Directed by Lee Isaac Chung 

By Anna

This film, a follow-up to Jan de Bont’s 1996 thriller, delivers plenty of nature’s fury, from widespread wheat fields to being immersed in the heart of a tornado. Lee Isaac Chung’s thoughtful direction manages to hold our collective attention, even when weighed down by awkward dialogue and over-explained plot points. At its best, “Twisters” invites us to enjoy its stunning visuals.

However, it falls short of being a standout. Despite repeated claims that protagonist Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is a brilliant, exceptional mind, her character fails to convince. The movie opens with tragedy—Kate loses three colleagues while chasing a tornado, a trauma that leads her to leave Oklahoma for a fresh start in New York City.

A few years in the future, Kate’s old friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) pulls her back into storm tracking, hoping to help their home state, Kate must confront her past. She crosses paths with YouTube-famous storm chaser Tyler (Glen Powell), injecting some much-needed energy into the film. While Kate’s motivations rooted in grief, are clear, her character lacks depth and presence.

The film’s opening disaster sets an appropriately tense tone, and a mid-movie scene in an empty pool stands out as the highlight, offering dizzying tension and rich character insight without much dialogue. Director Lee Isaac Chung crafts haunting, immersive visuals, but Mark L. Smith’s script is overloaded with cliché lines and too much plot for a two-hour runtime.

“Twisters” moves away from its predecessor, carving out a modern, charming style of its own. Though not perfect, its impressive special effects make it worth watching for the spectacle alone.

BONUS FEATURES:

-GAG REEL

DELETED SCENES

-TRACKING THE FRONTS: THE PATH OF TWISTERS – Trace the trajectory of TWISTERS from its earliest inception to production and get to know the cast as they lead this look into creating their characters, using science to add authenticity, and working through extreme weather wreaking havoc on set.

INTO THE EYE OF THE STORM – Discover how TWISTERS blends practical and visual effects to turn nature’s most destructive forces into entertaining thrills.

GLEN POWELL: ALL ACCESS – Glen Powell provides a private tour of a day in his life on the TWISTERS set.

-FRONT SEAT TO A CHASE – Strap in with the cast and professional storm chasers as they brave the elements to track tornados in Oklahoma.

-VOICE OF A VILLAIN* – Hear the creation of the film’s deafening howls with a seat in the studio where the audio team mixes unexpected sounds to give the storms a new dimension of depth.

-TRICKED-OUT TRUCKS – Buckle up for a wild ride in the film’s custom vehicles fitted with unique features ranging from rocket launchers to advanced radar tech.

FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR LEE ISAAC CHUNG 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD:
Street Date: October 22, 2024
-Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language and injury images
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French —-Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Run Time: 02:02:05