From Writer/Director Brett Bentman comes Texas Twister which is an odd film to review, and ill explain why. If you look at the poster art, and the title. You’d think you were about to watch a film about…you know. tornadoes, and whilst that is kinda true. The title and the poster art is a little deceptive, but not in a bad way, actually its in a good way.  Texas Twister isn’t a film along the lines of Jan DeBonts Twister, or 2024’s Twisters. No, Texas Twister is a pretty good indie drama about a mans decent into madness and I enjoyed the film far more than I did, had the film been an indie version of the Bill Paxton starring storm chasing movie.

The film starts with a thing i usually hate movies starting with, a short scene which then produces a title card of  ‘One Week Earlier’ I’m not a fan of those types of things as I know where the film is headed and usually where the film is about to end, but even though I dislike that film gimmick- its  never enough to ruin a film for me- so alls fine!   We meet Thomas, Rita, and their child Lee, a small family who are mourning the loss of their son. Thomas soon starts to have ‘visions’ of a massive tornado which Thomas thinks is a sign from God of an impending disaster that will take the family to be reunited with their lost son.  So yes whilst we do get tornadoes in the movie, this gem of an indie drama is more about a mans mental collapse and how if affects their family environment. 

The cast are really good in their roles, Jamie Bernadette ( I Spit On Your Grave:Deja Vu, Million Dollar Lethal Listing), is excellent as Rita, who not only tries to keep the family together, but also is faced with dealing with her husband Thomas who seems to get more unhinged each time you see him. Jamie plays a whole range of emotions across this film and every one of them works.  Derrick Redford (Doc Holiday, Bull Shark) as Thomas is also really good in his role and doesn’t overplay the ‘I’m seeing visions’  aspect which I’m sure could so easily have gone over the top in the hands of someone else, and Thomas’s and Rita’s daughter Lee, is wonderfully played by Ember Rain Bolen in her onscreen debut.  The majority of the film is these three and they work really well as a family.

Also in the film is John Schneider (Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard) as the local pastor and theres a nice appearance from Noel Gugliemi, who youll know from so many movies over the years including Training Day, and The Fast and The Furious. Its always cool to see Noel onscreen as he is on of those ‘hey its that guy!!, hes awesome’  actors that pops up everywhere.

So if you want to see a disaster film that’s filled with Roland Emmerich style scenes, then Texas Twister isnt the film for you. But if you want to see a character drama thats well acted and well made about a family trying to avoid collapse, then I do recommend Texas Twister.