Review: Into the Storm plot blows, but special effects and sound

A BAD case of wind makes the latest disaster movie Into the Storm well worth seeing for weather watchers – the more extreme, the better.

Into the Storm (M)

Director : Steven Quale (Final Destination 5)

Starring : Matt Walsh, Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Deacon.

Rating : ***

Can’t see the forest for the breeze

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To its catastrophic credit, Into the Storm knows its audience won’t be buying a ticket on the promise of polished performances or sophisticated storytelling.

Your typical Into the Storm viewer will be here for nothing but the weather. The more extreme, the better.

TORNADO SELFIE: Puts Australian outback into Into the Storm

Much of the meteorological mayhem transpires around the small town of Silverton, a fictional hamlet sitting smack-bang at the centre of the flatlands of the US Midwest.

Disaster flick ... a scene from Into the Storm.

All plotting is confined to establishing it is graduation day at the local high school - which conveniently assembles most of the local population in the one place - and that a storm-chasing camera crew just happen to be visiting the area.

Storm brewing ... Into the Storm has lots of wild weather.

Don’t bother thinking too hard about any of this, as the insanely inclement action will be soon be swirling on to the screen very swiftly indeed.

A system of five magnificent mega-tornadoes - any of whom can display more personality than the whole cast combined - swarm upon Silverton for one hell of a gusty get-together.

Running for their lives ... a scene from Into the Storm.

The special-effects sequences (sonically boosted by a relentlessly whooshing sound design) are jaw-droppingly impressive throughout Into the Storm.

Lives in jeopardy ... Into the Storm has lots of drama.

Director Steven Quale (a long-time associate of James Cameron) has an ace eye for which visual perspective will best scare the pants off viewers.

Though there is no iconic ‘money shot’ to rival the airborne cow of Twister, the contents of this pulpy package amount to a disaster movie that is anything but disastrous.

Originally published as Review: Into the Storm plot blows, but special effects and sound