Twisters Movie Review : This stormy disaster flick is visually immersive but emotionally lacking

Story: Almost 3 decades later, the original blockbuster ‘Twister’ gets a sequel in ‘Twisters’. Disconnected from its predecessor, this standalone sequel follows the life of Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young meteorologist, who is back in the eye of the storm, literally, after quitting storm chasing due to a deadly encounter that killed her friends and the love of her life.

Review: Three decades after the original blockbuster ‘Twister,’ the storm returns with a vengeance in ‘Twisters.’ This standalone sequel follows Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a young meteorologist who has distanced herself from storm chasing after a deadly encounter that claimed her friends and the love of her life. But the winds of fate pull her back into the eye of the storm.

Five years after a near-fatal tornado, Kate has found solace in predicting storms from the safety of the New York MET office. Her storm-chasing days in Oklahoma are a distant memory until her old friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) appears with an urgent request. He convinces her to join him in testing a groundbreaking new tracking system for the greater good. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a reckless YouTuber whose ragtag team of adventure junkies chase the most dangerous tornadoes for their channel. As the twisters grow increasingly perilous, Kate finds herself teaming up with Tyler for reasons she struggles to comprehend.

‘Twisters’ thrives on dramatic visuals and adrenaline-pumping adventure. The opening scene is gripping, showcasing the raw power of a tornado. However, as the film progresses, the screenplay becomes bogged down by lengthy, verbose scenes that slow the pace considerably. The action picks up again towards the climax, but unlike the original, it’s difficult to connect with the characters, especially Tyler and his team. Glen Powell's attempt to be likable comes across as forced and over-the-top. Thankfully, his chemistry with Daisy Edgar-Jones, who shines as the strong yet vulnerable Kate, remains intact. Her performance makes it easy to root for her. Golden Globe nominee Anthony Ramos delivers a lasting impact with his heartfelt portrayal of Javi, whose actions may be questionable, but his intentions are clear.

Director Lee Isaac Chung, along with writers Mark L. Smith, Joseph Kosinski, and Michael Crichton, sets the stage for epic encounters with nature's fury. However, they fail to consistently justify the romanticism of destructive forces like tornadoes and hurricanes, and the ease with which characters walk in and out of them strains believability. Despite this, the film remains visually satisfying. The unrestricted access to the twisters, brought to life by cinematographer Dan Mindel, offers a fascinating whirlwind visual treat, making the wait for action worthwhile. The destruction left in the twisters' wake is believable, but the film's biggest flaw is its lack of emotional depth. Music director Benjamin Wallfisch attempts to give the disaster flick a musical-like treatment, which complements the proceedings, but none of the songs are particularly memorable.

Overall, ‘Twisters’ is a decent addition to Hollywood’s arsenal of disaster films. Only if this stormy actioner had more emotional conviction in its story and execution, it could have been a cinematic force to reckon with.