Twisters opened in cinemas this summer nearly 30 years after the release of the 1996 film Twister. Twisters really not a sequel, but more of a remake of the of the original Twister as it is not a continuation of the first one, but a different story that mimics it. Like many film remakes, this one has more diversity in casting.
South Asian actor Nik Dotani plays Parveen in Twisters but is swept away early in the film like many minority actors are, who are killed of quickly in films. Dotani’s acting is very compelling for a short role he plays.
In new version of the movie, we see Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a doctoral student, and her team of scrappy research assistants in the barren fields of Oklahoma aiming to secure funding for their project on a tornado-dissipating solution called sodium polyacrylate. When the tornado they’re tracking suddenly intensifies into a catastrophic EF5, the worst tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale, Kate helplessly watches as three of her close friends are fatally swept away by the tornado.
Then Kate meets charismatic and self-proclaimed “Tornado Wrangler” Tyler (Glen Powell), and the two share playful banter and noticeable chemistry. Tyler’s slogan, “If you feel it, chase it,” becomes a recurring theme throughout the film. Early on, Kate struggles with overcoming her PTSD, but despite this she faces her fears and takes on the tornados. This slogan highlights Kate’s transformation as she learns to embrace her courage.
Edgar-Jones brings a special depth to her character. At the beginning of the film, a younger Kate is portrayed with a playful and joyous personality, which mellows out after the tragedy that took her friends. This transformation is evident, but the audience witnesses Kate’s passion for tornado chasing being revitalized during the movie’s thrilling and fast-paced action sequences.
While Twisters primarily follows Kate, the ensemble cast adds more depth and complexity to the movie, enhancing the narrative. Javi (Anthony Ramos), who is grappling with internal struggles as he tries to make amends for what happened five years ago, stands in stark contrast to Tyler, whose fearless and wild cowboy persona creates an intriguing dynamic between the two.
Tyler’s unapologetically honest character remains a constant presence throughout the movie, but he’s more than just the rough-and-tough persona depicted in the movie’s trailers. His backstory, revealed during private, tense scenes with Kate, showcases the true, kindhearted nature of the dedicated tornado chaser.
Powell’s compelling performance occasionally overshadows the other characters he shares the screen with. Edgar-Jones, for instance, struggles to convey a tough farmhand as well as Powell does. This disparity might be attributed to Powell’s background in Austin, Texas, while Edgar-Jones hails from London. When the two share the screen, Kate occasionally seems meek in comparison. In comparison, Helen Hunt’s performance in the original Twister as the female lead was more compelling, which really was one of the main reasons of the success of the original film.
A similar dynamic is also evident in scenes with Javi and Tyler. Although writers hint at a pseudo-love triangle involving Kate, it’s clear that support leans heavily in Tyler’s favor.
While these are all slight homages to the original film, there is a notable difference in the demonstration of the advancements in meteorological technology over the past 30 years. In the original, the researchers were focused on developing better sensor technology. This sequel takes a new direction, with Kate creating a polyacrylate that, in theory, can actively dissipate a tornado. This distinction underscores how humanity’s ability to predict and potentially control these natural disasters has evolved in ways once unimaginable.
In an era dominated by CGI, motion effects and cutting-edge technology, it’s not uncommon for movies to underperform at the box office due to a heavy reliance on visuals at the expense of a compelling plot. However, Twisters defies this trend, offering a captivating story with well-developed characters and visuals, recapturing the suspense and storytelling that made the original film a classic. But in comparison, the original film is stronger and more entertaining film that the second as many remakes do not meet the mark of the original.