KSL Movie Show review: ‘Twisters’ is a blockbuster disaster film – in a good way
Jul 18, 2024, 11:00 AM | Updated: Aug 5, 2024, 1:42 pm
'Twisters' is a blockbuster disaster film.
Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.
SALT LAKE CITY — So what do you call a movie that is not a remake, doesn’t have any of the original characters, is technically not a sequel since it’s 28 years later, but has veiled references to the original film sprinkled all over it?
The studios, and this is a group effort, are calling it – a standalone sequel.
What remains in essence is a couple of teams of likable storm chasers careening all over Oklahoma farmlands hoping to further study the tornado phenomenon, since after all these years, we still don’t know how and when they form, and why we’ve seen an increase in both intensity and frequency. (Climate Change says hello, it’s sitting right there).
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Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) has been in awe of these powerful storms ever since she was a child. She recently led a team aimed at not only trying to track tornadoes (a fifth generation of Dorothy returns) but possibly weaken one with a ton of science-y methods and chemicals.
She underestimates the power of one particular tornado causing the deaths of members of her team and ever since has avoided field work, choosing computer model analytics (safer that way, thus avoiding haunting memories).
But years later and with more advanced systems, she coaxed back to her Oklahoma roots, where storm chasing has become an internet sensation, while others prefer to stick to the science.
This is where we meet the self-appointed tornado wrangler, Tyler Owens (Glen Powell) whose flashy charisma flies in the face of everything Kate hopes to achieve in preventing small towns from being wiped off the map by massive tornadoes.
Tyler is more of an adventure seeker driving carelessly into these storms so he can get good footage for his podcast downloads. Jerk. Or is he?
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While both films, old and new, follow similar paths in plot lines, there’s enough “newness” to this 2024 version to separate it from 1996 version, while still managing to pay proper respect. I’m imagining some moviegoers might not see it that way, but that’s what I came away with.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to have an award-winning director, Lee Isaac Chung, on board whose film “Minari” was nominated for six Academy Awards in 2021, including Best Director and Best Picture. He also studied film at the University of Utah.
It’s also a good vehicle for Glen Powell, who has had a string of hits including ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ‘Anyone But You’ and ‘Hit Man’ in the last couple of years.
So, I say go and watch it on the biggest screen possible since the sound and the visuals are pretty much why we go see blockbuster disaster films like this in the first place. And trust me, TWISTERS doesn’t shy away from either of those senses.
TWISTERS (B+) Rated PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language and injury images. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Sasha Lane and Harry Hadden-Paton. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari” “Munyurangabo”) – filmed in various locations around Oklahoma City. Running time: 117 minutes.
