A satisfying re-quel to be seen on the big screen

Twisters is currently available to purchase ($24.99) or rent ($19.99) on video-on-demand platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Google Play, and YouTube TV. For those who want to wait, Twisters will be available to stream on Peacock by the end of the year. Although a specific release date has not yet been announced, the film is expected to be released on this platform around October 2024, with DVD/Blu-Ray also hitting stores.

So, is this new movie worth paying extra to stream? Here’s our review:

“Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.”

I want to go on a nostalgic trip

Photo: Universal Pictures

This line, delivered with appropriate authority by Glen Powell in the first act of his new film Twisters, in many ways sums up the entire ethos of the movie. In it, Powell’s character is referring to the inexplicable way that Daisy Edgar-Jones’s Kate Carter can predict the weather by watching dandelion seeds fall to the ground. But in that moment, as an audience member, I felt like Powell was speaking directly to me, telling me that this was going to be the kind of old-fashioned action movie that doesn’t get made much anymore, and that I was going to have the kind of fun that’s been missing from multiplexes these days.

I was intrigued by the idea.

As someone who grew up loving the original Twister (and subsequently rode Universal Studios Florida’s Twister: Ride It Out attraction over 100 times, including once on its final day of operation in 2015), this movie has had my eye on it (no pun intended) for quite some time. My personal interest was high, as I didn’t want to see a movie that just repeated the same things as the first Twister, but I also didn’t want something too different. Luckily, as a remake/sequel (or requel, as it’s now widely referred to), Twisters manages to strike a mostly good balance between the new and the familiar.

Recommendation

Twister

studio

Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures

Run Time

2 hr 2 min

director

Lee Isaac Chung

starring

Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos

At the Theatre

July 19, 2024

Strong Points

• Thrilling action scenes that will keep the audience glued to their seats
• Great performances from Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell
• A funny reference to the original film

Cons

• The film avoids any big themes and plays it a little too safe at times.

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Release date, rating, showtime

Twisters is in theaters now

I saw Twisters on its US release day in Florida on July 18th, 2024. The film runs 2 hours and 2 minutes and is rated PG-13. It is currently available to stream on all major VOD platforms.

Rethinking the 2024 disaster

Twister is the same but different

Twisters begins in a way that shares many similarities with the original Twister. Like Helen Hunt’s character in the ’90s film, protagonist Kate suffers an unimaginable tragedy at the start of the film, leaving her with severe trauma and PTSD. But unlike Hunt’s character, whose own tragedy led her to become obsessed with studying tornadoes, Kate blames herself for what happened and runs away from her past, leaving the windy wheat fields of Oklahoma for the skyscrapers of New York City and finding work as a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

But when her old friend Javi (Anthony Ramos), the sole survivor of the event, shows up at her office asking her to help with a research project for his new company, Kate can’t say no and reluctantly agrees to return to Oklahoma for a week, with the promise that her help will give scientists the data they need to better understand tornadoes and ultimately save lives.

It’s here that we meet Glen Powell’s energetic Tyler Owens, an Arkansas-based YouTuber who’s racked up a million followers online with his storm-chasing livestreams. Owens arrives with a motley crew of videographers, science enthusiasts, drone operators, and dozens of fans who seem to follow Owens around the country as he chases storms. Kate quickly becomes unimpressed with Tyler’s country-style swagger and eccentricities (he sets off fireworks at a tornado in one scene), and a rivalry quickly develops between the two. And if you’ve seen the Hallmark Channel Original Movie, you’ll know exactly where that particular storyline is heading.

And honestly, that predictability works well here, with much of the film’s focus expertly placed on the action. Twisters has some truly nail-biting disaster scenes that capture the awe-inspiring power of one of the most terrifying forces in the natural world. Buildings, wind turbines, motels, and even a movie theater are all effectively destroyed in the film, with skillful camerawork and smart sound design being key to drawing the viewer into the action.

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Where to Stream ‘Twisters’ Before Seeing It in Theaters

Before you head to the cinema to see Twisters, let’s review this storm-chasing classic.

Verdict: Stream it!

Deeper themes are touched upon but not fully explored.

Twister

Ultimately, what separates a good disaster movie from a great one isn’t high-tech special effects or thrilling acting, but the way disaster movies use weather phenomena, alien invasions, and giant monsters to explore deeper themes. Godzilla Minus One is a great example of a recent disaster movie that goes beyond the run-of-the-mill disaster movie, captivating audiences with the inspiring story of a Japanese pilot during World War II as he struggles to recover from the trauma he experienced during and immediately after the war. By using the monster as a metaphor for something deeper, this movie (and others like it) is able to transcend the confines of a run-of-the-mill monster movie and become something much more.

Twisters almost gets there, but not quite. Bigger themes like the lingering effects of trauma and disaster profiteering are briefly touched upon but never fully addressed in any meaningful way, which is a huge missed opportunity. In its attempt to play things as safe as possible, Twisters never becomes much more than a fun time at the cinema, which is a shame, but by no means a killer.

With intense action scenes, strong performances from stars Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and a clever homage to the original Twister film, Twisters is undoubtedly a successful sequel. It won’t change your life, but it will definitely put a smile on your face as destruction rains down on our heroes. That’s what summer movies should aim for. This movie is definitely worth streaming!

Recommendation

Twister

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