Twisters (2024) Review

RATING: 5.5/10

THERE comes a time where you've just got to accept the fact that you can't compete with greatness, and while Lee Issac Chung's Twisters is far from a failure, its inability to come close to the success that was 1996's Twister is kind of mind-boggling, especially when you consider how long fans of the cult-classic were clambering for this sequel; just a shame it came about 20 years too late for them to care.

Tornado season has once again struck Oklahoma, and a new phenomena looks to threaten the southern and surrounding states. These never-before-seen disasters capture the attention of Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a former storm chaser suffering from PTSD years prior, and Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a social media megastar searching for his next viral story. However, an unforeseen incident cause the pair and their respective teams to become stranded with one another, resulting in an unexpected alliance where they must team up in order to capture - and survive - the impending twisters.

Disaster films have always held a special place in my heart - whether they revolve around a specific natural disaster, or about the world coming to a cataclysmic end. These types of movies have never been the most serious in terms of their tone, but what they might lack in sternness, they more than make up for in its ability to not hold back and be completely honest about just how "unserious" the story is, letting the audience know that it's perfectly fine to just sit back and enjoy the ride that is Twisters.

The original Twister was considered a revolutionary film upon its release in 1996, being nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Sound and Best Effects. And with the sequel being directed by visionary director Lee Issac Chung, you would expect nothing but high things from Twisters in terms of its technical appeal. Unfortunately, Twisters ends up looking - and feeling - like a film one decade too late due to its bland, uninspired visual style which fails to capture the feeling of being caught in numerous tornados. As a result, what could have ended up being a fun romp in the American south ends up being just another mundane sequel lacking any imagination or originality.

But at the end of the day, if all you wanted out of Twisters was a disaster movie to sit down and turn your brain off to, this tornado flick will satisfy your wants of a good time.