A Nostalgic Disaster Movie Sparked by the Dynamic Duo of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell
Oklahoma’s winds are raging once again. The southern states of America, both in the 1990s and today, frequently fall victim to natural disasters. We remember how Dorothy was carried away by a tornado from Kansas to a magical land. Kat (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a farm girl, a bright spark, dreams not of meeting the Wizard of Oz, but of securing a grant to find a way to prevent tornadoes of destructive force or at least to tame a twister. Practical experience leads to tragic consequences: only five years later, the girl decides to chase the elements again in the company of her old partner, Javi (Anthony Ramos), who has found sponsors for “wind races” in a real estate office. The scientists are thwarted by YouTubers led by Tyler (Glen Powell), a daredevil in a cowboy hat who is not at all afraid of the storm, loves to set off fireworks, and smiles infectiously at the camera.
Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kat in a still from “Twisters”
A Blast from the Past with a Modern Twist
The first and most pleasant news in the context of any release of the era of endless remakes: “Twisters” is practically free of intrusive fan service and does not seek to bring the public to tears with meaningful cameos. Although a reliable platform for rattling pop culture artifacts is located in Wakita: in the town in Oklahoma there is a small museum dedicated to the original film by Jan De Bont. From the 1996 audience hit, the “Dorothy” equipment (it is listed among the exhibits) and a couple of scene-homages migrated to the screen, which is not so shameful. It is worth admitting that there is some dark cinephilic pleasure in watching a movie theater being destroyed. Otherwise, the catastrophic turmoil of Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”) is perceived as an independent picture with one “but” (which is actually not a “but” at all): the blockbuster patiently professes the dogmas of the genre cinema of the 90s, where very beautiful people fight very ugly circumstances and invariably fall in love with each other against all winds.
Glen Powell as Tyler in a still from “Twisters”
Nostalgia with a Hint of Modernity
Hollywood’s “old-fashioned” can be annoying and unnerving, and the proven tropes of the genre are fueled by a shameless Republican mood of the spectacle. Country hits do not stop for a second, a Texan with a perfect smile Glen Powell in a white T-shirt and cowboy hat walks in the rain, rodeo is the best kind of leisure for a hard day’s night, and vagrants in minivans (the YouTuber’s team) are good Samaritans with a big heart (not like white collars!). The description of the entourage reveals a rather undisguised campaign: well, the elections in the States are coming very soon. In fact, the signs of the climate of the southern states, not only literal, but also social, infect with some uplifting mood and bribe with the charm of farmland. A solid alliance of familiar genre levers, guitar riffs, hurricane gusts of wind and the warming duet of Powell and Edgar-Jones turns “Twisters” into a nostalgic journey into the past, generally devoid of nostalgia.
Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kat in a still from “Twisters”
The film turned out to be predictable to the point of seeming comfortable, and unexpected just enough not to upset. The main character’s trauma with an unsuccessful launch does not make Kat numb or picturesquely suffer from panic attacks (remember Joel in “The Last of Us”), but on the contrary provokes her to fight and move forward. An optional shift in emphasis adds awareness to “Twisters”: the motivations of the main characters have changed compared to the first part. As in the cult “Speed”, in “Twister” Jan de Bont told the story of adrenaline junkies who cannot afford to live in peace and must spend their measured eternity in pursuit. Kat and Tyler are people who want to overcome their fear at all costs and decide to do what scares them to the core. Of course, the heads of storm chasers are in the clouds, but they do not forget about the weights on the bottom of the car.
It is impossible not to say that a blockbuster about the struggle of man with the elements is much more desirable to watch in 2024 than large-scale films about armed conflicts, where there are heroes and villains. “Twisters” chooses rescuers and rescued, and tornadoes paint not only the enemy, but also the magical mystery of nature - the approaching funnels resemble the onset of dementors from the Harry Potter films. But, it is worth admitting that the real magic is the chemistry between Powell and Edgar-Jones, with them I want to go to catch any tornadoes more than once!