The world of Twisters swept up cineplexes barely one month ago. The latest disaster epic tells the story of Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), now working as a meteorologist, when a friend from her storm-chasing past named Javi (Anthony Ramos) comes knocking at her door. Javi offers Kate a chance to return to a life she thought she had left behind after a tragic event that still has her reeling. This puts her into the crosshairs of Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a fellow storm chaser and YouTube star. Along the way, Tyler shows Kate there is more to this crazy profession than meets the eye.
L-R: Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate and Anthony Ramos as Javi in TWISTERS, directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Photo Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures; & Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.
If you’re interested in a spoiler-free exploration of the film, make sure to head to EoM Contributor Gabe Lapalombella’s initial theatrical release review.
From a visceral perspective, Twisters delivers on every level, particularly in its visual nature and sound design. The storm chase sequences are equal parts thrilling and genuinely tense. From the rippling wind to debris crunching, the film places audiences in the middle of the action. That credit can be given mainly to the director of the 2020 Oscar-nominated film Minari, Lee-Isaac Chung. Chung knows what audiences want to see: exhilarating and high-stakes storm sequences. In that regard, he delivers in an immensely exciting and very entertaining way. The problems, unfortunately, reside in the screenplay by Mark L. Smith.
Smith’s work varies from films such as 2015’s The Revenant, 2020’s The Midnight Sky, and, most recently, 2023’s The Boys in the Boat and The Marsh King’s Daughter. While all those films had varying degrees of success, Smith’s efforts with the Twisters screenplay proved underwhelming, particularly in the message he wants to convey. Without spoilers, the film wrestles with themes and ideas regarding the effects of environmental disasters. It’s an important message that the film has the best intentions to deliver. The problem is that it delivers it in an incredibly bland way. It can be best described as an after-school television special involving by a (mostly) capable cast.
L-R: Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate and Glen Powell as Tyler in TWISTERS, directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Photo Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures; & Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.
The issues start with our titular character Kate, who is nothing more than an archetype. Her character has the emotional depth that revolves around the idea of a “tragic past that made me sad.” While it’s an understandable motivation in context to the story, it feels rather cliched. That is no fault on Edgar-Jones (Fresh) who does the best she can with the material. She makes Kate enjoyable to watch but does not become someone more than the sum of her parts. The character is entirely surface-level, without the real emotional depth that helps viewers connect with her. The same could be said for the supporting characters in the cast.
Quality actors such as Ramos (In the Heights), Maura Tierney (The Iron Claw), and David Corenswet (The Greatest Hits), are also playing archetypal roles. It’s a capable array that is not boring but they are simply not given much to do. Thankfully, viewers have the charismatic, exciting, and all-around best performance in the film from Glen Powell (Hit Man). Powell’s Tyler Owens can best be described as a force of nature. His megawatt smile and charm are infectious as he speeds onto the literal scene. While he may not be in the film as much as one hopes, denying the performance’s effectiveness is challenging. Emulating an energy akin to someone like Matthew McConaughey (Deadpool & Wolverine), he simply makes Tyler someone you want to spend time with.
L-R: Tunde Adebimpe as Dexter, Sasha Lane as Lily, Harry Hadden-Paton as Ben, Brandon Perea as Boone, Katy O’Brian as Dani, Anthony Ramos as Javi, Glen Powell as Tyler, and Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate in TWISTERS, directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Photo Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures; & Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.
While a fun summer spectacle (with its noticeable flaws), some may wonder if it is worth a digital purchase. Unfortunately, its bonus features only include a gag reel and one deleted scene. The combined run time of both features is five minutes in length. The gag reel is funny, but is over before you can genuinely appreciate the laugh. The two deleted scenes feel underwhelming, with one clearly understanding why it was deleted. The results make for a disappointing chance to dive deeper into the film. Granted, those are only slight qualms justifying this overall purchase.
At its core, Twisters delivers on what it wants to give audiences, a fun, cheesy, entertaining summer spectacle with charismatic actors. Certain actors make more of an impact than others, but that does not detract from the stupid and mindless enjoyment. In this 4K digital release, the chase sequences keep a similar pulse-pounding excitement. For fans and non-fans of this universe, there will certainly be enough here to justify a purchase, just at a discounted price that is not $24.99. But I would be lying if I said there was not fun to be had by watching Twisters in the comfort of your own home.
Twisters Special Features:
- Gag Reel
- Two (2) Deleted Scenes
Available on digital August 13th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Universal Pictures Twisters website.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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