Ashish Dodlolla, reporter
The film “Twisters” follows Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar Jones), a young meteorologist determined to develop a predictive model to tame tornadoes and save lives in the face of increasingly severe tornadoes. For her science project, young Kate, accompanied by her fellow researchers Javi (Anthony Ramos), her boyfriend Jeb (Daryl Mc Cormack), Addy (Kiernan Shipka), and Praveen (Nik Dodani) travel into the storm’s eye to test her theory. Unfortunately, the storm turns into an EF5 Tornado, a visual that the movies production team masterfully captures. Things go badly, and five years later, Kate is in New York behind a desk, following the weather at a safe distance on a computer, leaving all her connections in the past.
Javi, who has since joined the military, comes to her with a prototype technology that gives a 3D image of tornadoes. He seeks her help and tries to convince her that they could achieve what they couldn’t previously, with the resources and funds they have now. She joins his team and moves to Oklahoma, where they are joined by other teams of chasers. There, she meets the thrill seeker Tyler Owens (Glenn Powell), a meteorologist and a reckless Youtuber, who thrives on posting his adventures online accompanied by the loudest and charming team called “Tornado Wranglers.” With them tags along a journalist from London who wants to know more about chasers.
Followed by these events, the groups continue to chase tornadoes and try to stop them. Initially, Kate ignores Tyler, but soon she realizes she misunderstood him and sees he is not a “like and subscribe” Youtuber trying to earn by showing others’ pain and showing off. There is also drama as she learns Javi hasn’t been completely honest with her.
The film used cutting edge CGI to create some of the most realistic and terrifying tornado sequences ever seen on-screen. All the details were good, and the sound designing was done well to give viewers a chill. The films’ action sequences are intense and gripping, capturing the sheer danger and unpredictability of storm chasing. The entire cast has done justification for their roles.
However, the film struggles to balance human drama and high-octane action. Other characters’ backstories and character development is not done well. The film was not successful in carrying human emotions. The development of the story could have been a little better. The film didn’t reintroduce any of the characters from the previous film, though it is a nostalgia film that could have helped further the story.
Twisters is a visually stunning film that delivers plenty of action and excitement. It’s a thrilling ride, offering some of the most intense weather phenomena ever captured on-screen, but the film’s predictable plot from the trailer and the story development in the film prevent it from becoming something special. For those seeking pure spectacle, “Twisters” is a worthwhile watch. But if you are looking for a story that resonates on a deeper level, it is short of such emotional connection.
Verdict: 3.5/5