Twisters serves as a standalone sequel, meaning it’s set in the same universe as the 1996 original, but there’s no narrative continuity as it introduces new characters. Nevertheless, 28 years later, this is a surprisingly good follow-up.
There’s no Helen Hunt or Bill Paxton, but we do get Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos as storm chasers Kate and Javi, who chase tornadoes in Oklahoma. The thrill turns sad for Kate as she loses her colleagues during a deadly storm.
Kate works at NOAA in New York, but just when she thought she was out, Javi pulls her back in by giving her an opportunity to test out a new system that can study tornadoes. She’s off to Oklahoma once again.
When she arrives, Kate and her team encounter another series of chasers led by Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a cocky social media superstar. Owens’ philosophy on twisters is “If you feel it, chase it!” Both teams start as rivals, but something may come along that persuades them to join forces.
The movie does marvel some impressive special effects during the twister sequences and some longtime fans of the original will notice comparisons between the two as tornadoes rip through the countryside and a movie theater playing the original Frankenstein from 1931.
Other sequences during a rodeo provide some thrilling moments.
I’m not sure if Twisters was warranted some 28 years later, but it’s a mostly entertaining ride as it proves not to be a cash grab. It creates interesting characters, and the movie gives them time to flesh out their characters instead of just hammering the audience with relentless action.
While Edgar-Jones and Ramos do provide welcome additions, Powell’s performance takes center stage. He’s full of enough bravado to literally throw himself into the tornado’s path just for a few thousand likes and subscribers, but he also helps Edgar-Jones’ character face her demons to save lives.
Twisters doesn’t try to be anything other than loud, dumb summer escapism, and in an era where most sequels come too late, this one is jolted with enough freshness and nostalgia bait to make it accessible.
Twisters is a worthy effort that doesn’t suck.
Grade: B+
(Rated PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language and injury images.)
