Rating: PG-13 | Runtime: 113 minutes
Release Date: May 10th, 1996 (USA)
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director(s): Jan de Bont
Writer(s): Michael Crichton & Anne-Marie Martin

Honey, your car’s in a tree around the corner.

Works best when believing the tornado has been hunting Jo her entire life, a vampire only satiated by the blood of her father for two decades before craving more. So, when it can’t get her on its first two attempts this fateful day, it goes after her aunt for a top off only to fail miserably again.

When you think about it seriously, though, these tornadoes are pretty damn accommodating. Jo’s father would still be alive today if he just stayed away from the door (although that would destroy her origin story and thus the entire film). And you know that F5 could have easily ripped Jo and Bill’s limbs right from their sockets during the finale. It goes out of its way to show mercy.

A truly insane cast and you must love the practical sets and destruction (if only for that great “Entertainment Tonight” exclusive look with Bill Paxton). The drive-in scene feels like a massive-scale Universal Studios backlot tour ride.

My biggest takeaway, however, is realizing how much of a killjoy I was back in the nineties or early aughts (not sure when I saw it for the first time) since my original IMDb rating was a paltry four out of ten stars. Teenage me apparently did not enjoy stupid fun.

Some would argue I still don’t.

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Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton in TWISTER.