Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Twisters!
Summary
The opening scene inTwisterswas the perfect way to start the movie, and it had my heart racing from the beginning because of how enthralling it was. It is not uncommon for major action blockbusters to have a terrific opening sequence. This is a great way to become connected to the story immediately. The bar forTwisterswas set relatively high, too, as the original 1996Twisterhas its own rather impressive and terrifying opening, where Jo and her family’s house is hit by a tornado, resulting in her father’s death.
When it comes toTwisters, I’m hardly surprised that theTwistersequelfollowed in the original’s footsteps by including a tornado sequence right from the start. The film begins as Kate and her team begin chasing a tornado to test her formula to disrupt the storm and bring it to an end. However, the smaller tornado develops into an EF5 category tornado, significantly adding to the danger the first fiveTwisterscharacterswe’re introduced to are in. What director Lee Isaac Chung does during this opening had my heart racing so fast, and I loved it.
Twisters' First Tornado Scene Is Perfectly Executed
Twisters Throws You Right Into The Action
What I thought was so perfect aboutTwisters' first tornado scene is howChung builds the tension throughout the sequence. The very beginning of the film helps you quickly begin to like Kate and her team: Javi, Addy, Jeb, and Praveen. They go from waking up on the side of the road in a field to quickly packing up to chase after a developing storm so that Kate’s experiment can be tested. We then experience their joy in the chase, terror when the trailer flips, and excitement when they fix it and wait for the great data results they expect.
I was finally able to notice just how fast my heart was beating and could understand just how effective that sequence was in the theater
But this is whenTwistersshows what it’s really about. The tornado begins growing into a class EF5 and barrels toward the main characters. It is at this moment that Chung manages to ramp up the tension and stakes, all while adding a much bigger scale to the story.There is a dread that comes with the tornado, knowing that some characters will likely die. By the time Kate emerged from the wreckage, I was finally able to notice just how fast my heart was beating and could understand just how effective that sequence was in the theater.
Twisters Made Me Scared For Kate’s Entire Team
I Actually Cared About These Minor Characters
One of the other impressive accomplishments ofTwisters' opening scene is making me be scared for what would happen to Kate’s entire team. Even with knowing the general story setup for the sequel,I was not entirely convinced that everyone other than Kate and Javi was going to perishin this storm. Addy and Praveen each could have had smaller roles in the rest of the movie in theory. It was only fully clear that Jeb would die at some point, paving the way for the inevitable Kate and Tyler romance angle to emerge beforeTwisters' ending.
Twistersdoes not get to spend a lot of time with Kate’s team before the devastation begins, but the movie is still effective inmaking them an endearing group of aspiring, tornado-obsessed scientists. Any hope of everyone surviving except for Jeb went away the moment Praveen was swept up by the EF5 storm, though. And although his screen time was minimal before this, it was still quite sad to see him go. The same was true when Kate couldn’t save Addy. The real heartbreak comes with Jeb’s death, knowing how it will impact Kate.
Twisters' opening deaths have the opposite effect on Kate as Jo’s dad’s death had on her, as she stops chasing afterward
Twisters' Opening Scene Establishes What The Rest Of The Movie Is
It Tells You Exactly What The Movie Will Be Like
In many ways,Twisters' opening scene perfectly encapsulates what the rest of the movie will be like. The strong focus on the human characters and making viewers care for them continues as Kate, Tyler, Javi, and Tyler’s entire team become people who are easy to root for - except for David Corenswet’s Scott. There is certainly plenty of spectacle throughout, butTwistersnever loses sight of developing its characters, specifically Kate and Tyler, and giving you further insight into their lives, personalities, and relationships.
Of course, the intensity of the tornado in the opening is also a great sign of every other sequence in the movie.Twistersmight never get back to the EF5 class tornadoes after the opening, but the movie is stillvery effective in making each storm feel dangerousto some degree. Even when the twisters are smaller, there are intense character moments in play, like Kate’s self-doubt the first time back in the field. All in all, I knew right fromTwisters' opening tornado scene that this was going to be a great ride, so I was locked in.
