Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

Movie Name/Year: Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Length:  2h 13min
Rating: PG-13
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writers: Michael Crichton, David Koepp
Actors: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda, Philippine Velge, Bechir Sylvain, Ed Skrein, Adam Loxley, Niamh Finlay

IMDb Blurb: Five years post-Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), an expedition braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.

Cat’s Point of View:
The fact that I wanted to watch Jurassic World: Rebirth pretty much went without saying. I am down for any trip into the universe created by the belated Michael Crichton. I adored the 2 books that spawned this expansive franchise, and I’ve been in love with the movies – every single one of them.

I know, I know… they messed with the plot from the books and have taken things into different directions. Not only that, not every foray into the world of these genetically engineered dinos has had the most effective plot. I don’t care about all of that. I love the thrill of watching the meticulously executed dinosaurs on the screen interacting with the modern world.

I will never forget my first experience with Jurassic Park (1993). It was the first movie I was dropped off to watch with a friend without an adult present. I had already read the books and I was so awestruck by what I saw on the screen that I didn’t care there were differences between the page and the production. I left the theater easing back from my adrenaline rush and awash in the glow of being mesmerized by the magic of the special effects.

Even to this day, this series holds a special place in my heart and I will stop and watch any of them, even if I catch them in the middle – especially that first Jurassic Park. They’re comfort movies for me.

Jurassic World: Rebirth brought me back to some of those more primal feelings and reminded me about my love for this franchise. There were moments that were heartwarming, awe inspiring, and the tension was also on point. It checked the box of plans going sideways unexpectedly, and I even accidentally squeezed my daughter’s hand too tightly during a particularly harrowing scene.

If there was one thing that I missed from the original book that wasn’t in the first movie, it was the river encounter. The 3^rd installment of the original trilogy did somewhat remedy the omissions with its aviary and river scenes. If you thought that the trip along the river in Jurassic Park III (2001) was even a little scary, though, hold on to your proverbial hat for Jurassic World: Rebirth. I had white knuckles and what felt like heart palpitations.

One of the themes that I really enjoyed about Rebirth was that it paid homage to the original Jurassic Park movie in so many ways. I was delighted by all of the Easter eggs that were sprinkled throughout the entire movie. It seemed to live up to the promise of a fresh start in the wake of the Jurassic World (2015) trilogy conclusion. Jurassic World: Rebirth showed that it is, indeed, possible to move forward with stand-alone stories that don’t depend on legacy characters, dinosaurs, or even locations. We're all just living in a fully immersive world where dinosaurs are now a fixture of life on the planet.

If you love the Jurassic Park franchise or are even curious about it and haven’t seen the 6 prior movies, Jurassic World: Rebirth would offer an excellent cinematic experience for you. It can be enjoyed on its own, or with the knowledge carried forward that lets the subtle reminders of the past layer in some extra depth.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 52%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –72%
Metascore – 50%
Metacritic User Score – 5.5/10
IMDB Score – 6.2/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

Movie Trailer:

Fear Street: Part Three - 1666 (2021)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Fear Street: Part Three - 1666 (2021)
Original Title: Fear Street: 1666
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Length:  1h 54min
Rating: R
Director: Leigh Janiak
Writers: R.L. Stine, Kate Trefry, Phil Graziadei, Leigh Janiak
Based On: Fear Street book series by R.L. Stine
Actors: Kiana Madeira, Elizabeth Scopel, Benjamin Flores Jr., Randy Havens, Julia Rehwald, Matthew Zuk, Fred Hechinger, Michael Chandler, Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Olivia Scott Welch, Lacy Camp, McCabe Slye, Ashley Zukerman, Jordana Spiro, Jeremy Ford, Charlene Amoia, Mark Ashworth, Todd Allen Durkin, Ryan Simpkins, Ted Sutherland, Gillian Jacobs, Darrell Britt-Gibson

IMDb Blurb: In 1666, a colonial town is gripped by a witch hunt that has deadly consequences for centuries to come, while teenagers in 1994 try to put an end to their town's curse before it is too late.

Cat’s Point of View:

The third and final act of Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy made for a satisfying book-end to the three-film run of this story.

