Twister (1996)
Sometimes, life spirals out of control, and we find ourselves caught in the maelstrom. Wouldn’t it be great to think we could deploy some kind of strategy to bring it all under control? That’s what Jan De Bont’s Twister gives us, and the effect is so uplifting, the storm clouds literally dissipate before our eyes in the final reel. Two dedicated, married storm chasers on the brink of divorce find themselves thrown together in the pursuit of a particularly spectacular series of tornadoes, while they try to finish the development of an early warning system that will save lives. Having experienced first-hand the deadly power of these weather phenomena, the pair battle the elements to tame the twister.
Twister uses the perfect balance of humour and drama to weave this tale of science versus nature. It’s all a wonderfully tight roller-coaster ride of action and emotion, but as we cling on tight to speedy narrative, we realize that these storm chasers aren’t trying to fight nature at all. Their system works with the tornado – feeding the funnel with tiny monitors to relay vital information about how the mysterious and ferocious destructor works. As is reinforced by an ill-fated exchange with a rival team on a highway, it’s not about competition and beating the enemy, it’s about working together toward a common goal. As Twister ably demonstrates, that’s where humanity does its best work.
Published: Aug 27, 2014 02:16 pm