As a movie buff and a fan of the original “Twister” since its release back in the ’90s, I was beyond excited to learn about the making of its long-awaited sequel, “Twisters.” The behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes shared by director Neil Creque Chung truly resonated with me on a deeper level.
SPOILER ALERT: This articles contains spoilers for “Twisters,” now playing in theaters.
If you’re planning to watch “Twisters” at your community cinema and pondering if it’s necessary to see the original “Twister” beforehand, here’s an answer: You don’t have to. However, if you’ve got the time, rewatching the initial film could add more depth to your viewing experience.
The Lee Issac Chung-directed disaster movie is a standalone story from Jan de Bont’s 1996 classic about an eccentric band of storm chasers led by Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton. And a couple days before starting production in Oklahoma, “Twisters” star Daisy Edgar-Jones had the idea to get the cast and crew together to revisit the original movie.
Chung shared with EbMaster, “We leased out the theater for an event. It was quite an animated experience with everyone laughing boisterously, cheering loudly at their favorite lines, and later on, overhearing comments such as ‘Jami Gertz was unfairly overlooked. Poor Melissa!'”
In the movie “Twisters,” Edgar-Jones takes on the role of Kate Cooper, a former tornado chaser who rejoins her old college friend Javi, played by Anthony Ramos, in forming a new storm-chasing team. Glen Powell portrays Tyler Owens, a popular social media storm chaser, nicknamed “The Tornado Wrangler.” Unlike previous films, there are no recurring characters or hidden family connections between the stories. Instead of Kate being Jo and Bill’s long-lost daughter, she merely attended the same alma mater as them, Muskogee State College.
As a devoted cinephile, I’ve noticed an intriguing connection between two movies that hold a special place in my heart: “Twister” and its lesser-known successor. The team behind the scenes, comprised of individuals who had worked on both productions like VFX supervisor Ben Snow, production designer Patrick Sullivan, and former NOAA analyst Kevin Kelleher, who served as technical advisor, chose to honor the legacy of “Twister” in subtle but meaningful ways. They incorporated it into their costumes, added hidden references in the set design, and even slipped in a few improvised lines. But what truly blew me away was the unexpected cameo that paid tribute to the iconic film.
Chung shares, “I aimed to stay faithful to the original film’s essence while making it my own creation. Producers encouraged me, saying, ‘Make Twisters as if it’s your movie.’ Their support felt freeing.”
He adds: “All those Easter eggs were done out of a lot of joy.”
The Return of Dorothy (and More ‘Wizard of Oz’ References)
As a film enthusiast, I’d describe it this way: In the thrilling 1996 movie “Twister,” I follow the story of Dorothy, an ingenious invention created by the film’s protagonists, meteorologist Dr. Jo Harding (played by Helen Hunt) and her estranged husband Bill (played by Bill Paxton). Their shared passion for tornadoes led them to design this remarkable technology. The narrative unfolds over the course of a day, with Bill eventually deciding to reunite with Jo for Dorothy’s first mission. Four attempts are made to launch the sensors into a tornado, each one more perilous than the last. Finally, after some harrowing moments, Dorothy IV takes flight.
In the trailers for “Twisters,” it was announced that Dorothy V, previously an outdated storm chaser from a bygone era, would be revamped with advanced technology and sleek aluminum propellers instead of the old Pepsi can sensors. This innovation wasn’t in the original script but was suggested by Chung to producer Steven Spielberg.
“Chung recounts that he was asked by him, ‘How has technology advanced, and how can we demonstrate this from the first film to the current one?’ I pondered over this and decided to incorporate Dorothy as an example of limitations. Javi (Ramos)’s upcoming work represents the next stage of research in this field.'”
If you observe Dorothy carefully, you’ll notice a decal indicating her alma mater, Muskogee State College. The group of college friends – Javi, Jeb (played by Daryl McCormack), Addy (Kiernan Shipka), and Praveen (Nik Dodani) – all attended this school and formed a strong bond through their shared goal of controlling tornados. Chung draws attention to this, mentioning, “That’s a Muskogee State College van.” Additionally, Praveen wears a shirt showcasing the college logo. It’s a subtle detail that isn’t heavily emphasized.
