In the open plains of Oklahoma, University student Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) leads a young team to hunt for tornadoes and track them using the tech from Twister (1996) to improve emergency warning systems and explore ways to possibly disperse them.

Moving to New York City after a tragedy, Kate’s old colleague Javi (Anthony Ramos) asks for her help back in the field to test a revolutionary new tracking system.

Twisters (1996) was a groundbreaking disaster adventure from Jan de Bont, the director ofSpeed (1994). Like Rob Cohen’s The Fast and the Furious (2001), the movie shone a spotlight on a little-known but exciting subculture; storm chasers, showcasing their obsession mixed with their scientific aplomb.  

This outing is a re-quel: a quasi-remake, sequel, and spiritual prequel. The story beats are the same, with plenty of subtle call-backs to the original, while hinting at the burgeoning romance of the original’s leads. The lack of legacy characters ensures our young cast gets plenty of opportunity to shine while getting down and dirty.

Daisy Edgar-Jones plays a fantastic heroine. Understandably escaping to the Big Apple to analyse storm patterns behind the safety of a computer screen, like Ripley inAliens (1986), Kate chooses to return to her hometown to finally face her fears head-on. Glen Powell takes the reins of the classic leading man archetype from Chris Pratt, serving as a handsome, charming but cheeky romantic interest and competent business rival.

Verdict: A fantastic nail-biting cinematic experience. 4 stars.

Luke McWilliams, themovieclub.net. Viewed at Dendy Cinemas.