Netflix has a knack for gripping true-crime and disaster documentaries, and The Twister: Caught in the Storm is no exception. This documentary takes viewers back to May 22, 2011, when an EF5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, leaving behind destruction that is almost unfathomable. The film pieces together survivor accounts, storm chaser footage, and news clips to tell the story of one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history. It’s intense, emotional, and at times anxiety-inducing—but also not without its flaws.
One of the strongest aspects of the documentary is its focus on the people who lived through it. Instead of just giving a broad overview of the storm, it zooms in on individuals who experienced it firsthand. The survivor stories are gripping, heartbreaking, and in some cases, nearly unbelievable. Hearing people describe the sheer terror of those moments, the split-second decisions they had to make, and the losses they endured adds a deeply personal layer to the tragedy. Their journeys since the storm are equally compelling, showcasing both resilience and the long-lasting scars left behind.
The real footage in this documentary is what makes it truly stand out. It’s one thing to hear someone describe the chaos, but it’s another to see it unfold in shaky, terrifying video clips. The raw, on-the-ground visuals add an extra level of intensity, making it impossible to look away. There’s something uniquely horrifying about watching a storm of that magnitude swallow an entire town while people do their best to survive. The anxiety of those moments—of not knowing if they would make it out alive—translates directly to the viewer, making for a tense and emotional experience.
However, not everything about The Twister worked for me. The overproduction and CGI recreations felt unnecessary. When you already have firsthand footage and survivor testimony that’s powerful on its own, throwing in dramatic digital storm clouds and sweeping disaster visuals just feels excessive. It’s almost as if the filmmakers didn’t trust the story to be gripping enough on its own, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The real footage was more than enough to carry the weight of the tragedy.
Another aspect I found myself wanting more of was a broader look at the town itself. While the individual survivor stories were compelling, I would have loved an update on Joplin as a whole—how it’s recovered, what it looks like today, and how the community has moved forward. The devastation left behind was shocking, and it would have been great to see how the city has been rebuilt in the years since.
Overall, The Twister: Caught in the Storm is a powerful, emotional documentary that captures both the horror and humanity of one of the deadliest tornadoes in history. It’s absolutely worth watching, especially for those who weren’t fully aware of the scale of this disaster when it happened. Just be prepared for some unnecessary CGI fluff and a lingering feeling of wanting to know more about what happened after the storm.
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