The following contains spoilers for Twisters, now playing in theaters
Summary
Twistersalmost had a big kiss between Daisy Edgar-Jones' Kate and Glenn Powell’s Tyler, and I’m glad that Steven Spielberg’s notes on the film kept it from being included in the finished movie.Twistersis a big spectacle blockbuster that is grounded thanks to a group of surprisingly realistic main characters. One of the big underlying connections in the film is that one that grows between Kate and Tyler. Initially bristling against their pre-concieved notions about one another, they eventually develop a bond over the course of the film.
AlthoughTwisters' main charactersare hinted to develop a romantic attraction, the film never sees them act out on it. I was happy with that decision, as it kept the movie from introducing a potentially distracting element to the otherwise tight narrative. Apparently, that romance would have been more pronounced in an earlier version ofthe ending ofTwisters, buta note from Steven Spielberg convinced them to go a different direction. I’m really glad for that note, as it means any potential romance between the characters can be left to the imagination (or a potential sequel toTwisters).
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Twisters' Original Romantic Ending Wouldn’t Have Worked
I Agree With Steven Spielberg’s Big Note AboutTwisters' Big Romantic Moment
The original romantic ending forTwisterswould have been wrong for the film, and I’m glad Steven Spielberg’s note convinced the filmmakers to go a different direction. There’s definitely a romantic element to the rapport that develops between Kate and Tyler in the film, especially on Tyler’s part. However, the film’s emotional arc is far more rooted in Kate rediscovering her passion for storm chasing after she lost it following a major trauma years prior. Tyler’s role in the film is in service of her story, keeping their relationship from feeling like a three-dimension romance.
The original intention seems to have been to take the romance further, with a big dramatic kiss towards the end of the film. I think that would have been distracting, andI’m ecstatic that Steven Spielberg had the same thought. As reported on byVariety, Spielberg gave the filmmakers a note about how a big kiss felt wouldn’t have fit into the film. Powell and Edgar-Jones ultimately agreed with the sentiment, noting that the film’s big arc is Kate “returning to the thing she loves.” This led to the kiss being cut, which was the right call.
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Twisters Cutting Kate & Tyler’s Kiss Is Better For The Sequel
The Romance Could Fit Better Into The Central Narrative Of ATwistersFollow-Up
This isn’t to say that the kiss would have been completely unfounded, as there’s clearly a romantic tension implied by the end of the film. However, a big kiss between the pair and an escalation of their romance would be better suited for a sequel than trying to fit into the otherwise pretty tightly constructedTwisters. If anything,the slow burn attraction Tyler develops for Kate feels more natural and romantic than a quick make-out sessionafter only knowing each other for a week. It exposes a vulnerable side to boisterous Tyler, and makes him a far more likable character.
Twistersdidn’t need an overt romance subplot to still feel romantic. A potential sequel (which might be more likely giventhe impressive box office success ofTwisters) could be a better place to explore that, especially now that Kate has confronted her trauma and grown as a result. It would give the pair more time to establish a grounded romance, and could be more throughly fit into the narrative. While a Kate and Tyler kiss wouldn’t have ruinedTwisters, I agree that it would have felt needlessly clichéd and I’m glad that it was cut from the film.
Twisters
Cast
A follow-up to the 1996 original film Twister, Twisters is a sequel set years after the original, said to be fast-tracked by Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith, with Frank Marshal as producer. Little details exist about the film, but Helen Hunt is expected to reprise her role as Jo, with the film likely to pay homage to the late Bill Paxton.
