A High-Stakes Sequel That Takes Storm Chasing to New Heights. In a thrilling follow-up to the 1996 disaster hit Twister, the 2024 film Twisters has made waves in theaters worldwide with its gripping portrayal of modern storm chasing. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung and based on a story by Joseph Kosinski, with a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, Twisters combines cutting-edge technology with heart-stopping action, serving as a standalone sequel that revitalizes the storm-chasing genre.
Plot Overview
Twisters picks up years after the events of its predecessor, shifting the focus to Kate Carter (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones), a meteorologist who once worked as a storm chaser. In the film, Kate is part of a storm-chasing team in Oklahoma that includes her boyfriend Jeb (Daryl McCormack), and colleagues Addy (Kiernan Shipka) and Praveen (Nik Dodani). Their mission involves using a high-tech device, the Dorothy V doppler, to launch sodium polyacrylate beads into tornadoes with the hope of reducing their intensity. However, their efforts are thwarted when a powerful EF5 tornado hits, leading to devastating losses.
Five years later, Kate, now working at a NOAA office in New York City, is drawn back into storm chasing when she is offered a position by Javi (Anthony Ramos), a former colleague now working with the mobile tornado radar company Storm Par. The new mission involves testing a revolutionary tornado scanning system that could potentially save lives. Kate joins Javi and his team, including Javi’s business partner Scott (David Corenswet), as well as the popular YouTube storm chaser Tyler Owens (Glen Powell) and his crew.
As the team encounters a series of increasingly violent storms, tensions rise between the two storm-chasing factions. Kate grapples with her past trauma and the ethical implications of their work, especially when she discovers that Storm Par’s investor, Marshall Riggs (David Born), is profiting from tornado-damaged land.
High-Stakes Drama and Action
The film’s narrative is driven by intense storm-chasing sequences and character conflicts. One of the standout scenes involves Kate and Tyler leading a group of locals to safety during an EF4 tornado, showcasing the film’s impressive special effects and sound design. As the stakes escalate, Kate and Tyler devise a new experiment using silver iodide to enhance the effectiveness of their storm disruption technology.
In a climactic showdown, the team faces a mile-wide EF5 tornado threatening the town of El Reno. In a dramatic sequence, Kate and Tyler must use their experimental technology to neutralize the tornado while navigating personal and professional conflicts. The final act is a test of courage and innovation as Kate drives a truck into the tornado’s center to deploy their solution, resulting in a tense and exhilarating conclusion.
Cast and Performances
The film features a talented ensemble cast:
- Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kate Carter, delivering a compelling performance as a meteorologist torn between her past and present.
- Glen Powell plays Tyler Owens, bringing charisma and intensity as the internet-famous storm chaser.
- Anthony Ramos portrays Javi, Kate’s friend and former colleague, whose involvement with Storm Par adds layers to the plot.
- Brandon Perea and Sasha Lane round out Tyler’s crew as Boone and Lily, respectively.
- Maura Tierney appears as Cathy, Kate’s supportive mother.
Supporting roles are filled by Harry Hadden-Paton as journalist Ben and Paul Scheer as an airport traffic police officer, among others.
Reception and Impact
Premiering at the Cineworld Leicester Square in London on July 8, 2024, and released internationally by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 10, Twisters made its U.S. debut through Universal Pictures on July 19. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics, who praise its thrilling action sequences and visual effects, while audiences have responded warmly to its engaging story and character development.
With a worldwide gross of $311.9 million, Twisters has proven to be both a commercial success and a beloved sequel, capturing the essence of storm-chasing excitement while introducing innovative elements to the genre.
Twisters delivers an exhilarating experience that builds on the legacy of its predecessor while pushing the boundaries of disaster filmmaking. Combining high-stakes drama with groundbreaking technology, the film is a must-watch for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. As Kate, Tyler, and Javi navigate the dangerous world of tornadoes, they remind us of the courage and ingenuity required to face nature’s most formidable challenges.