The first movie sparked so many questions, and the second offered few answers, whetting the appetite for more. Fear Street Part Three: 1666 offered not only an origin story to this tale of a curse enveloping twin cities, but also a fitting resolution in the “present day” where the narrative began in 1994.

Part Three offers revelations that aren’t quite as shocking as they likely were intended to be, and yet the twisty shenanigans still entertained.

I understand some of the detractors from this third installment complaining that it felt like this was 2 whole movies smushed together. In some ways, it could be seen that way. I, however, appreciate the way that the extended flashback occurred. It more viscerally brought us into the story of the origins of the curse that befell Shadyside. It pulled our present-day characters into the parallel scenario of the past.

The setting of 1666, while likely a year selected for the numerical significance with its dark connotations, did fall in a period of time when witch fever was still high between the general timeline of The Burning Times in Europe and the Salem Witch Trial era in the 1690s. The segment from the past felt plausible and harrowingly fitting to that time period.

The transition between the past and the present were done well. I enjoyed seeing how the familiar faces wove into the past and brought the situation in 1994 into greater focus.

Of course, the climax was as campy as you would expect based on the build-up from the first 2 teen slasher installments. There was still plenty of blood to be spilled and inventive plans to be hatched.

Over all, I really enjoyed the entirety of the experience of this trilogy. I do strongly suggest that anyone interested in Fear Street Part Three: 1666 go back and watch the movies in order. Just a reminder that they are a continuous story from Part 1 through Part 3. Netflix does offer skippable recaps, but why read the Cliff’s Notes when the whole of the tale is so entertaining? Each movie ends with a “to be continued,” and is nicely concluded with this third installment.

Sometimes trilogies don’t pay off in the way you would hope, and leave questions and missed opportunities in their wake. This was not the case with the Fear Street trilogy encompassing 1994, 1978, & 1666.

If you’re a fan of R.L. Stine’s work, or the nostalgic horror of campy teen slasher flicks, this trilogy and specifically its conclusion will be right up your alley.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 89%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 76%
Metascore – 68%
Metacritic User Score – 6.5/10
IMDB Score – 6.6/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

Movie Trailer:

Fear Street: Part Two - 1978 (2021)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Fear Street: Part Two - 1978 (2021)
Genre: Horror, Drama, Mystery
Length: 1h 49min
Rating: R
Director: Leigh Janiak
Writer: Leigh Janiak, Zak Olkewicz, Phil Graziadei, R.L. Stine
Actors: Gillian Jacobs, Kiana Madeira, Benjamin Flores Jr., Olivia Scott Welch, Sadie Sink, Brandon Spink, Chiara Aurelia, Marcelle LeBlanc, Eden Campbell, Ted Sutherland, Michael Provost, Drew Scheid, Emily Rudd, McCabe Slye, Jordana Spiro, Ashley Zukerman
 
Blurb from IMDb: Shadyside, 1978. School's out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.

 
Selina's Point of View:
We're catching up on the Fear Street movies we missed, so expect part three next week. Cat and I discussed it, and we couldn't believe we had skipped reviewing these. It was an easy choice to fix that oversight. R.L. Stine was childhood for both of us.
 
It was a great idea for the three parts to be released in the same month, since two and three start where the last left off. It keeps the movies fresh in the mind of audiences. When there's a situation like this, where it all leads into each other, this should be common practice. Think about how much better it would have been to watch something like The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) at the beginning of the month and then The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) at the end of the same month if they'd come out the way the first three Fear Streets did. There could have been special showings where theaters put them back-to-back with a short intermission for bathroom breaks. I would have paid out the nose for that.
 

But I digress.
 
Like in the first part, Fear Street felt nostalgic. It followed all the horror movie rules that we once had laid out for us in Scream (1996), and it had the familiar setting that we saw in Friday the 13th. It also has that distinct R.L. Stine flair to it, though I'm sure the movie took liberties with the original material.
 
I did like part one a little better, though not enough to make a difference. They're on equal footing with story, and slightly campy acting, but the kills in part one were much more creative. Part two was bloodier though. It depends what you want from your slasher flick.
 
