Universal Pictures
A couple of nights back, the dozen tea lights that used to illuminate our apartment were extinguished by my wife and I as we prepared to evacuate our home. Electricians had been working tirelessly to restore power, even while powerful winds toppled old trees around them. Our ‘go-bags’ were quickly packed with the six Ps (people/pets, papers/phone numbers/documents, prescriptions, pictures, personal tech, and plastic/credit cards) for emergency evacuation. I was grateful that our apartment building remained intact, but the message from a friend comparing the situation to the eerie ‘Silent Hill’ did nothing to alleviate the anxiety. Sleep was elusive, the 24-hour news cycle reporting on the devastating fires across Los Angeles County kept me wide awake, my eyes dry and stinging from the smoke that choked the air.
The scale of destruction is beyond comprehension. Celebrity mansions worth millions leveled to the ground, their before and after images splashed across tabloid publications. Local news channels tell stories of teary-eyed families from working-class backgrounds sifting through the remains of their homes, while drones record the devastation of mobile home parks reduced to vacant lots. The adage “You can replace things, you can’t replace people” rings hollow, often uttered by those who have never experienced the devastation of losing all they hold dear. The blame game will continue for years, while aid organizations scramble to assist those rendered homeless, adding to the already alarming number of displaced individuals.
Despite the overwhelming destruction, the phrase “We will rebuild” is often heard, albeit through clenched teeth and heavy sighs. Rebuilding is a process that demands time, resources, labor, and funds. Regrettably, as we edge closer to an oligarchy, there are those who view the news of this catastrophe not with empathy, but with visions of financial gain. During difficult times, I usually find solace in movies (a good example being my experience watching the “Inside Out” series), but it’s challenging when reality mirrors the disaster scenes from a Roland Emmerich film.
This sentiment is particularly poignant in light of “Twisters,” a movie that depicts a villain so abhorrent it should serve as a wake-up call for audiences.
The Unforgivable Actions of Companies like Storm Par from Twisters
Universal Pictures
In “Twisters,” we are introduced to Storm Par, a well-coordinated group of storm chasers funded by high-profile investors like the affluent Marshall Riggs. The storm chasers utilize these funds to continue their work of studying tornadoes with the hope of eventually finding a method to reduce or weaken them. However, their financial benefactors are not driven by a desire to protect people in tornado-prone areas. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.
Investors such as Riggs provide funding in return for a list of homeowners whose properties have been destroyed by tornadoes, enabling him to offer them money for their lands, often at a value far less than their worth. Such investors exploit communities who have lost everything, prioritizing profit over people’s wellbeing. While some were distracted by whether or not Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Tyler (Glen Powell) should have shared a kiss, the real debate was about the source of Storm Par’s funding and how capitalism has infiltrated and corrupted every conceivable industry.
Javi (Anthony Ramos) is clearly troubled by the source of Storm Par’s funding, but he’s forced into this Faustian pact as his business partner Scott (David Corenswet) has learnt, it’s one of the few ways they can afford to continue their research. Javi is trying to help people with his research on tornadoes, and people like Riggs know that without their investment, Javi’s work cannot continue. Javi is yet another vulnerable person acting against his own interests because our world has forced those without wealth to always be at the mercy of the wealthy. In the meantime, Scott has been corrupted by their influence, and has become the fictional equivalent of impoverished individuals defending the reputations of tech tycoons like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
The Heinous Act of Seeking Fortune in the Ruins
Universal Pictures
Individuals like Marshall Riggs are a sad reality, and as the fires continue to blaze, they’re swiftly emerging from their hiding places. There have already been reports on social media of people being offered as little as 15% of their home’s value for the land it once stood on. Opportunistic “get rich quick” schemers are encouraging people to “invest” in land in the Pacific Palisades area “while it’s still cheap.” At the time of writing, the fire has spread over 17,000 acres and is yet to be contained. The fire is still raging, and these Storm Par-like profiteers are already planning their rise to wealth amidst the wasteland.
As shown in “Twisters,” their profit-making strategy is incredibly short-sighted. Yes, they can buy land cheaply after tornadoes or fires have devastated communities, but if the tornadoes or fires persist, any profits made from selling properties on their cheaply acquired lands will eventually be used to pay for rebuilding when Mother Nature asserts her dominance. Less than six months since “Twisters” hit the screens, and this significant plot point feels uncomfortably real. It’s time to follow in the footsteps of Javi, Kate, and the Tornado Wranglers led by Tyler, and finally abandon these opportunistic villains in the dust.
For those wishing to lend a hand to those affected by the SoCal wildfires, a list of resources can be found here.
FAQs:
Q: Who are the main characters in “Twisters”?
A: The main characters in “Twisters” are Storm Par, a team of storm chasers, Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), Tyler (Glen Powell), and Javi (Anthony Ramos).
Q: What is the main plot point of “Twisters”?
A: The main plot point of “Twisters” revolves around the unethical practices of wealthy investors, who exploit vulnerable communities for their own financial gain.
Q: How can I help those impacted by the SoCal wildfires?
A: You can find a list of resources to help those affected by the SoCal wildfires at the end of the article.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
