As a film critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the industry evolve from the days of blockbuster premieres at your local cinema to the age of streaming services and IP-driven sequels. With this background, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when I think about films like “Twister.” The communal experience of watching a thrilling sequence unfold on the big screen with a crowd of fellow moviegoers is something that just can’t be replicated through a streaming platform.
Contains spoilers for “Twisters“
In “Twisters,” filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung and writer Mark L. Smith aim to breathe new life into the classic high-concept disaster movie genre with a unique twist (pun intended). While “Twisters” can be considered a follow-up to the 1996 blockbuster “Twister” directed by Jan de Bont, it tells an independent story that does not require prior knowledge for viewers to fully enjoy. Fans of the original may notice subtle references and nods scattered throughout.
The allure of “Twisters” is clear: Purchasing a ticket for this film means you’re in for an intellectually stimulating experience, combined with enjoyment from watching eye-catching actors amidst perilous tornadoes brought to life through exceptional special effects. If the storyline itself required explanation, it would fall short of its own goals. Yet, even when the narrative flows smoothly and makes complete sense, there’s still plenty to discuss concerning the film’s ending and underlying themes. Anyone with a curiosity for blockbuster movie production will be eager to delve deeper into how the cast and crew managed to create that thrilling final scene.
What you need to remember about the plot of Twisters
In the beginning of the movie “Twisters,” a group of storm chasers in Oklahoma are attempting to develop a new strategy for weakening tornadoes. Unfortunately, their experiment goes wrong, and Kate Cooper (portrayed by Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Javi (Anthony Ramos) are the sole survivors of the storm. Five years afterwards, Kate is now residing in New York City, working as a meteorologist. However, Javi manages to persuade her to rejoin him and his “StormPar” team back in Oklahoma to monitor an exceptionally powerful tornado season.
During their storm monitoring work, Kate, Javi, and Scott encounter competition from a group headed by YouTube sensation “Tornado Chaser” Tyler Owens. Romantically drawn to Kate, Tyler invites her to a rodeo. However, a devastating tornado strikes during their date, destroying the event and large parts of the town. Following this disaster, an argument ensues between Kate and Javi, leading Kate to abandon the team and return to her family’s home.
Kate is contemplating getting rid of all her previous scientific research, but her mother (Maura Tierney) advises against it, reminding her, “I’m still hoping for you to make a difference in the world.” Later, Tyler discovers Kate and recalls her acclaimed middle school science project on simulating tornadoes. She shares with him her painful past experiences. Instead of dwelling on destruction, he motivates her by discussing how tornadoes are categorized based on their aftermath, suggesting she lessen the damage by continuing to pursue her dreams.
What happened at the end of Twisters?
Tyler creates a computational representation of Kate’s storm dissipation device using a computer model, and they successfully address the prior issue by incorporating a chemical that transforms more moisture into rain prior to absorption. After reconciling with Javi and rejoining Tyler’s team, Kate and Tyler venture out to examine this concept during a tornado. However, unfortunate events transpire when the tornado encounters an oil refinery, resulting in a massive inferno and an even more formidable tornado.
As a seasoned survivor of numerous natural disasters, I can tell you that in times of crisis, every second counts. Kate and Tyler’s crew, my dear friends, were quick to act when they saw people in need. They selflessly headed into town to help those who were unable to help themselves.
As I approached the airport in the final moments, my heart heavy with the thought of leaving Kate behind, I tried one last time to persuade her to stay. “I know this feeling you have,” I said, “if you think it’s worth pursuing, then go chase it.” To my surprise, she agreed and we headed into the airport together. However, Mother Nature had other plans as all flights were grounded due to bad weather. The screen faded to black with the caption: “They continued their storm chasing journey together.”
What the ending of Twisters means for Kate
In “Twisters,” Kate’s journey revolves around reviving abandoned aspirations and turning past disappointments into triumphs. With support from loved ones and an inspiring new companion, she rekindles her enthusiasm for extreme weather research and humanitarian efforts. Overcoming feelings of guilt and self-doubt, Kate ultimately achieves success that surpasses her wildest expectations.
As a fan, I’d describe Kate as a brave and dedicated scientist. The scientific process requires her to repeat experiments with modifications at times, which can be challenging, especially since the consequences of error in her field are severe. Five years ago, a storm took the lives of her colleagues, an incident she cannot reverse. However, she retains the same resilience and determination in the face of new challenges that storm may bring.
What the end of Twisters means for the world
As a seasoned meteorologist with decades of experience under my belt, I can tell you that Kate’s supposed tornado-killing formula raises some serious red flags for me. While it’s undeniably impressive that she managed to navigate a tornado and allegedly develop a groundbreaking solution to prevent its destruction, the lack of credible evidence supporting her claim leaves me skeptical.
In the constraints of the film’s realistic narrative, Kate cannot fully save the world with her science-fiction invention. Introducing this element on a grand scale could shift the focus from scientific fact to speculation, potentially altering the intended direction for future installments. Moreover, having a device that stops tornadoes may not provide an engaging drama for potential sequels titled “Twisters.” Regardless, Kate is content with her achievement of saving her town and conquering her deepest fears, even if skepticism surrounds her method.
