In 1996, a VHS in my VCR (a device used to play video tapes for those Gen Z-ers out there), started to warp. The film within the cassette was getting worn out from friction, because, unfortunately, I’d played it too many times. That movie was Twister.

While definitely not Shakespeare, the Helen Hunt/Bill Paxton big, dumb, blockbuster will forever be held in the highest regard in my heart with nostalgic wonder, as one of the movies that I fondly remember having a blast with at the age of 10. And now, it’s crazy to think that 28 years later, we are finally getting something of a follow up with Twisters. But what’s even crazier is that, for my money, Twisters is actually a better movie!

Now before you sharpen your pitchforks at me given that potentially blasphemous statement, you should know that while I’ll always love Twister, in retrospect, it’s not that good of a movie. It’s incredibly fun sure, but the character work is lacking, and it’s hard to get invested in many of the relationships. Which is perfectly fine, given we are all there for the mindless destruction and whizz-bang VFX. However, what if I told you, you could have both the thrills and spectacle of that first film, but with much better characters and possibly more heart than the original? If you find yourself skeptical, then I challenge you to watch Twisters and tell me it’s not the superior of the two films.

Twisters from director Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) is primarily decoupled from the events and characters of the 1996 film. This time, taking place in 2024, the film follows a young meteorologist named Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) dealing with survivor’s guilt. Kate finds herself thrust back into the world of storm chasing along side her former colleague, Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a rag-tag group of “tornado wranglers” led by the renegade “cowboy/scientist” Tyler Owens (Glen Powell). Together, with their respective teams, they dive headfirst into the heart of Oklahoma, where a deadly outbreak of devastating tornadoes rampages through the state, impacting several communities in the process.

First things first, those skeptical that Chung would be bound by the notes and constraints of the studio system need not be concerned. His soulful and pensive style is at the front and center of this wonderful effects-driven spectacle, and Twisters benefits even more as a summer blockbuster because of it. This is a movie that could have easily coasted off of being mind-numbing entertainment based on an old IP. But Chung ensures it never settles for that, instead focusing more on the impact of these natural disasters, and how that motivates or traumatizes these characters, rather than just the destruction and empty thrills. His focus overall are the performances of his stellar crew, led by Edgar-Jones, and enhanced by Ramos, Powell, and the rest of the ensemble, including Brandon Perea, Sasha Lane, Katy O’Brian, Tunde Adebimpe, and David Corenswet.

The screenplay by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant) wisely chooses to center on more important topics than “wranglers vs. tornadoes.” It’s about the guilt and remorse Kate and Javi feel from their previous years storm chasing and the trauma that came with it. And it also encourages the audience to understand (in a somewhat heavy-handed way) the real consequences these disasters have on real communities, as well as how the powerful and wealthy try to benefit off of these tragedies.

And a script like that is perfect for the sensibilities of a director like Chung. In Minari, he immersed the audience in the challenges of rural living; especially for characters of color who immigrated to the states. Whereas in Twisters he immerses the audience in two things: the lives and challenges of people in storm afflicted impoverished communities, and the death-defying risks being *inside* of a massive tornado. For that reason, the film is a well-balanced blending of character drama and blockbuster thrills, which is the minimum any summer blockbuster should aim for but few rarely achieve.

None of that would be possible without the fine work of Edgar-Jones. She is an exceptional actress, and one that knows how to do drama incredibly well, but also makes for an entirely believable and spirited action heroine as well. Edgar-Jones is able to sell us on the trauma her character Kate Carter is experiencing, by showcasing the impact of that trauma realistically via the dichotomy of her performance as Kate pre-tragedy, and post tragedy. Seeing both sides to this character allows us to connect and sympathize with her, as we understand she’s lost a spark in her that she has a chance to reclaim through this new project. This matters incredibly because it allows us to endear ourselves to Kate and ultimately root for her as an underdog hero seeking redemption. Pre-tragedy, Edgar-Jones plays the role with a bright enthusiasm and determination, if not significant naivety. And post tragedy, we see fragments of that same character that are not completely gone, but have been overtaken by moroseness and grief. And Edgar-Jones knows how to subtly play all of it, making for, not only a consistent character, but one the audience gets to fall in love with, and ultimately root for.