I look forward to seeing how the third movie ties in, and if there actually is an end to Sara Fier. R.L. Stine's endings aren't always happy. That makes it a little difficult to predict.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 88%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 81%
Metascore – 61%
Metacritic User Score – 7.0
IMDB Score – 6.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina's Rating – 3.5/5
 
P.S. Don't look at the IMDb page before watching the movie, it spoils something.
 
Movie Trailer:

The Platform 2 (2024)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix 

Movie Name/Year: The Platform 2 (2024)

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Length: 1h 39min

Rating: TV-MA

Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

Writers: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, Pedro Rivero, David Desola, Egoitz Moreno

Actors: Milena Smit, Hovik Keuchkerian, Natalia Tena, Óscar Jaenada, Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Bastien Ughetto, Armando Buika, Pedro Bachura, Antonia San Juan, Alexandra Masangkay, Emilio Buale, Albert Pla, Gorka Zufiaurre, Ken Appledorn, Hoji Fortuna, Mariamu Toure, Sesinou Henriette, Patty Bonet, Tadashi Ito

 

Metacritic Blurb: As a mysterious leader imposes their rule in the Platform, a new resident becomes embroiled in the battle against this controversial method to fight the brutal feeding system. But when eating from the wrong plate becomes a death sentence, how far would you be willing to go to save your life?

 

 

Selina’s Point of View:

What do I think of The Platform 2? I think my back is killing me.

 

I didn’t move a muscle during the entire film. I’ll be honest, I’m not even sure I was breathing. It had the same achingly impressive suspense that The Platform (2019) did. In fact, it was completely up to the level of the original film. For a sequel to do that is impressive.

 

The social commentary was also on point. It shined a light on how a law that looks good on paper could be seen as unfair. It also showed how bad enforcement of a law could be just as detrimental as if it did not exist in the first place. It was superbly done.

 

 

I didn’t remember much about the first film. After all, it was from the pre-COVID era and the whole world changed shortly after. Never-the-less, I remembered enough to be shocked when I realized it was a prequel. It’s possible I knew that from the trailers, but it’s been long enough that it completely slipped my mind. I was expecting a more sequel-esk plot. That little twist was interesting. It really brought out the differences between the loyalists and the barbarians.

 

There’s also a short scene after the start of the credits that ties everything together in a way I never expected. I’m still a little confused by it, but not in a bad way.

 

I loved The Platform 2. I’ll follow the story as far as they want to take it.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

The Platform (2019) may not have been one of my favorite movies, but it certainly stuck with me after we watched it for review in April 2020. I suppose you could say that it was on our “Pandemic Watch List,” even though it was at the very beginning and before things really got wonky. In my review, I pondered whether or not Netflix would revisit the story and provide a sequel. Now I have my answer – even if it wasn't all that I was hoping for.

 

I'll clarify that statement a little.

 

I noted that I wasn't just interested in revisiting the concept, but instead was hoping to learn more about the world or time period that brought about “the pit” and the human social experiment that went with it. Alas, that was not what happened.

 

My mild disappointment aside, that didn't really impact my viewing experience for this sequel. When I watched the trailers, it was clear that The Platform 2 was going to be approaching the story a little differently. Initially, I wasn't even sure if it was going to be tied to the original film. During my watch-through, however, it clicked that I'd seen one of the characters before. By the end, the connections became more clear. Some of the ties that bind the 2 films are more overt, but there's also a more subtle thread that weaves them together – both explanations of which would be spoilers.

 

 

The Platform 2 doesn't have as much mystery as the first film, because we know how the titular platform system works by the time we reach this second experience. (If you haven't watched the first movie, this may all just be more confusing. I'd recommend watching in order.) There's definitely more brutality and shock-value here than examined in the first installment.

 

This story was clearly another slap-in-the-face social commentary. There were a few Uncanny Valley moments that were a little disturbing, but the take on how the extreme enforcement of laws without examination of mitigating circumstances allowing flexibility was clear. It also gives us a hard look at the dark side of those with the power to act on a savior complex and fanatical zealots.

