TWISTERS brings back the blockbuster disaster epic with a whirlwind of heart-stopping action and exhilarating thrills. Ever since a devastating tornado encounter, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gave up chasing storms across the Oklahoma prairie to safely study them on screens in New York City. Lured back to the field by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) and a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity, Kate crosses paths with Tyler (Glen Powell), a charming daredevil and self-proclaimed tornado wrangler whose thirst for tornado-tracking adventures made him a social media sensation. As storm season intensifies with terrifying phenomena unlike anything seen before, Kate and Tyler realize they may need to work together if they are to have any chance of taming, and surviving, an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornados.

For in-depth thoughts on Twisters, please see my colleague Cameron Ritter’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Twisters offers a pleasing uptick in quality over the already excellent accompanying Blu-Ray. Elements in the scenes of destruction are more forthright and tactile with plenty of texture to observe. Skin tones appear a smidge more natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as sweat, cuts, and bruises. Dolby Vision dials in the colors to perfection when it comes to vibrancy. The natural color palette always features dynamic hues with plenty of nuances. Highlights in the film are more stable with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. The black levels are tremendous, staying deep and inky with impeccable detail. This 4K UHD presentation knocks it out of the park on all fronts including strong gains in clarity and color. The Blu-Ray is top-tier, but Universal knows how to deliver when it comes to a 4K release.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a knockout Dolby Atmos presentation that deftly transports you into the chaos. The Atmos presentation takes full advantage of the expanded channel allotment. During any storm sequence, the channel separation is keenly apparent with height channels coming alive and raining down upon you. The track offers expert-level immersion into the environment so that even the most minor elements are represented.

All of the sounds are balanced perfectly during the numerous scenes of destruction. The scary and hard-hitting moments provide an unforgettable amount of activity in the low end. Directionality of sound is never an issue with this track, and dialogue is reproduced with the utmost clarity. Speakers remain remarkably engaged throughout the film, even during the quieter moments. The audio presentation is demo material from start to finish. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Lee Isaac Chung provides a commentary track in which he mostly sticks to scene-specific insights while sprinkling in other noteworthy stories about how the movie was brought to life.

Deleted Scenes: A two-minute selection of unused footage is provided here.

Gag Reel: A four-minute look at flubbed lines, laughing fits, malfunctioning props, and more.

Tracking The Fronts – The Path of Twisters: A 15-minute look at the development of this sequel in a way that honors the original, the new characters in the story, the updates in science and technology, working with wind and rain machines, and more.

Into The Eye of the Storm: A 24-minute featurette on the creation of the storms for the new film using both practical effects and digital technology.

Glen Powell – All Access: A three-minute piece that follows the star through a “day in the life” during the production.

Front Seat To A Chase: A five-minute look at real-life storm chasers and the cast members who joined them on a ride-along.

Voice Of A Villain: A six-minute exploration of how the team brought a new dimension to the storms in the audio mix.

Tricked-Out Trucks: A nearly five-minute look at the custom vehicles in the film.

Final Thoughts

Twisters does not quite reach the deliriously thrilling heights of the original film, but it serves as a respectable follow-up that avoids the trap of nostalgia so many continuations succumb to. This outing takes a familiar path, but there is enough innovation and subversion to feel fresh. The true saving grace is the charisma of the ensemble. Glen Powell is the obvious standout, but there are talented people throughout the team with whom we would have loved more time. In a world with so many larger-than-life blockbusters, it is nice to have something at least somewhat grounded in reality. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that has a stellar A/V presentation and great special features. If you have a craving for weather-related destruction, checking out this one is a no-brainer. Recommended

Twisters is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.