However, given the tragic backstory of the character, Kate’s complex and sullen demeanor are perfectly complimented by an absolute firecracker of a character named Tyler Owens. And as you may expect, Powell infuses the role with so much charm and energy. Owens and Carter have the makings of really memorable characters, and Powell is the perfect fit for the brash and cocky “tornado wrangler” and internet personality. It’s a necessary trait for this character, as he becomes the catalyst for change within Kate. Which is where Powell’s “Han Solo-esque” charm compliments Edgar-Jones’ gravitas, allowing for the chemistry between the two actors to blossom and keep us invested from the very first meet-cute to the credits. However, it was a terrific choice to make Tyler Owens, not just a wild, daredevil storm chaser, but also a scientist, because it added an extra dimension to this character that would allow for the two characters to be able to match wits with one another.

Completing the final part of a potential love triangle is Ramos’s Javi. As expected, it’s a good performance, but his role is unfortunately underserved. He has a decent enough arc about selling out to help ease his guilt. But with the focus primarily on Tyler and Kate, he doesn’t get the screentime he deserves to really showcase his talents, even if he’s the tertiary lead. That said, some of the other supporting characters of Twisters do get some terrific moments to shine.

Perea shines as Boon, Tyler’s cameraman and pyrotechnic wizard. As with Nope, he steals a lot of scenes with his optimistic, laid back energy, providing a lot of the film’s humor. Lane, O’Brian, and Adebimpe are also fun as Tyler’s drone/tech expert, mechanic, and fellow scientist, even if they don’t get a whole lot to do outside of teamwork scenes. Their unorthodox chemistry feels like a fun throwback to Bill Paxton’s original crew from the first film. And on the opposite side of things, Corenswet does a really good job playing a sleezy douchebag coworker alongside Ramos. It’ll be a very interesting and welcome change seeing him go from this to Superman next year.

But while the emotion and the characters are surprisingly and smartly the central focus of the film, you won’t get short changed on the action. Above all else, Twisters is great fun, and the action sequences and visual effects truly deliver. There are several scenes that take place within the various vehicles, particularly Tyler’s truck, that serve to get the audience to experience what it’s like to be within an actual tornado. There’s also several terrific scenes showcasing the extent of the risks these characters will go to to achieve their scientific goals. One gut punch of a scene opens the movie. And the final action sequence ends up being incredibly memorable, and a terrific action set piece for Edgar-Jones (which I was incredibly grateful for).

The cinematography of the film is absolutely gorgeous as well. Action cinematographer, Dan Mindel, manages to capture the sweeping plains of Oklahoma beautifully, and his framing truly makes the scenes of our heroes fleeing tornadoes of various sizes even more exciting. There’s not a lot of it that feels artificial, or green-screened (even if some of it is), and that adds to the stakes and peril our heroes are subjected to. It ultimately makes for incredibly exciting scenes that help Twisters live up to the blockbuster nature of its predecessor.

Overall, as a director, Chung proves he can handle action as well as human drama. This is a character-first movie and it’s only more fun because of it, as it dives into deeper themes of survivor’s guilt and trauma to build stakes, which ultimately makes it one of the smartest and most emotional action blockbusters in years! Edgar-Jones and Powell are stellar, creating memorable characters  that leave lasting impressions that you’ll remember for years to come! And of course, naturally, the action in this movie will leave you breathless! It’s just an incredible, immersive blast! And I can only hope that this one will be a success and a worthy successor to the original Twister. Because I would love to see these amazing characters wrangle up more tornadoes in the future!

Overall Score: B+