 

I'd have to say that out of the 2 films, the first had more impact. It's even worked its way into culinary arts pop culture. Network television has a reality cooking competition show with Gordon Ramsay (MasterChef USA, Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen) called Next Level Chef (2022-). It features the central platform of food that travels through 3 levels, giving chefs on the top first pick and those on the bottom are stuck with whatever's left. (Let me tell you, I cackled when I saw the first preview ad for that show because I instantly recognized where they got the idea.) While I really enjoy the cooking show, and in hindsight I would give The Platform a higher rating, I can't say the same for this sequel.

 

That doesn't take away from the fact that this new film was just as expertly put together and well-executed as the first. It does have its strengths, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout.

 

The Platform 2 went to some really bizarre places and just ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied and unsettled. At the same time, if they decide to turn this into a trilogy, I'd still watch in hopes of learning more about the lore of the twisted Pit and any further connections between those trapped in it.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 35%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 25%

Metascore – 45%

Metacritic User Score – 4.2/10

IMDB Score – 4.9/10

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5

 

Movie Trailer:

Killer Countdown - 3 From Hell (2019)

Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video
Movie Name/Year: 3 from Hell (2019)
Genre: Action, Horror
Length: 1h 55min
Rating: R
Director: Rob Zombie
Writer: Rob Zombie
Actors: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Richard Brake, Emilio Rivera, Dee Wallace, Clint Howard, Daniel Roebuck, Wade Williams, Sean Whalen, Danny Trejo, Barry Bostwick, Pancho Moler, Chaz Bono

IMDb Blurb: After barely surviving prison, the demented Firefly clan go on the run, unleashing a whole new wave of murder, madness and mayhem.

Cat’s Point of View:
3 From Hell is a little more “mainstream” than most of the other movies in our Killer Countdown, but it can't be denied that its writer and director Rob Zombie (Halloween II, 31, The Munsters) is known for work that is bonkers, chilling, provocative, and darkly comedic. What more could you want for the spooky season, right?

This movie is the final chapter in a trilogy that also includes House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and The Devil's Rejects (2005). Both films and their events are heavily referenced throughout 3 from Hell. If you haven't seen those other films first, I'm afraid you'll get quite a lot of spoilers as well as likely not quite get all the...dare I say, nuance, of these psychotic family members.

I will have to admit that I fall somewhat in the latter category, as I am afraid I have been procrastinating on watching The Devil's Rejects. I have seen the initial movie in this trilogy, however, so I wasn't entirely lost. I will say, however, that there's enough mocumentary-type build-up in the beginning of the film that it did generally fill in some of the blanks.

3 From Hell doesn't hit as many hardcore horror notes as House of 1000 Corpses did. It plays out more like an action thriller with horror elements of the occasional spattering of blood and gore. I wasn't necessarily disappointed with this, though it was not exactly what I was expecting. I had been hoping for something a little more chilling than this bonkers cross between trippy, gritty, and brutal dark comedy and mocumentary. I liked it all the same.

Aside from the core cast members of Zombie's wife and muse Sheri Moon Zombie (Toolbox Murders, Halloween, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto), Bill Moseley (Prisoners of the Ghostland, Hayride to Hell, Stream), Jeff Daniel Phillips (The Gifted,. The Munsters, Christmas Bloody Christmas), and the late Sid Haig (Kill Bill: Vol. 2, Halloween, Bone Tomahawk), there were quite a few that I was excited to see here.

Though, before I get into those familiar faces, I must note that I feel that this film was a little lacking for the absence of more plot involving Haig's Captain Spaulding. Unfortunately, Haig's declining health required a bit of re-tooling of the script, and I feel that even though something felt missing that they gave him a proper cinematic send-off. It was the right call, however, as he, in a sad twist of fate, passed away within a week or so of the film's release.

