If you grew up in Tornado Alley, then you’ll understand this: Remember that unsettling yet electric feeling you got when those tornado sirens went off in your hometown? It’s that mix of panic and adrenaline that makes you grab the closest family member while scanning the dark sky for funnel clouds. That’s exactly what Twisters (2024) conveys—edge-of-your-seat, heart-drumming excitement. This isn’t just another disaster movie; it’s a rollercoaster that flings you right into the eye of the storm. Fasten your seatbelts because Twisters is this year’s wildest cinematic ride. 

Fans of the original Twister (1996) have been waiting for a worthy comeback for decades, and Twisters delivers such excellence. If you’re a fan of the original, then it probably taught you one thing: tornadoes are terrifying but thrilling. So, when the Twisters sequel was announced, the first thought was probably, “Can they even touch the original?” They not only touch it, but they blow the houses’ roofs off. The movie contains enough hidden surprises to satisfy long-time fans. Fans will get their flying cow moments as a nod to the original film, but will also get more emotional depth and some serious epic storm action. Director Lee Isaac Chung knows how to make you get fully invested in the characters, and that’s a big reason why Twisters feels like so much more than just another CGI-heavy disaster film.

We’ve come a long way since 1996—CGI isn’t what it used to be. The original tornado effects, while groundbreaking for their time, look like cotton candy clouds compared to what Twisters produces. The movie serves tornadoes that will have you on the edge of your seat. They’re bigger, more intense, and strikingly realistic. 

The adrenaline starts in the first tornado scene. Imagine the feeling you get when you see that first ginormous cloud of dust as it tears through the cornfield, the sky turning an eerie green, and the debris swirling all around like it’s possessed. Then the wind picks up speed, and you’re sucked into the storm’s wrath. It’s the cinematic equivalent of hearing the booming sirens on a muggy afternoon. The CGI is so sharp that you might find yourself involuntarily ducking when a piece of someone’s roof flies toward the camera. 

Twisters doesn’t just show tornadoes; it throws the viewer inside of them. There’s one particularly eerie scene where the characters are inside a multi-vortex tornado at night. The only light on the screen comes from the flickers of lightning and sparks flying off downed power lines. Every swirl of debris and whistle echoing in the wind feels and sounds insanely real. If you’ve ever been close to a tornado, you may want to hold onto a friend or family member when you watch this scene.

Many disaster movies leave you bored until the next explosion because the characters are dull. Not in this movie. The cast of Twisters adds a lot of charm to the film, leaving viewers to care what happens to them. Lead actors Glenn Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones lead the charge as two storm chasers who aren’t just adrenaline junkies. They’ve got deep, personal reasons for facing these tornadoes, and the movie takes time to explore why they do what they do. There’s an entire backstory about loss, guilt, and trying to find control in chaos that will punch you in the gut just as hard as the tornadoes themselves. Powell’s character is a joke-cracking charmer with something to prove, while Edgar-Jones plays the no-nonsense scientist with a chip on her shoulder. The two have a lot of chemistry and after a few scenes together, you start to genuinely root for their relationship. 

The beauty of Twisters is that it’s not just about the insane action. There’s real emotional depth here. At its heart, Twisters is about how people cope with the literal and figurative loss and unpredictable storms that life throws at them. Every tornado-chasing mission is loaded with tension, not just because of the tornado, but because of what’s at stake for each character personally.

That said, the movie has lighter moments so it doesn’t get too heavy. It throws in a joke or two to keep the audience entertained on any emotional level. The humor is witty, natural, and never forced. One minute you’re laughing at Powell’s snarky comment, and the next, you’re gripping the armrests as a massive funnel cloud rips across the screen.

The sound design alone is enough to send chills down your spine, from the ominous rumbles of far-off storms to the deafening roar when a tornado touches down. Add in the stunning visuals, and you’ve got yourself a full-body experience. You’ll feel the wind, the chaos, the sheer force of nature—just like you would if you were standing on the porch of your childhood home staring down the storm of the century.

This isn’t just a movie; it’s an experience. It’s one of those rare blockbusters where the communal experience of being in a packed theater actually heightens the fun. People will be gasping, shouting, and grabbing onto each other during the nail-biting moments, and by the time the credits roll, everyone will be buzzing with that post-adrenaline high.

So why is Twisters the most thrilling cinematic experience of the year? Because it nails the perfect balance of heart, humor, and intense action. It’s not just another natural disaster film—it’s a deep dive into human nature, an exploration of loss and obsession, and a chance to watch some epic tornadoes tear through the fields. The film captures that same pulse-racing feeling you get when you hear those tornado sirens scream in your hometown, making you check the sky for signs of trouble, and the weather channel for any updates. It’s a mix of fear, astonishment, and excitement that you can’t shake off.

In a world full of mediocre action flicks and CGI overload, Twisters brings the kind of nostalgic thrill that reminds you why you love going to the movies in the first place. It’s wild, it’s heart-warming, and most of all, it’s deeply riveting. You’ll giggle, your eyes will be soaked, you’ll grip the seat through some of the most intense action scenes of the year—and when it’s over, you’ll walk out of the theater buzzing and beaming ear to ear, feeling like you lived through the storm and can’t wait to talk about the aftermath to your friends and family members.