Twisters didn’t shy away from the tragic reality often accompanying tornadoes, but a behind-the-scenes detail reiterated how destructive storms can be at the drop of a hat. Like Jan de Bont’s original Twister from 1996, Twisters was advertised as a disaster movie, but it also effectively showcased the unpredictable nature of storms from a scientific standpoint. While Twisters references the original Twister, the standalone sequel took a modern approach while also proving that more could be done to protect from storms. The notion propelled Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Kate to develop a way to weaken a tornado in real time.
Glen Powell co-led Twisters‘ cast of characters for the long-awaited follow-up to Twister. Though there weren’t direct story links between the two movies, director Lee Isaac Chung created a worthwhile summer blockbuster that was more than just a disaster flick. Not only did the cast and crew genuinely embrace the world of storm chasing, but the on-location filming allowed them to witness the dangers many areas face regularly. In fact, Twisters‘ filming locations were affected by a few weather events.
Twisters Had To Halt Filming Because Of A Real Storm During The El Reno Sequence
Twisters’ Production Took Place In Tornado-Prone Areas
The movie’s big concluding third act occurred in El Reno, Oklahoma, which was also one of Twisters‘ filming locations. As the two teams encounter the dangerous fire tornado, the stakes instantly increase when the EF5 tornado changes track, traveling toward the town of El Reno. Kate, Tyler, and the team were joined by Javi in assisting the evacuation efforts, including sheltering people in the nearby movie theater. The El Reno sequence in the movie was chaotic, so it’s fitting that the cast and crew were forced to stop production on Twisters when a bad storm disrupted the set.
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As shown in the movie’s extra featurette titled Tracking the Fronts: The Path of Twisters, the set built outside for the El Reno sequence was destroyed when a bad thunderstorm with high winds came through. Everything set up for the farmer’s market shown in the movie had to be redone after the storm, which was ironic considering the crew previously used wind machines to show the impending tornado at the center of the scene. Essentially, the set designers on Twisters had to build the set, redo it after a real storm, and then watch it get destroyed again for the movie’s fake storm.
How Twisters Honored Real Storm Chasers With The El Reno Ending
The El Reno Sequence Was Inspired By A Tragic Event
The El Reno sequence was thrilling and terrifying, but it also allowed Kate to complete her mission in Twisters’ ending by proving that her experiment weakened the twister. That said, the location was chosen after being inspired by the El Reno tornado event in 2013. The EF3 twister wiped through the area and ended up killing eight people, including four storm chasers, and injuring nearly 150 others.
“The setting of El Reno being used in
Twisters
‘ impactful ending was a way to honor those lost in the 2013 tragedy…”
Due to the tornado’s size and unpredictable movement, many in the area weren’t prepared, especially because it happened during rush hour. The setting of El Reno being used in Twisters‘ impactful ending was a way to honor those lost in the 2013 tragedy, including the storm chasers who died or were severely injured. Interestingly, storm chasing rose in popularity and was taken more seriously as a profession after the release of Twister in 1996.
Source: Tracking the Fronts: The Path of Twisters
- Director
- Lee Isaac Chung
- Release Date
- July 19, 2024
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures , Warner Bros. Pictures
- Writers
- Mark L. Smith , Joseph Kosinski , Michael Crichton , Anne-Marie Martin