August 8, 2014
Into the Storm is a 2014 American found footage disaster film directed by Steven Quale, written by John Swetnam, and starring Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, and Arlen Escarpeta. It is a meteorological disaster film about a rash of tornadoes striking the fictional town of Silverton, Oklahoma.
The film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on August 8, 2014. The film grossed $161.5 million against the $50 million budget, and received mixed reviews; while it was praised for its special effects, the film was criticized for its scriptwriting and casting.
Storyline
Pete, a veteran storm chaser, attempts to intercept and film tornadoes using Titus, a Tornado Intercept Vehicle, but has come up short all year long. Upon learning of a major line of developing storms, his team of chasers decide to head for the town of Silverton, Oklahoma, in hopes of filming tornadoes. After arriving there, the team discovers that the cell they had been chasing has dissipated. It then abruptly strengthens, resulting in a hailstorm and tornado. As the team films, the funnel shifts course and heads for a high school.
There, the weather sours. The students are marshaled into the school building. In the aftermath of the tornado, shaken students emerge from the damaged building to view the destruction, while vice-principal Gary Fuller sets out to rescue his eldest son Donnie, who went to an abandoned paper mill to help his friend Kaitlyn with a project; both were subsequently trapped when the tornado brought the building down on them.
As Pete's storm chase team stops in a small part of town, a tornado takes shape just as Gary and his younger son Trey arrive, destroying several buildings. Before the tornado dissipates Gary saves Pete's meteorologist, Allison Stone. Pete's team then agree to help Gary get to the paper mill. While en route, another round of tornadoes form and encircle Pete's team, destroying a residential neighborhood and a car lot in the process. An explosion turns a tornadoes into a firenado, which cameraman Jacob tries to film, only to be caught up in the storm and killed. This causes friction in the team, as Pete's concern seems to be more on collecting data than ensuring his team's safety, until Daryl admits that he pressured Jacob into filming, causing his death. After recovering their vehicles, Allison leaves with Gary to continue their trip to the paper mill.
At the mill, a water pipe breaks and begins to flood the hole in which Donnie and Kaitlyn are trapped. Injured and at risk of drowning, the two record messages for their loved ones, then prepare for the worst. At the last minute, Gary and Allison arrive and free them.
In the skies above Silverton, a convergence of two tornadoes results in a colossal EF-5 tornado that threatens to level the town. Silverton's citizens have taken shelter at the school, but Pete's team determines that the school's storm shelter will be inadequate. Unable to alert the school's staff with mobile devices, Pete's team rushes to the school. While citizens rush to board school buses, Pete and his team follow the storm, but the last school bus and some cars are cut off from the retreat due to a downed transmission tower.
The storm chasers and school refugees take cover in a storm drain at a construction site, but a truck from the airport that the tornado struck damages a storm grate, compromising the shelter. Trying to save lives, Pete hands over his research hard drives to Gary, then sacrifices himself by leaving the shelter to move Titus down to the storm grate, to use the vehicle to anchor the storm grate to the concrete face and has the others tie its towline to the crashed truck for support. Titus's equipment, however, cannot anchor the vehicle to the ground. From the camera turret aboard Titus, Pete observes the tornado's funnel as the vehicle is lifted above the clouds, fulfilling his dream, before crashing to the ground, killing him and wrecking Titus. The EF-5 tornado then dissipates.
In the aftermath of the tornado outbreak, the townspeople begin to clean up and rebuild. Obeying their father, Trey and Donnie record messages from the senior class for a time capsule to be opened in 25 years. Many of those they interview express newfound appreciations for their lives. Allison praises Pete's sacrifice and dedication to science. The last footage shows that two local daredevils Donk and Reevis, who were sucked up by the tornado, have survived the storm.
Also See
- Into the Storm (2014) (TV Spots)
Movie Trailer
- Into the Storm (2014) (Trailers)
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Lightning 08 CloseG SIG012601
- Hollywoodedge, Medium Exterior Crow PE140501
- Hollywoodedge, Thunder Dry Rumbles PE050901
- SoundDogs, Alarms - Klaxon Fire (long blast)
- Wilhelm Scream (4th scream)