I’ve always been a huge fan of “The Wizard of Oz” since my childhood days. The story of Dorothy and her journey to meet the great wizard has left an indelible mark on me. So, it comes as no surprise that Javi’s high-tech chasing team, Storm Par, would pay homage to this classic tale in a unique and exciting way.
Chung describes Kate’s journey as reminiscent of Dorothy’s from The Wizard of Oz. Just as Dorothy is swept away by a tornado and encounters various strange characters, such as Tyler, Kate experiences a significant change and interacts with unusual individuals. Eventually, both women return to their familiar surroundings.
Tyler’s “Tornado Wrangler” Truck
Another clear reference to the initial “Twister” movie is the rust-red Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Tyler, reminiscent of the one Paxton’s Bill hires upon his return in the opening scene.
Bill’s truck might not have been able to launch fireworks like Tyler’s modified pickup, but the classic red Dodge Ram 2500 held its own unique charm: enduring being driven through twin water spouts while a cow passed by, plowing through a house, and eventually transporting Dorothy into the air.
By chance, during Chung’s childhood, when his family moved to Arkansas and lived on a farm in a trailer, a tornado suddenly struck the area one night. In fear, they hurriedly sought refuge in his father’s Dodge pickup truck.
“Looking ahead with uncertainty, we sought a shelter where we could weather the storm. It was during our childhood when we first saw the film ‘Twister’ – unaware that the movie’s intense scenes mirrored our own past experiences.”
Kate’s Wardrobe
Eunice Jera Lee, the costume designer for Kate’s wardrobe, drew inspiration from tough female characters in films for her designs. These included Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road, Ellen Ripley from Alien, and Thelma and Louise. Among Kate’s outfits, one is a nod to Jo from Twister. She will wear a white tank top, an overshirt in khaki, and khaki pants.
In a later part of the story, there’s a subtle reference when Kate puts on a large “Bombers” baseball shirt. This is reminiscent of the ending in “Twister,” where a family safely exits their basement to discover their home has remained standing.
“Originally, the term ‘bombers’ referred to a baseball team that I believe Frank Marshall was part of,” Chung explains. “Later, we acquired the design with this name for Kate.”
“I’m Not Back”
At the beginning of the movie, the pursuit teams stop at a nearby motel to rest after spending a tireless day following tornados.
“Kate remarks, ‘I believe we spent some time in Oklahoma,’ as she and Javi nostalgically recall past college adventures with their friends. They’d ask Addy (Shipka) to join since she seemed so endearing, then cram into a single room for financial reasons.”
Kate responds with a light-hearted remark when Javi expresses happiness about her return: “I’m afraid I’m not ‘back’ in the way you mean it, though times have indeed changed.”
For most people, that line might seem insignificant, but it’s the crucial conversation between Ruck’s Rabbit and Paxton’s Bill at the start of “Twister.” This is when Bill discovers he must chase after Jo and her team (along with a tornado) if he wants her to finalize their divorce. And so, his journey begins.
“Daisy was the one who came up with that line in the spontaneous banter,” Chung explained. “Each of us contributed small parts on the spot, but Daisy’s suggestion stood out as particularly noteworthy. She and Tony worked well together to create it.”
Brandon Perea, who plays Tyler’s high-energy videographer Boone, also threw in a few ad libs.
When he prepares to embark on our journey, he exclaims, “We’re venturing into the vortex of challenge now!” I recall Chung mentioning, evoking Seymour Hoffman’s iconic phrase from Twister. “The vortex: it’s when the twister draws you in,” Dusty explained in that classic film. Brandon was returning with gear from our initial attempt, and there was a contagious sense of anticipation.