Zombie was able to work in Richard Brake (Game of Thrones, Bingo Hell, Barbarian) to round out the titular trio, without Spaulding available, and I think his energy was a great addition to this ensemble. Brake's most memorable roles tend to be his unhinged villains. He fit right in here with this completely unhinged family dynamic. Dee Wallace (The Lords of Salem, 9-1-1, Stream) can actually be found in quite a few of Zombie's movies – quite the juxtaposition to her earlier work in the genre and even as the wholesome mom in E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982). I was rather amused that none other than the O.G. Brad Majors, Barry Bostwick (American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules, Love by Drowning, Daruma), was offering narration. Clint Howard's (The Funhouse Massacre, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Old Way) character both made me giggle and feel the pangs of remorse for my amusement at his character's tragedy. My daughter and I both practically pointed to the screen and called out “MACHETE!” when we saw Danny Trejo (American Underdog, Big City Greens, Seven Cemeteries). Last, but certainly not least, we really enjoyed seeing Emilio Rivera (Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C., Dante's Hotel) as well.

While 3 From Hell wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was crazy fun that especially highlighted the extreme level of batshit of Sheri Moon Zombie's character, Baby Firefly. The actual insane gleeful abandon of that character drives the plot and actually offers a few genuinely touching moments.

I can't say that 3 From Hell is a movie that I would want to return to in the future, it did make me want to go back and watch the film in the middle of the events, The Devil's Rejects. If you're a fan of Zombie's work and the other movies in this trilogy, I would definitely recommend giving this one a shot to round out your experience, if you haven't already. If you're new to Zombie's work, then maybe start at the beginning first. Either way, you're in for a wild ride.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 57%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 55%
Metascore – 50%
Metacritic User Score – 4.6/10
IMDB Score – 5.4/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5

Movie Trailer:

Killer Countdown - 6-Headed Shark Attack (2018)

 

 

Streaming Service: Amazon Prime Video

Movie Name/Year: 6-Headed Shark Attack (2018)

Genre: Action, Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Length: 1h 26min

Rating: TV-14

Director: Mark Atkins

Writers: Koichi Petetsky, Mark Atkins

Actors: Brandon Auret, Thandi Sebe, Cord Newman, Naima Sebe, Tapiwa Musvosvi, Chris Fisher, Meghan Oberholzer, Jonathan Pienaar, Nikita Faber, Caitlin Harty, Charlie Keegan, Jessica Cloete, Marie Cavanna, Paul Gardyne, Wilco Wilkens

 

IMDb Blurb: Attendees of a marriage boot camp on a remote island have to fight a 6-headed shark that attacks the beach.

 

 

Selina’s Point of View:

First of all, Amazon Prime Video made me watch SEVEN ads before starting 6-Headed Shark Attack. SEVEN. That is excessive. Also, the movie is definitely not worth that many. I wouldn’t even watch that many in a row for most of my favorite films. 

That’s all besides the point, and more my review of Amazon Prime Video. Now, on to 6-Headed Shark Attack.

Honestly, I didn’t hate the start of it. At least the start of the part with the main cast. We see the couples starting a marriage-strengthening activity and some tension building. In that moment it seemed like the acting might not be all that rough. It wasn’t the most amazing story start, but it was certainly better than I expected from the many-headed shark attack series. I even wrote in my notes: “ok acting?” 

 

That feeling didn’t last long, though. Soon enough, it devolved into exactly what I thought I’d be getting.

The story took a couple of minor interesting turns, but most of it was about as formulaic as it could get, and everyone involved took the whole movie so seriously. 

Movies that get the “so bad, it’s good” label get it because the people involved know exactly what they’re part of and have fun with it. The people involved in 6-Headed Shark Attack seemed to think they were making the next Jaws (1975). 

All that said, it wasn’t the worst of the series. I wouldn’t immediately run to shut it off if someone threw it on during Shark Week or Halloween, it just wouldn’t be me throwing it on. 

 

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

I will admit that when we landed on 6-Headed Shark Attack as our #6 in this month's Killer Countdown, I groaned a bit... okay, a lot. I might have grumbled, even. I instantly had a reasonable expectation for this movie that I wasn't entirely thrilled about. I knew right away that this was going to either be a golden “so bad, it's good” moment for B-movies or it was going to be a cringeworthy shipwreck of sharksploitation. We've seen the multi-headed shark flicks before, but this one has more than the others. I don't remember being all that impressed with this film's predecessors.

