The roaring of the violent tempest shakes the whole theater. The audience can almost feel the wind whipping at their faces as the raging twister on-screen destroys everything in its way. Everyone holds their breath, waiting to see who will survive the storm, and who will be swept up in its turbulent path.

Twisters was a very exhilarating and entertaining watch. Although cliche at times, and lacking in complexity, the film certainly lived up to its role as a summer blockbuster and gave everyone who watched it a good time. It was released as a standalone sequel to the 1996 film Twister, with some nods to the original in the form of quotes, similar characters, and other small details for fans to pick up on.

The sequel follows the story of Kate, a former tornado chaser who is brought back to her home state of Oklahoma to test a groundbreaking new storm tracking system with an old friend. While there, she runs into the self-proclaimed “Tornado Wrangler” and YouTube superstar, Tyler Owens, and his thrill-seeking team. The competing storm chasers soon find themselves fighting for their lives in the tumultuous action that ensues.

Although full of action, the plot was not as developed and original as it could have been. Much of the movie consisted of grand, dramatic scenes of tornadoes and destruction. The plotline of Kate’s idea to stop tornadoes felt more like an excuse for her and Tyler to bond rather than an important part of the story. Also, there were many predictable themes and moments throughout the movie, such as Kate struggling to get over her fears from the past, or the fact that the less professional but more likable characters prevailed over those with better equipment, training, and funding. However, despite its simplicity, the movie was still engaging and kept the audience’s interest.

The movie wouldn’t be the same without the amazing cast choices. There couldn’t have been a better actor to play the lead storm chaser Tyler Owens than Glen Powell. His combination of charisma and cowboy was just what the role needed, especially with all the cheesy and trite lines in the script, which he was able to deliver perfectly. Powell grew up in Austin, and is in fact a Westwood alumni, and his Texas roots certainly showed in this country film. His excellent acting was perfectly paired with the choice of Daisy Edgar-Jones to play main character Kate. The two had captivating chemistry and kept the audience invested in their relationship, despite the dramatic events that were also taking place.

The soundtrack was another important contributor to the exciting, country energy emphasized throughout the movie, blending original music from many unique artists. From Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson to Jelly Roll and Benson Boone, each artists’ different takes on country come together cohesively. Luke Combs’ Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma seems to be the clear fan favorite of the album and accurately describes the danger and excitement of storm chasing. Although it was only heard during the movie for a brief moment during a short scene, the song quickly picked up popularity. It became a trending audio for social media videos, both related to the movie and not. The song’s versatile appeal is even able to win over those who aren’t country music fans.

Since its release, Twisters has exceeded expectations in the box office, and is now one of the top ten highest-grossing films of 2024 so far. A big factor in the film’s popularity is the option to watch it in 4DX. Twisters in 4DX set the record for the format’s strongest domestic opening weekend of the year. With shaking seats, air gusts all around, mists spraying, and lightning-like flashes, the audience in a 4DX theater is immediately transported onto the open plains of Oklahoma in the middle of a raging tornado. It greatly enhanced viewers’ experiences and made it an even more exciting movie to watch.

Twisters is a great choice for anyone looking for an action-packed experience that will keep them on the edge of their seat. It’s simple, and has all the right qualities that make it a sequel worthy of the original. Audiences can walk into the theater expecting a good time and leave with their hearts beating fast from the thrill.