Twisters
Twisters is a 2024 American disaster film serving as a standalone sequel to the 1996 movie 'Twister.' The narrative centers on Kate Carter, a former meteorologist who returns to Oklahoma to confront a devastating tornado outbreak. Driven by a past tragedy, Kate collaborates with a team, including Javi, to deploy advanced storm-tracking technology in an effort to understand and potentially mitigate the destructive forces of nature. Their mission is complicated by the presence of a rival team of thrill-seeking social media storm chasers, led by the charismatic but reckless Tyler Owens. The film is an action-packed adventure that explores themes of scientific curiosity, resilience, and humanity's relationship with powerful natural phenomena, making it suitable for audiences who enjoy intense disaster films. It carries a PG-13 rating due to its immersive and often harrowing depictions of natural peril and some mature thematic elements.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe movie contains frequent and intense depictions of natural disaster violence, primarily from tornadoes, which result in death, severe injuries, and widespread destruction. The CGI is immersive and realistic, with scenes showing people being swept away and massive environmental devastation.
The film opens with a powerful EF5 tornado that tragically kills several of Kate Carter's friends, including her boyfriend Jeb, who are visibly lifted into the air and swept away while attempting to deploy scientific equipment. Throughout the movie, characters are directly impacted by the storms; for example, Kate herself is shown tattered and bloody with a gory gash on her leg after encountering a twister, and another character, Tyler, gets his leg trapped under a tram rail.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film is characterized by highly intense and frightening scenes involving powerful tornadoes, which are central to the plot. These sequences include realistic depictions of massive destruction, life-threatening situations, and moments of extreme peril that can be genuinely disturbing.
The movie features numerous harrowing scenes, such as a tornado striking a night-time rodeo, causing widespread chaos, panic, and an overwhelming sense of terror. Another intense sequence involves an oil refinery being engulfed by a twister, leading to massive explosions and a fiery vortex. Characters are frequently in life-threatening situations, including Kate Carter being trapped in an overturned vehicle and visibly covered in blood.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe film features openly queer actresses Sasha Lane and Katy O'Brian in supporting roles as members of the storm-chasing crew. While their characters, Lily and Dani, do not have explicit on-screen romantic relationships, fan communities have noted their presence and discussed potential subtext or a 'vaguely gay vibe,' contributing to discussions about queer representation without explicit depiction.
Sasha Lane, an openly queer actress, plays Lily, a drone pilot on Tyler Owens' storm-chasing team. Katy O'Brian, also an openly queer actress known for roles in LGBTQ+ centric media, portrays Dani, a mechanic on the same team, whose character has garnered attention from fans for her 'Hot Masc In Cowboy Hat' aesthetic. Discussions within fan communities speculate on a possible romantic connection between Lily and Dani, although the film itself does not explicitly depict a relationship.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic and sexual content is mild, with no explicit sex scenes or nudity. It includes a brief kiss and implied intimacy through a dream sequence, as well as developing romantic tension and flirting between main characters.
Early in the film, the main character Kate shares a brief, tender kiss with her then-boyfriend, Jeb. Following a tragic event, Kate has a dream sequence where she wakes up to find her deceased boyfriend in bed with her, suggesting a past intimate relationship without showing any explicit sexual content.
Profanity
MediumThe film includes a noticeable amount of profanity, featuring several strong curse words and numerous mild expletives, as well as exclamations using terms of deity. While not excessively gratuitous, the frequency and intensity of some words warrant attention.
The dialogue contains approximately six instances of the 's-word' (sh*t), along with multiple uses of 'damn,' 'hell,' and 'a**'. Additionally, characters frequently use exclamations such as 'Oh God' and 'For God's sake' during stressful or intense moments.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe film portrays elements of disrespect and rebellion through the character of Tyler Owens, a social media storm chaser who prioritizes capturing viral content over safety protocols and displays a reckless attitude. There are also subtle themes of unethical behavior related to disaster recovery that are later addressed.
Tyler Owens, a 'cocky and carefree YouTube star,' leads a storm-chasing team that often takes reckless risks and displays disregard for established safety measures in pursuit of social media fame, representing a form of defiance against responsible conduct. Additionally, Javi's business partner, Scott, is involved in a subplot that touches upon initially 'chilly' and potentially unethical business practices related to exploiting tornado victims, though the film resolves this with his eventual repentance.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowNo elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or supernatural themes were found or depicted in the film. The narrative remains grounded in scientific attempts to understand and respond to natural phenomena.
The content analysis found no instances of characters engaging in or referencing witchcraft, occult practices, or any form of supernatural magic. The film's plot is entirely focused on meteorology, technology, and human interaction with natural disasters.
Substance Use
LowSubstance use is minimal and incidental, limited to adult characters briefly consuming alcohol in social settings. There is no depiction of drug use, smoking, or substance abuse as a plot point.
Adult characters are occasionally seen drinking alcohol, specifically beer from bottles, during social gatherings at various venues. There are no scenes depicting the use of illegal drugs, smoking, or any instances that glamorize or centralize substance abuse.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe movie does not contain any anti-Christian themes. Instead, it features a strong moral worldview emphasizing positive values such as helping others, sacrifice, and doing the right thing. It also presents a positive perspective on the compatibility of science and faith.
The film upholds a strong moral worldview, promoting values such as selflessness and compassion in the face of disaster. One notable instance includes a character's dialogue suggesting that 'studying tornadoes is a combination of science and religion,' framing both as compatible and complementary rather than contradictory.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 13 and up. The movie's PG-13 rating is justified by intense and realistic action and peril from tornadoes, including implied deaths and injuries. It also contains some mild profanity and suggestive romantic elements, which may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive viewers.
Additional Notes
The film is a standalone sequel to 'Twister' (1996) and intensifies the action and visual effects of natural disasters. Parents should be aware that while the core themes are positive, the visual intensity and perilous situations may be overwhelming for younger viewers. The pacing between storm sequences can vary, with some critics noting a drop-off in intensity during character development scenes.
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