Mikes Film Talk

In 2023 Supercell became that “Twister Two”want to be. It was our fix to a follow up to the Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton instant classic. A film not just about tornadoes but much more. Twister was about human relationships and the many variants that entails.

*Supercell does pay a certain amount of homage to Twister. The scene outside the petrol station/convenience store where the second tornado passes over young Brody. He has a bag of popcorn and fistful of the stuff is about to go into his mouth.

The alarms are going off and he opens that hand. The popcorn floats up, just like Dorothy’s payload in the Paxton/Hunt movie. Later, the owner of Brody tours gets smacked in the mouth. A scene not too dissimilar from storm chaser Harding punching the knucklehead in the original film.

World’s longest aside over.*

The Story

Bill Brody and his wife Quinn are storm chasers. Young baby Brody loses his dad to a tornado of epic proportions and life moves on. The teenager that William Brody turns onto, has issues with authority, his mother and the lack of knowledge about his late father.

Bill Sr.’s old pal Roy sends William his father’s “tornado bible.” The teen goes to Roy and meets up him and with Zane. The man who bought the Brody name.

Supercell Main Cast

Anne Heche is Quinn. Late wife of Bill Brody.

Skeet Ulrich is Roy, Bill’s old partner.

Daniel Diemer is William, a chip of the old block of the late Bill.

Alec Baldwin is Zane. A man we dislike the moment he opens his mouth.

Anjul Nigam is Ramesh

Jordan Kristine Seamón is Harper, William’s love interest.

Behind the scenes

Director Herbert James Winterstern co-writes this “homage” to Twister with Anna Elizabeth James. Viewed as a homage, the film works. Supercell is, at its core, a search for identity. There is a certain amount of relationship twists and turns but nothing too deep.

The FX are sufficient to bring us into the world of these slightly mad storm chasers. All the actors do well with their respective roles, despite the limited scope and dialogue given them.

It works; barely

Supercell works, but just barely. It relies on the power of these super tornadoes to impress. There is some talk of legends and yet the film expects us to believe that storm chasers crack open a PBR after a chase.

The allusion to adrenaline junkies on top of the informational journey these men work on is probably spot on. The film loses out though on its lack of human interaction. What there is proves to be shallow and somewhat inconsequential.

For Example:

Quinn’s speech at the hotel pool could have been a film highlight, but instead falls a little flat. *Supercell was one of the late Heche’s films before her date with destiny.*

The Verdict

Supercell may not be Twister but it does entertain. It is a sold 3 star film that fills in nicely for Twisters (2024). It is streaming on Hulu right now. Check it out and see what you think.

The Trailer