Here’s What The Critics Think Of Twisters

5 months ago

This disaster film is set against the backdrop of climate change

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Love an apocalypse movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat? There’s just a week to go until we can see Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell starring in Twisters, a high-octane action climate disaster film about scientists battling tornadoes. Here’s everything you need to know before you watch, plus what the critics are saying.

Twisters: Plot, Cast, Release Date

(from left) Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), Javi (Anthony Ramos), and Tyler (Glen Powell), in Twisters directed by Lee Isaac Chung. © Warner Bros

A star-studded remake of 1996 blockbuster Twister (though it has also been called a standalone sequel), Twisters follows a group of weather researchers who find themselves at the mercy of lethal storms. The original film was a box office hit, going on to receive Oscar nominations for its visual effects and sound design. While it’s inspired by the 1996 film, however, Twisters won’t return to the plot and characters from Twister; instead, it will stand alone as a modern-day story – one which highlights the terrifying effects of climate change.

Daisy Edgar-Jones leads the cast of Twisters, starring as NYC-based researcher Kate Cooper.

(from left) Lily (Sasha Lane) and Tyler (Glen Powell), in Twisters directed by Lee Isaac Chung. © Warner Bros

What Is Twisters About?

According to the film’s official synopsis, Twisters follows Kate, ‘a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City’.

However, Kate is soon lured back into danger after her friend Javi convinces her ‘to test a groundbreaking new tracking system,’ the synopsis continues. ‘There, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens, the charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew, the more dangerous the better.

‘As terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives.’

L to R: Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell in TWISTERS, from Universal, Warner Bros., and Amblin Entertainment.

Who Stars In Twisters?

Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People, Where The Crawdads Sing) as Kate Cooper
Glen Powell (Anyone But You, Top Gun: Maverick) as Tyler Owens
Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) as Javi
Brandon Perea (Nope)
Sasha Lane (American Honey)
Daryl McCormack (Peaky Blinders)
Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)
Nik Dodani (Atypical)
Maura Tierney (Beautiful Boy)

Daisy Edgar-Jones in TWISTERS, from Universal, Warner Bros., and Amblin Entertainment.

What Are The Critics Saying?

The early reviews for Twisters are in – and they’re overwhelmingly positive.

Robbie Collin at The Telegraph called it ‘the best cinematic experience since Top Gun: Maverick’ in a five star review. Even in a lukewarm three star review, The Guardian‘s Peter Bradshaw described Twisters as ‘a fun film with some big setpiece scenes’ featuring ‘spectacular stormy weather’.

‘The story leaves something to be desired, but #Twisters absolutely delivers where it matters with huge-scale thrilling set pieces,’ added Digital Spy‘s Ian Sandwell. ‘Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell are an engaging lead duo, but it’s Brandon Perea who steals every scene he’s in.’

GamesRadar+‘s Emily Murray even went so far as to declare Twisters is better than its 1994 predecessor. ‘If you want a great summer blockbuster this year, #TwistersMovie more than has you covered,’ she wrote. ‘Great fun, led by charming duo Edgar-Jones and Powell, it’s also unafraid to take risks. Glad I watched the original before as there’s neat callbacks – I feel this is a better film though!’

It’s Edgar-Jones’ first foray into action – and she handles it well, says Beth Webb at Empire: ‘The blockbuster is new turf for the Normal People actor, but you wouldn’t think it to watch her intuitively navigate the film’s huge scale while keeping her character’s PTSD barely below the surface. Kate’s sixth sense for storms, which she’s had since childhood, could be corny in the wrong hands, but the actor’s forthright presence gives it weight.’

‘With Edgar-Jones and Powell’s fizzing appeal at its epicentre, Twisters at once feels like a testament to a new generation of stars and a gripping old-school movie event,’ Webb concludes, branding the movie four stars. ‘Fear it. Watch it.’