Welcome to Movie Mondays, a weekly blog series that takes you on a cinematic odyssey through the world of film! Each week, we’ll dive into a list of my 100 least favorite movies, exploring what makes them fall short and discussing the lessons we can learn from their missteps. Remember that these low-ranking films are only that way based on my personal opinion. Something I hate may be something you love and no offense is intended. Wherever these movies fall for you, I invite you to grab some popcorn and join in on the debate over these films’ merits!

Into the Storm

2014

Directed by Steven Quale

Ah, Into the Storm. The 2014 found footage disaster flick that had me yearning for the glory days of Twister and Jan de Bont’s iconic flying cow. But hey, who needs originality when you’ve got state-of-the-art CGI tornadoes, right?

Directed by Steven Quale and written by John Swetnam, Into the Storm follows a group of storm chasers and the residents of Silverton, Oklahoma, as they face off against a series of increasingly ridiculous tornadoes. Richard Armitage stars as Gary Fuller, the town’s vice-principal and resident hero, alongside Sarah Wayne Callies as Allison Stone, the obligatory passionate meteorologist. Matt Walsh plays Pete Moore, the grizzled veteran storm chaser who leads the team of one-dimensional characters, including camera operators Daryl (Arlen Escarpeta) and Jacob (Jeremy Sumpter).

The plot, if you can call it that, revolves around Gary’s attempts to rescue his son Donnie (Max Deacon) and Donnie’s crush Kaitlyn (Alycia Debnam-Carey) from a conveniently abandoned paper mill during the storm. Meanwhile, Pete and his team chase the tornadoes, sacrificing character development for impressive, yet soulless, visual effects.

Sure, the film boasts an admittedly impressive cast, with the likes of Nathan Kress, Kyle Davis, and Jon Reep rounding out the ensemble. But even their combined talents can’t save this script, which feels like it was written by an AI that was fed a steady diet of disaster movie clichés.

Now, I’ll admit that the special effects are top-notch. Digital Domain, MPC, and a host of other VFX studios clearly worked overtime to create some truly awe-inspiring tornado sequences. But without a compelling story or characters to root for, it all feels like a hollow spectacle.

In the end, Into the Storm is little more than a flashy showcase for what modern visual effects can accomplish. It’s a shame that the filmmakers didn’t put as much effort into crafting a memorable narrative or characters worth caring about. If you’re looking for a mindless disaster flick to pass the time, Into the Storm might fit the bill. But if you’re hoping for something with a little more substance, you’re better off dusting off your old VHS copy of Twister and reliving the magic of flying cows and Helen Hunt’s windswept hair.

But hey, that’s just my opinion. What did you think of Into the Storm? Did you find yourself swept up in the action, or were you left feeling as hollow as the film’s plot? Let me know in the comments below!