaster thriller film that made a massive splash in theatres. But over time, with the rise of superhero films in a post-Mayan-Calendar-believer world, the genre understandably fell out of favour. Which is why people sort of rolled their eyes when the trailer for “Twisters” (plural, this time) debuted during the Super Bowl telecast and then in theatres shortly after.

I, for one, was a part of this group, thinking that disaster films don’t really have a place in this day and age. However, my opinion shifted after sitting through the film. It was a genuine thrill ride with impressive CGI that made the natural disaster far more terrifying, yet all the more exciting. But those are my opinions; the question is, will this disaster film rise up and become a perfect storm to rival its predecessor, or will it just be blown away?

The film opens up with a small group of five high school students chasing a tornado. Though they aren’t entirely stupid or have a death wish, Kate Cooper (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones) is a brilliant child who has invented a way to “choke” tornadoes out, stopping the natural disaster in its tracks before it causes any serious harm. Four members of the group, including Kate, chase the tornado in the hopes of shutting it down, but things take a turn for the worse, and Kate becomes the sole survivor of the expedition.

Five years later, Kate comes into contact with the last remaining member of her group, Javi (played by Anthony Ramos), who offers her the opportunity to test a groundbreaking new tracking system that could help them gather valuable information about twisters. With a few convincing words and a possible chance at redemption, Kate takes the opportunity and heads to Oklahoma during its peak storm season. There, they run into Tyler Owens (played by Glen Powell), a charming but impulsive social media celebrity who loves to share his storm-chasing exploits on social media. As storm season intensifies, the two groups fight for their lives as the storms become more violent and unpredictable with each passing day.

Twisters is an exciting ride from start to finish. The opening sequences alone give us an interesting look at who Kate really is and how the massive tragedy severely affected her and her relationships. The intro takes its time with the cast, and though we don’t get to know them for long, we feel the bond and connection the group already has amongst each other. Then, as the tension slowly ramps up and things go awry, we feel the suspense and the inevitable loss the survivors feel, which is utterly terrifying. 

The film has an interesting mix of comedy and suspense, with hints of romance on the side, transforming it into a cohesive combination of genres that is surprisingly satisfying rather than confusing. This break in between climaxes through the use of comedy, romance, and even emotional sequences made me genuinely hooked on the film; there was no instance of me feeling that a specific scene was overstaying its welcome.

What further enhanced my viewing experience was the CGI. Yes, I am a sucker for good special effects and even CGI, but you cannot deny the fact that the VFX artists handling this project did not shed their blood, sweat, and tears for nothing. From the twister itself to the debris it was tossing about, it was simply flawless (but as expected).

But one thing I didn’t expect was the music and sound design that were made and chosen for this film. Sure, most of the time, you’d hear Tyler blasting his country music from his truck so loudly that it would make any redneck in a theatre stand up and sing the US national anthem, but if you pay attention to the quieter moments of the film, you can catch some amazing instrumentals. One such example would be the soft piano that swells into a crescendo in the background as Kate reads the wind speed and direction with a dandelion. Or the melancholic song that plays when they are visiting a decimated city.

Though these destructive forces are grandiose and take most of the screen time, the script also focuses on and talks about the toll the disasters take on the people and communities that they pass through. Though it’s all just for show, there are several moments where we feel true empathy for the people affected by hurricanes in real life. There are also a few moments where the film actively talks about facing your fears and fighting back against one’s trauma – none of which feels too preachy or out of place.

This message is further explained by the main trio of Kate, Tyler, and Javi, who each have their own trauma and are finding their own ways of coping with it. They are excellent characters throughout the film, especially when it’s just two members of the cast, but it does get awkward when the third one shows up. But they aren’t really the most dynamic trio to hit the cinema; there was not much character development save for Kate, who, in the plainest terms, simply overcomes her trauma and not much else.

Thankfully, despite the uneven gender distribution, you can rest easy knowing that there’s no cheesy or half-hearted love triangle in the film. The script sticks to the fact that these two different groups are fighting over tornadoes, not a girl. 

If I had anything to nitpick about the film, I’d say that the kills were very predictable. In the opening sequence alone, I was already guessing who was going to die and in which order, and unsurprisingly, I got the majority of my answers right. Nameless shop owner? Dead. Stupid couple trying to outsmart the protagonists? Dead. Common sense amongst the background characters is long gone; hence, natural selection thrives in this film.

And though I praise the CGI of the film, there are some instances where I questioned the plausibility of some scenes. I’m not an expert, but I do find it hard to believe that you can withstand a passing hurricane by holding onto some exposed piping found at the bottom of a swimming pool. There are several parts in the film where you just have to suspend your disbelief and enjoy it, though it’s quite understandable when some people can’t really do that.

Though many would contend that “Twisters” lacks the bravado of the original 1996 ensemble piece, it’s still an incredible thrill ride with plenty of exciting moments. From the dazzling graphics to the slower sequences of the film, it’s a fun flick that’s worth a watch, whether you’re a fan of the original or not. But it does lack substance, especially when it comes to the character depths of the main trio. You could also get the impression that the Hand of God is gradually picking up onlookers and throwing them into the tornado while ignoring the main characters, but the show must go on somehow, and boy, what a show.

Twisters will hit theatres nationwide on 18th July.