Twisters is a movie that has been on my radar for a long time because I love the original 1996 Twister so much. It is a classic, definitional rewatchable: a movie that is often on TV and that you will gladly watch any time it’s on. I know the movie also felt really big at the time it came out for its all-star cast and groundbreaking special effects, but, to me, it has always just been a fun, easy watch. 2024’s Twisters picks up much of that same mantle: all-star cast, groundbreaking special effects, fun, easy watch, it’s all there. And more. 

Twisters is not a sequel to or remake of Twister. It is what some have dubbed a “lega-sequel” (legacy sequel), a film that, instead of picking up a previous movie’s threads, pays homage to the original movie while providing an updated perspective of a cinematic world. This genre is becoming increasingly popular as a way to use the power of nostalgia to hook audiences without the constrictions of having to remain faithful to a fixed story or characters. Jurassic World did this a few years ago and was extremely successful as were films like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Creed, even Star Wars: The Force Awakens is considered the quintessential Hollywood legacy sequel. What they have in common is that, while some characters overlap to varying degrees across these movies, they are telling an ostensibly new story set in a familiar world. Twisters is on the furthest end of the lega-sequel spectrum, connecting back to the original film with only the thinnest of threads. No one in this film is related to or even mentions anyone from the original, none of the original characters make an appearance, and the setting, while remaining in the state of Oklahoma, does not repeat any specific locations. Besides the presence of tornadoes, the only holdover is Dorothy, the film-invented storm sensor device that gets a brief shout out in the opening scene. Actually, the most obvious connective tissue between the two films is the plot. 

Twisters manages to hit almost all of the exact same story beats as the original film without feeling like a remake. It’s not the details that are the same but the essence of how they function within the larger plot. The film follows Kate, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, a meteorologist and former storm chaser who gets lured back into the field by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos), to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There they cross paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a YouTuber who posts his storm-chasing adventures with his posse of friends. The two factions go head-to-head while multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma. Like the original, the film is punctuated by different storms that increase in intensity as it goes on. We also have the same competing teams of storm chasers: the professional, well-funded scientists vs. the rag-tag crew of adrenaline junkies, although in this case the roles are reversed; the professionals are our protagonists while the YouTubers are painted as reckless idiots who will do anything for views and attention (I’ve seen them described as “weather Jackass”). At least initially. We also get the audience avatar character or layperson who rides along and reacts like any of us would in the face of a tornado, although this time in the form of a journalist instead of a reproductive therapist/fiancée. There’s a tornado that hits an outdoor setting at night, a scene where the team goes to help after the destruction of a small town, trials and errors of the experimental technology they are trying to get off the ground (literally), and, of course, a scene involving a movie theater. It’s all there in a way that’s new enough to still be exciting but familiar enough to conjure that sense of loving nostalgia for the original film.

Aside from the direct connections to an older film, the movie does feel like a throwback in many ways. It really leans into the country setting, playing up the Americana vibe. We see landscapes and farms, we see rural small towns, we see a rodeo and bull riders. The soundtrack behind it all is country music, many of the songs written specifically for the film. The movie seems to embrace an oldschool ideal of America that hasn’t been popularly portrayed in a while. On a more conceptual level, Twisters is a more contemporary take on a classic style of filmmaking. In that previously referenced theater scene, the movie playing on the screen is Universal’s 1939 horror movie Frankenstein (the same studio that produced this film). Twisters director, Lee Isaac Chung, has spoken about the intentionality of this choice: “I thought of this film in many ways as a monster movie. Universal has had quite a history of monster films, in which Frankenstein is probably the key. Once I had that in mind, I also thought about the way that a tornado is born and formed… [it’s] meant to mirror what happens in Frankenstein.” I love the idea of disaster movies as modern day monster movies. The main characters are constantly trying to outrun the looming presence of some larger-than-life threat. Monster movies had their heyday at Universal from the 1930s to the 1950s while disaster movies really peaked in the 1970s with a resurgence in the 1990s into the early 2000s. Monster movies were never my thing but I am always on board for a disaster movie so it’s cool to see Twisters reviving the genre again.

The tornadoes and their destruction were awe-inducing and surprisingly visceral. Some of the storm sequences really ratcheted up the tension and anxiety was high. This film has been a popular title to see in 4DX format, a viewing experience that includes various practical effects, like moving seats, wind, strobe lights, simulated precipitation, and scents. I thought the movie was immersive enough just seeing it on the screen but the videos I’ve seen of the 4DX showings look absolutely insane. I cannot even begin to express how much this is not for me but everyone who has posted about their 4DX viewings seems to have had a ton of fun. I think the concept offers audiences a new and different experience and this is a perfect movie for this kind of stunty innovation.

Aside from the storms, there is actual story here. We really only go beyond surface level with our two main characters, Kate and Tyler. Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Kate isn’t as bold and headstrong as Helen Hunt’s Jo. She’s still smart and has her badass moments but the performance is much more timid although it works with her character’s backstory. Glen Powell is devastatingly charming, as always. His character is essentially the bad boy of storm chasing. And, of course, what happens when intelligent, straightarrow girl meets audacious bad boy? Sparks fly. Not to take anything away from Daisy Edgar-Jones but Glen Powell could have chemistry with a wall. He has never not been accused of dating his co-stars in real life because he simply cannot turn off the charm. So the chemistry between Kate and Tyler feels real and believable (even though on a broad story level it is pretty cliche. I’ve actually seen some people compare it to a Hallmark movie. Country girl living in the big city comes back to her hometown where she meets hot, smalltown cowboy. We all know the vibe. The film is obviously more elevated than that but the bare bones of the story do fit). I don’t want to spoil anything, but the most controversial aspect of this film is actually how their story ends. Let’s just say I don’t agree with the choice that was made. (I’d be more than happy to discuss further with anyone who wants to reach out!)

The only other controversial part of the movie is the lack of discussion about climate change. It is heavily implied that these storms are so much worse in severity and frequency because of climate change but never explicitly stated. The director said this was to avoid being too preachy and alienating some of the audience but also to keep the tone more light and fun. While I don’t think this film is the vehicle to make arguments about important topics like climate change, it did feel weird to walk right up to the line of talking about it and then not cross it. I honestly wouldn’t have thought about it if they didn’t make such obvious references to it. At that point, you might as well just say the words because the omission is more noticeable.

I love Twister and I loved Twisters! Writing this review has made me want to go see it again. I know some people don’t think it compares to the original. I know some people think it’s better. Either way, I think it’s a really fun movie full of hot, young stars with a classic 90s summer blockbuster feel. It’s not groundbreaking but that’s the point. The movie deals in nostalgia and that’s a powerful thing. It works on me more times than not. If there’s a Twist3rs or Twisterss or Twisted in the future, I will be there (not in 4DX)!

2024 Count: 18 seasons/specials, 39 movies