Twisters (2024)

Synopsis

Admirers of the original Twister have reason to be both delighted and disappointed in this remake dubbed Twisters.

It starts much like the 1996 version. While protagonist Jo Harding was a child in Twister, our hero Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) in Twisters is already a precocious high schooler. She’s assembled a crew of fellow students, including her crush Jeb, to chase tornadoes as part of her science project. In a nod to the original, she’s built a contraption named Dorothy, also filled with whirly-gigs (already outfitted with an innovation from the last act of Twister) that she aims to launch up into a tornado to gather data. But there’s more. Instead of just understanding a twister well enough to improve predictions, she also aims to launch some chemicals up into the maelstrom to “choke off” the funnel.

But her foray leads predictably to failure and the death of most of her friends, including Jeb.

And again, we leap into the future (aka, the present day), where the guilt-ridden Kate is now working for NOAA in New York City. Her only surviving crew member, Javi (Anthony Ramos), turns up unexpectedly (well, of course we expect it). He’s fresh out of the military, has a corporate sponsor, and some licensed military radar tech that he believes can finally help Kate crack the code on her abandoned quest to tame tornadoes.

So like Bill Harding in Twister, she’s agrees to a short stint to help out. But the storm-chasing scene is much different these days, with YouTube content creators swarming the flat, Oklahoma landscape. Chief among them is Tyler (Glen Powell), who styles himself “The Tornado Wrangler,” the most popular and magnetic of the lot. He’s out of Arkansas, with his own motley crew who, on the side, sell T-shirts with Tyler’s face.

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It’s not clear how Tyler initially senses that Kate is the real thing, a tornado whisperer whose gut instincts are better than his equipment. But as we suspect, his trajectory will take him from initially a dangerous nuisance, then to intriguing competitor, and finally to a partner.

Glen Powell fits the role perfectly, with his snarky grin and his unaffected delivery and charismatic presence. Daisy Edgar-Jones is an effective foil to his glibness, tamping down her attraction while doing her best to lead him astray.

The standout supporting performance? Lily (Sasha Lane), as a gap-toothed, non-college-grad drone pilot who is the heart of Tyler’s crew. Lane’s portrayal is constantly surprising as she skillfully reveals each new nuance in Lily’s background and motivation.

Twisters distinguishes itself from Twister in plot twists that turn our expectations inside out as we learn more about the goals and ambitions of the individual players. Each crew’s empathy for the victims – the ones they all claim to be helping – ultimately makes Twisters a more substantial character exploration.

Fans of Twister will appreciate many additional nods besides the naming of Dorothy. Scenes echo the original, but unspool with inventive twists. Evacuating hotel guests to an empty pool echoes the scene where victims shelter in the maintenance pit of a garage. The original’s drive-in scene is re-imagined as victims shelter in a theater, with another heart-pounding screen transformation.

And keep your ears alert for nods to The Wizard of Oz: Tin Man and Scarecrow.

Just as in Twister, the effects are outstanding and the escapes during the storm sequences are just as outlandish and unbelievable. But alas, not as much fun. Twisters hits more serious notes, with fewer light moments or witty dialog. And its soundtrack is unremarkable compared to the energetic original.

Twisters is great summer time escapism. But for its sheer excitement, Twister will remain our go-to for replay when we’re in the mood for mindless entertainment.