What Twisters does (and doesn’t) say about climate change
As a fan, I’d express it this way: In “Twisters,” the creators didn’t just ramp up the danger from the original “Twister” with bigger tornados. They mirrored our current situation, where natural disasters are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Despite bringing up climate change in interviews, the film itself never mentions those critical words.
“Twisters” doesn’t have to use those specific words for its message to be clear. When Kate’s mother discusses deteriorating weather conditions, it will resonate with viewers who have experienced the effects of climate disasters in their own lives. The visual representation of an oil refinery turning a powerful tornado into a fiery beast is not overtly subtle in its environmental symbolism.
Director Lee Isaac Chung explained to CNN that he didn’t use the term “climate change” in his film to keep it from appearing as if it was delivering a particular message. The recognition of climate change as a fact is now so contentious that it’s considered a statement in itself, but the script’s ambiguous language can also be justified by the ongoing scientific debate regarding the exact relationship between climate change and tornadoes. While the changing climate influences the conditions that favor tornado formation, more research is needed to establish the cause-and-effect connection.
Daisy Edgar-Jones explains how she did those stunts
In 1996, the release of “Twister” drew crowds due to its unique blend of traditional special effects and groundbreaking computer-generated imagery. The film’s production was chaotic, with more actual twister scenes filmed on set than one might assume. While modern movies boast even more stunning CGI, what sets apart the latest disaster flick is its seamless integration of digital storms with real environments (shooting in Oklahoma was essential for director Lee Isaac Chung).
In an interview with Variety, Daisy Edgar-Jones shared her exhilarating experience of filming the movie’s thrilling climax. She described it as being “like a day at an amusement park,” even though some parts were digitally enhanced, such as the falling water tower. However, the ensuing flood and shattering chandeliers were genuine, she disclosed. When probed about any injuries sustained during these risky scenes, Edgar-Jones quipped, “Only my hair was hurt. I had a lot of debris entering my ears due to the wind blowing things in there. They provided me with special ear drops to clear out the grime.”
Edgar-Jones had to undergo extensive physical preparation for her film role, focusing notably on running scenes. In parallel, her “Normal People” costar Paul Mescal was similarly gearing up for “Gladiator II,” engaging in comparable training. As friends, they encouraged and motivated each other throughout the process.
Lee Isaac Chung on the significance of the movie theater set piece
In the concluding scene of “Twisters,” the movie theater represents a tribute to the drive-in moment in the initial “Twister.” Instead of Jack Nicholson’s character Jack Torrance from “The Shining” wielding an axe and the screen collapsing, we now have Colin Clive’s Dr. Henry Frankenstein from the 1931 “Frankenstein” film yelling, “It’s alive!” as the theater crumbles due to the storm. This movie theater scene isn’t merely a charming allusion; it symbolizes the essence of the entire film.
In an interview with IndieWire, director Lee Isaac Chung shared his intentions behind making a movie theater the safe haven in his film. He expressed, “The design of that theater, the large screen, special effects, and stunts were all planned with the idea that people would be immersed in the experience from their seats.” Amidst the uncertainties of the film industry during COVID and the rise of streaming services, Chung used this sequence as a tribute to the importance of communal movie-going: “I was aware of the numerous jobs relying on the movie’s success and the theater itself being vulnerable. These thoughts were constantly on my mind while creating the finale scene in this film.”
What the end of Twisters could mean for franchise potential
At the moment, it’s uncertain if there will be any additional “Twister” films. If a sequel does materialize, we don’t know when it would be released or what its plot would entail. A quarter of a century elapsed between “Twister” and “Twisters,” which are two distinct movies that share the same general theme as their only real connection.
In the 2020s, with Hollywood focusing more on intellectual property (IP) than in the 1990s, a blockbuster hit like “Twisters” could significantly reduce the time it takes for a third installment. Two potential directions for this sequel exist:
Daisy Edgar-Jones expressed her readiness to play Kate once more in a sequel, sharing with Variety, “I’m fond of the storm-chasing universe. It would be exciting to discover what new elements they could introduce.” Nevertheless, she pondered over the title for a possible third installment, questioning, “Would they merely need to append ‘s’ to ‘Twisters’ for subsequent titles?”
Twisters’ potential alternate ending
There’s speculation about whether we’ll uncover an alternate version of “Twisters” ending, but it seems one significant difference emerged between filming the airport scene and the movie’s final edit. Snaps from the set have surfaced online, such as X (previously Twitter), depicting Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell locking lips at the airport. However, in the released film, the scene ends with a blackout, leaving Kate and Tyler staring at each other, hinting at a potential kiss.
In the rom-com genre’s airport setting, including that kiss would have aligned with the expected cheesy atmosphere. For Powell, known for his roles in romantic comedies like “Anyone But You” and “Hit Man,” removing the kiss might disappoint some fans. Was this an intentional shift to emphasize Kate and Tyler’s professional bond instead of their romance? Or is it a reflection of Hollywood’s trend towards shying away from sexual and romantic content in movies? It’s unclear, but some audience members may be disappointed by the absence of a romantic moment between the two charming leads in “Twisters.”
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2024-07-19 00:32