Now Playing
In the movie “Twister,” one unforgettable moment happens when a tornado hits a drive-in theater at night, making people run for cover during a (already frightening) showing of “The Shining.” It’s an image that sticks: a tornado tearing apart the scream in Shelley Duvall’s face from the film’s “Here’s Johnny” scene on the big screen. Quite a chiller.
In the latest addition, there’s a scene where the Tornado Wranglers take refuge in a cinema during a tornado hitting a quaint village. The movie screening at that moment? It’s “Monster Fest” and the feature on the large screen is “Frankenstein.”
Chung described the film as having elements of a monster movie in his mind. With Universal’s rich history of monster films, it was natural for him to draw comparisons, particularly with Frankenstein being a notable standout. Once he adopted this perspective, he also saw parallels between the formation of a tornado and the process depicted in “Frankenstein.”
Mark L. Smith, the screenwriter behind “The Revenant,” initially planned for the tornado’s resolution to be the screen tearing apart, followed by the storm subsiding. However, when Chung read this part, he felt a strong desire to amplify the fear and awe in the audience during a movie theater experience. Instead of quickly wrapping up the scene, I wanted to prolong it significantly, making the tornado sequence an unforgettable cinematic moment.
The late Bill Paxton’s son James makes a cameo
Over the past few years, Paxton and Hunt showed enthusiasm for creating a “Twister” sequel. However, their plans failed to materialize. Sadly, on February 25, 2017, Paxton passed away following complications from a heart operation.
It’s fortunate that James Paxton, the son of the man who made the initial film when he was only a toddler at one year old, has followed in his father’s footsteps and become an actor himself. He recently secured a role in “Twisters,” portraying an unhappy motel guest in a pivotal scene.
“It was amazing to have James accept our invitation for a cameo in this movie,” Chung expressed, “and having him there with us on set created a special bond between him and Bill.”
Paxton informed EbMaster that he had tried out for the role, but afterward, he and his family needed to weigh the emotional consequences of becoming part of the sequel. In the end, it seemed fitting for him to carry on his father’s heritage and work on a cherished endeavor.
“For both him and ‘Twister’ enthusiasts, James Paxton expressed his admiration. He felt it was impressive how they managed to include that element. I aimed to serve as a vessel for my father’s presence. Although I wish he could be the one experiencing this new development instead of me, I am content with taking on the role.”
Once on set, he also discovered an interesting connection to Powell.
Paxton recounted, “Glen had previously collaborated with my father on the 2013 indie film ‘Red Wing.’ He shared some amusing anecdotes about their past experiences. Somehow the topic shifted to ‘Spy Kids 3.’ Glen mentioned it was his first movie role, and I replied, ‘Mine too.’ At nine years old, I visited my father on the set, and Robert Rodriguez suggested casting me as a younger version of Bill Paxton’s character.”
The Paxton family isn’t the only one with connections to the movie: Powell’s parents, Glen Sr. and Cyndy, make a brief appearance in the rodeo scene. They have previously had small roles in many of the actor’s films and can be seen sitting behind him and Edgar-Jones. Additionally, Powell’s sister, Leslie Powell, sings the national anthem to begin the patriotic sequence.
As I sat there in the cinema, immersed in the scenes of “Minari,” a background actor caught my attention. He was seated next to Edgar-Jones and struck up a conversation with Chung. With a gleam in his eye, he proudly shared that Chung had been in his breakout film, an Oscar nominee no less! What a delightful surprise it was for me to learn this tidbit of information as I watched the movie unfold on the big screen.
Chung expressed her delight, but then she mentioned, “I were in the first ‘Twister’ production.”
As a film enthusiast, I recently discovered an interesting detail while rewatching one of my favorite movies. In a poignant scene, the character played by Hunt comes across a mother, father, and their young daughter in the ruined town of Wakita. Their image stirs something deep within him, as they remind me of a family I once knew – before tragedy struck in that film’s harrowing opening sequence.
“We didn’t intentionally do that,” the filmmaker explains with a thrill. “It just occurred unexpectedly. Isn’t it incredible?”
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2024-07-20 04:48