 

Another major factor on my internal balance sheet for my anticipation of 6-Headed Shark Attack was that The Asylum made this movie. We have a bit of a love/loathe relationship with that particular production company. On the one hand, they've delivered B-movie golden classics like the Sharknado (2013) franchise. They've also produced well-received series' such as Black Summer (2019-2021). Unfortunately, they're most well-known for offerings such as Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark (2014) and Attack of the Meth Gator (2023).

 

The Sharknado movies captured a bit of that proverbial lightning in a bottle, though. Anything that crazy and cobbled together doesn't work without the iconic nostalgia-driven cast and epic cameos. Unfortunately, for 6-Headed Shark Attack, lightning didn't strike twice... for the 6^th time.

 

I promise that I really did try to give this movie a fair chance. I always go in with my optimism on high and as blank a slate as I can when I watch a film for review. Many people worked really hard to put each production together, after all. It feels disrespectful to instantly write something off or outright trash it, even if it falls short of basic expectations.

 

 

What's the verdict on the movie with the slogan “Don't Mix with the Six!” on its poster? It was better than I originally feared.

 

The premise of this star-shaped monstrosity with fins and teeth was just bonkers. There was very little character development, yet they were each well enough within their cliché archetypes that it wasn't entirely necessary for the purposes of this movie. The setting was well-used and generally added to the production value. They found an interesting location for this one, landscape-wise. The special effects were a mixed bag of surprisingly decent and laughably bad. The comedic elements were groan-worthy, and the plot was generally predictable.

 

What surprised me was that the cast actually... well, for the most part... pulled this off without adding the acting to the list of things that needed to be corrected. Honestly, 6-Headed Shark Attack struck gold when they brought Brandon Auret (Tremors 5: Bloodlines, Rogue, Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire) on board. He's been in supporting roles and background characters in enough reasonably known movies that he's got a subtle recognizable factor – but Auret also sold his character. I went on a little emotional journey with him.

 

I didn't hate it.

 

6-Headed Shark Attack was a TV movie made for the Syfy Channel, and it plays out exactly how their schlocky B-movies generally do. This isn't one to take seriously at all – however, if you're looking for something fun in the background to turn into a drinking game or something like that (take a shot for every Sharksploitation film trope), this might be a great candidate. (Just maybe set yourself some limits so you don't end up with alcohol poisoning, and please have a designated driver on hand.)

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –30%

Metascore – None

Metacritic User Score – None

IMDB Score – 2.8/10

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2.5/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 2.5/5

 

Movie Trailer:

Twisters (2024)

 

 

Movie Name/Year: Twisters (2024) 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Length: 2h 2min

Rating: PG-13

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Writers: Mark L. Smith, Joseph Kosinski, Michael Crichton, Anne-Marie Martin

Actors: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sasha Lane, Daryl McCormack, Kiernan Shipka, Nik Dodani, David Corenswet, Tunde Adebimpe, Katy O'Brian, David Born, Laura Poe, Austin Bullock, Stephen Oyoung, Alex Kingi, Chris Adrien, James Paxton, Lily Smith, Capri O'Neill, Chris Zurcher

 

Metacritic Blurb: Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City. She is lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Ramos) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Powell), the charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew, the more dangerous the better. As storm season intensifies, terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed, and Kate, Tyler, Javi and their crews find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

I had about a billion reasons I wanted to watch Twisters ASAP when it released. I'm going to do my best not to re-hash every point I made in my Top20 for July 2024 article. Let's just say that I was very passionate about my choice to list this stand-alone sequel as my #1 pick.

 

My daughter and I settled into our Cinemark seats for a midday show on Saturday, and were pleased to see that even an early show had great attendance. I'm rooting for this film to do well at the box office.

 

The important question is clearly: Did Twisters live up to the media hype, and – more importantly – my expectations?

 

Hell yes.

 

 

One important facet of Twisters that I had been looking forward to was immersiveness. I remember so vividly how something so small as an adjustment of bass frequency in the audio mixing for the original Twister (1996) brought the rumble of the terrifying storms alive. I had high hopes that today's technology would offer a further enhanced experience to bring these destructive wind-columns of doom to life on the screen (and in my nightmares). I was not disappointed. The effects were realistic and mesmerizing – much like real-world tornado footage. The familiar seat rumbling was there, but taken up to the next level. If there had been wind machines and misters spraying water on the audience, I might've had a panic attack in my seat, thinking I was really in a storm. Thank goodness the Digital XD screen experience wasn't THAT real.

