Twister
1996 · Directed by Jan de Bont
Original language: English
- action
- adventure
- drama
The story
An unprecedented series of violent tornadoes is sweeping across Oklahoma. Tornado chasers, headed by Dr. Jo Harding, attempt to release a groundbreaking device that will allow them to track them and create a more advanced warning system. They are joined by Jo's soon to be ex-husband Bill, a former tornado chaser himself, and his girlfriend Melissa.
What it’s like
Vast, flat Oklahoma sky rendered in mid-1990s film stock, with sun-bleached fields, bruised green-black storm walls, and an eerie yellow-grey light that turns the air itself thick and menacing before the wind arrives. Jan de Bont's camera rides in trucks and jostles with handheld urgency, cutting between wide shots of funnels crawling across open plains and close, dusty interiors of barns, roadhouses and battered pickups. The sound design is the star: roaring wind, debris pinging off metal, and a shuddering, low-register score that swells into full-throated chaos. Its vibe is adrenaline-fuelled but warm, a big-sky popcorn ride with a bickering, affectionate core. Pacing is brisk and escalating, with long stretches of wind-rattled tension broken by spectacular set pieces. The emotional register is hopeful and playful, following a estranged married couple slowly rediscovering their shared purpose. Intensity is high in spectacle but low in gore: frequent peril, flying debris and some injuries, with little blood and no sexual content. Suited to viewers who want a thrilling, crowd-pleasing disaster film with heart rather than something quiet or gentle.
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