Into The Storm

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Michael, Tyler, Gemma, Chloe, Erin, Dan

It's twister lite. Okay nothing was ever going to be better than Twister for me because that movie is just the best movie, but I will say that despite the horrifically ill conceived found footage premise, this film does actually follow a more traditional disaster film structure, like the classics form the 70's. We're given multiple view points for a variety of characters, the experts, the family unit, the hillbilly comedy relief, and we're given attempts at romance, father/son drama and general platitudes about humanities perseverance in the face of disaster. 

It is in no way effective, but it tried.

The found footage conceit really does not work. It would have been much more effective as a regular film done in documentary style, perhaps like District 9. They desperately try and justify all the camera angles but want to have their big score and impossible money shots as well. It really hurts your one attempt at suspense when all you can think about is how this footage is being recorded in that much water without a waterproof camera. Perhaps if they managed some investment in the characters we might not have that problem.

Which brings me to the characters supposedly filming the show. There's really not much there either besides a few recognisable faces to stand in front of the wind machines and give the tornados scale. 

The most important thing to take from the film and what makes it really unique is that fire tornado. They promise it in all the trailers and posters and yes, death by fire tornado is the best thing in the film. 

So it has the makings of a B-grade disaster movie, complete with the cheesy dialogue and stock characters, but just doesn't pull any of it off particularly well, and the modern style of digital filmmaking is more of a hindrance than a help. Don't make me wish for Roland Emmerich guys.