 

Twisters was so much more than the fancy effects on screen.

 

I feel like this sequel successfully took the next logical step in the story without re-hashing the original film with new characters. There are plenty parallels to the original narrative and film nuances, but they're all either logically driven by the nature of what storm-chasing is at the nuts-and-bolts level or clearly homage to what had come before.

 

 

Twisters was clearly a love-letter to its predecessor, as well as paying tribute to the fallen. Bill Paxton (Aliens, Twister, Edge of Tomorrow), who we lost in 2017 was a huge part of the 1996 movie's success, and some of its most quotable moments. His son, James Paxton (The Cleaner, How I met Your Father, The Uncanny), actually had a small role in this movie. Twisters also offers a subtle in memoriam to the TWISTEX team, led by veteran storm-chaser Tim Samaras, who tragically died in the 2.6 mile-wide 2013 El Reno, OK tornado.

 

While there were elements of Twisters that were amped up and a little over-the-top for the sake of creative license and adventurous fun for the cinematic experience, I was happy to see that – as with its predecessor – the story generally kept the science side based in reality. In fact, Twisters earned a 10/10 stamp of approval from well known real-life “extreme meteorologist” Reed Timmer, PhD (Tornado Chasers, Storm Chasing: The Anthology, Storm Rising). I've been following Timmer's career since his involvement in the Storm Chasers (2007-2011) Discovery show, which followed various teams throughout chase season. Timmer's team, an IMAX documentary crew, and the TWISTEX team were the primary groups shown as they sought out the storms for the sake of important life-saving data. As it turns out, Timmer was also one of the scientific consultants for this film. It's also entirely probable that elements of Glen Powell's (Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Hit Man, Anyone But You) “Tornado Wrangler” character were based on or inspired by Timmer.

 

 

It wasn't all spinny wind and screaming, though. There was a really good balance of humor with thrills, much like Twister also had. One minute, my daughter had my hand in a vice-grip and the next we were both laughing. It wasn't in any sort of jarring transition, either. It all felt natural. I was also really excited that Twisters “flipped the script” with some of the elements of this new story in order to offer a different perspective than we'd been presented before.

 

The cast wrangled these roles as well as I hoped they would. I even felt a greater connection to Daisy Edgar-Jones's (Fresh, Where the Crawdads Sing, War of the Worlds) character than I did her counterpart in the original movie (if we were to make direct comparisons). Powell's performance was as wild and layered as I had hoped. Ahead of taking up the reigns of the Superman mantle for DC, David Corenswet (Look Both Ways, Pearl, Lady in the Lake) did a great job playing a character as likable as Jonas was in the original. I could keep going, but you get the idea.

 

 

The only note about Twisters that I have that could even remotely be considered a negative is a warning to any audience members that might get motion-sick easily. There was a bit more shaky-cam than I would have liked, but it wasn't as bad as some found-footage films. It was reasonable for the scenes it happened in. The real culprit of the disorientation, however, came from the visuals of the spinning wind in some scenes and the fast-moving flying debris within the rotation. There were moments I felt like I was on an old merry-go-round that had been set spinning out of control. I don't say this to dissuade anyone from watching, though. Twisters was amazing on the big-screen, but for those that have their equilibrium jangled easily, the Digital XD or IMAX screen experiences might not be an ideal choice.

 

I look forward to watching Twisters again many more times in the future, much as I have its predecessor. I'd even be on board if the powers that be chose to make another sequel, as long as they took the same care they did this time.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 78%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 92%

Metascore – 65%

Metacritic User Score – 5.0/10

IMDB Score – 7.1/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

 

P.S. - If you're interested in a little comparison of the science side of storm chasing vs. the movie magic, Reed Timmer put out a video on YouTube with a quick list. Caution, Timmer's video contains SPOILERS so watch it after you enjoy the movie first! 

 

A Little Lagniappe ("something extra") -  The3 official term for a fear of tornadoes and hurricanes is "Lilapsophobia."

Movie Trailer: