Lee Isaac Chung’s Twisters brings back the whirlwind excitement of storm chasing with a fresh perspective. The screenplay by Mark L. Smith, based on a story by Joseph Kosinski, delivers a narrative that, while echoing the 1996 original, charts its own course through the chaotic beauty of tornadoes. Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kate Cooper, a retired meteorologist and former storm chaser, joined by Glen Powell as Tyler Owens, a storm chaser who is famous on YouTube (apparently, over 1 million subscribers), and Anthony Ramos as Javi, Kate's former colleague.

Chung’s direction, paired with Dan Mindel’s cinematography, showcases visually competent and well-framed shots of the catastrophic storms. Mindel wisely avoids the temptation of dramatic shaky camera work, opting instead for efficient shots that clearly depict the wild tornadoes and their destructive paths. The result is a visual feast that is both intense and clear, allowing the audience to fully grasp the unfolding disasters (and it may get a nod in the Visual Effects category come Awards season, if the superhero genre does not fully dominate it).

The film opens with a sequence reminiscent of the 1996 Twister, with a team helming a device named Dorothy (seen in the first film), seemingly on the same mission as the original team. However, this 15-minute prologue takes a wild turn, setting the stage for a narrative that distinguishes itself from its predecessor and sets up Kate's character effectively. While Twisters shares similarities with the first film, it stands on its own with several tense and gripping sequences.

However, the film does feel a bit repetitive at times, and its pacing could have benefited from trimming 20-30 minutes. Despite this, Twisters is a welcome addition to the disaster film genre, which has seen very few well-made entries in recent years. Compared to lackluster efforts like Geostorm (2017) and Hurricane Heist (2018), Twisters stands out as a well-made action-packed disaster film.

The country soundtrack is fittingly upbeat, enhancing the film's atmosphere. The sound design, coupled with impressive visual effects, creates an immersive experience. The character interactions, while not groundbreaking, contribute to a decent, fun, turn-your-brain-off popcorn flick.

In conclusion, Twisters may not have the shock factor of its predecessor (where the visual effects were unlike anything else seen in 1996), but it offers a thrilling ride for those in the mood for a disaster-action film. It's not without its flaws, but for fans of the genre, it is most likely an entertaining storm worth chasing.