Parade Picks

TWISTERS

A Review by Alexander Hall – ‘The Parade Movie Guy’

★★★★

Fun, wholesome, romantic and reliable moviemaking spins back into cinemas with TWISTERS!  For fans of 80s and 90s mainstream films, when going to the pictures meant a ‘grand adventure’, this is the Summer Ticket for sure!

Not a remake of the impressive original TWISTER from 1996, TWISTER with an ‘S’ is more an update on the first incarnation. ‘Slicker technology’ is used by the main characters when chasing their monstrous murderous tornadoes.

However, even with the modern ‘tornado tracking technology’, the success of TWISTERS lies in the fact that at the end of the day, everything comes back to basics.  Main character heroine, ‘Kate’, uses her intuition, mind and courage to ultimately outwit the deadliest tornado at the end of the movie.  While male heroes, ‘Tyler’ and ‘Javi’, prioritize their goals by literally throwing themselves into helping the residents of an Oklahoma, USA town when nature’s wrath arrives, performing their most important task of all – saving lives over fame, fortune and glory.

At the heart of TWISTERS is a nicely refreshing yet old-fashioned patiently developed ‘attraction’ between the two leads, Kate, played by Brit Daisy Edgar-Jones (with an excellent American accent), and Tyler, brought to life by Hollywood ‘Man of the Moment’, Glen Powell.

Right from the first TWISTERS trailer, stars Edgar-Jones and Powell clearly have ‘Midas Touch’ screen chemistry.  The duo is alluring to watch, both in looks, charm and classic ‘Movie Star Appeal’.  Edgar-Jones exudes echoes of the career-defining role of Sandra Bullock in the original SPEED, and even Sigourney Weaver in ALIEN.  While Powell is the new Patrick Swayze (ROADHOUSE), mixed with the late Paul Walker (THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS), commanding the visual vista at every turn.

A solid supporting cast includes a surprise but welcome appearance by jovial Brit, DOWNTON ABBEY alumni, Harry Hadden-Patton, along with ‘cool cat’, Anthony Ramos (HAMILTON) and the new SUPERMAN (2025), David Corenswet.  And veteran, Maura Tierney (ER), has significant purpose as Kate’s brassy country mom!

Directing duties for TWISTERS are admirably and efficiently handled by American-born of Korean ancestry, Lee Isaac Chung, providing thrills with the action scenes, but also a delicate touch in the evolution of the character dynamics.

Further praise goes to STAR WARS Creator, George Lucas’s visual effects company, ILM.  As they did with TWISTER (and the dinos in JURASSIC PARK), ILM once again provides the stellar and believable ‘tornado carnage CG animation’, all supremely blended into the live action.  For the audience, the adventure is all very real indeed!

One slight shame is how none of the original cast from TWISTER appeared in ‘S’, though understandably both stars, Bill Paxton and Philip Seymour Hoffman, have since passed away way too young.  RIP.

So, if the original TWISTER was called TWISTER, and Chapter II is TWISTERS, might Chapter III be named TWIST AND SHOUT or TWISTERS VS FLOODS?  Hopefully, the Hollywood minds in charge are making plans this very moment for a further instalment after the worldwide success of TWISTERS.  Perhaps, TWISTER lead, Helen Hunt, returns to expand the storyline thus far?  Either way, whatever sizzling stars Edgar-Jones and Powell do next, solo or another pairing, will no doubt lead to further success and add to their growing global fandom!