The Twister: Caught in the Storm 2025 Movie Review Trailer
On the night of Sunday, May 22, 2011, a devastating EF5 tornado ripped through the city of Joplin, destroying everything in its path. As a result, 161 lives were lost, buildings were leveled, and the entire city was left a sobering pile of rubble.
Netflix offers a wealth of intense documentaries on its platform, but perhaps none are as thrilling and impactful as "The Tornado: Caught in the Storm." With surprisingly good tension building to the devastation, along with an emotional conclusion that analyzes the aftermath of the disaster, this is a substantial documentary. And despite being less than 90 minutes long, this documentary is powerful.
Director: Alexandra Lacey
Writer: Alexandra Lacey
The Joplin Tornado is told through raw, firsthand accounts from the people who lived through it. Specifically, a group of teenagers who managed to survive winds of over 200 mph and lived to tell the tale.
It's an interesting narrative decision that generally works very well, although Netflix uses a somewhat cynical, understated editing to build tension. Kaylee and Mac, for example, share their memories of what happened in harrowing and searing detail... but one crucial element is missing: Eric.
Who are you saying Eric is? Well, he's the third member of the trio who accompanies them during their ordeal, but his omission suggests he didn't survive.
There's also the inclusion of Chad, which is a bit odd given the number of kids who went through the experience, especially the large number of kids who attended the graduation. Chad is a weather enthusiast, not a Joplin kid, but he flew specifically because of the bad weather, looking for the opportunity to see the tornadoes and experience it firsthand.
However, it sometimes comes across as a bit opportunistic, especially since Chad was half a mile from the devastation, so he didn't have the same experience as the others.
These minor complaints aside, The Twister: Caught in the Storm is a very intense documentary, and the buildup to the big event, in particular, is superb. The film works incredibly well in that regard, creating that terrifying tension that ultimately spills over into the big event and the cleanup efforts that follow.
In fact, the film's ending perfectly captures the pure essence of community and the goodness of humanity, coming together to try to rebuild the city. It's a lovely way to close the chapter, especially when we hear how the tornado has changed these teens and made them more proactive about making something of themselves.
There's a constant religious theme here, including iconography and descriptions of the Rapture and the wrath of God, but since Joplin is a largely religious town, it makes sense to include it here. Personally, it would have been nice to see a bit more of Joplin's history and the religious makeup of its residents to better understand the city's population, but this doesn't take away from the fun.
However, the film benefits from a stylish shooting style. Much of the footage was shot on cell phones, including photos, videos, and audio.
While one could argue that it's a bit unnerving at times, I'd argue that it actually heightens the senses, offering a much more realistic experience. There's nothing like the guttural roar of a real tornado, or seeing security camera footage of walls ripped from their foundations as glass sprays the air with deadly needles.
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