Supercell

The thriller-y bits are duly exciting, and there’s something almost endearing about a film that makes no attempt to find comedy or supernatural elements or airborne sharks within these dangerous-enough natural conditions.

Between the genuinely awe-inspiring storm effects and Corey Wallace’s rousing, old-fashioned score, “Supercell” feels like a cheaper but in some ways more heartfelt version of a ‘90s blockbuster.

Despite the integration of bona fide footage by fabled stormchaser Pecos Hank Schyma, the film's action largely circumvents excitement and is hamstrung by bargain-basement special effects.

Far from super, even though it generates a lot of dramatic hot air.

Whenever the skies are calm, this eye-rolling thriller about a family of Texas storm chasers loses its thunder.

The storm-chasing in this modestly budgeted feature never amps up the excitement the way it needs to. And the human drama (though well-intended) isn’t strong enough carry us through.

This movie is also about family -- the superstorm is just the tool to tell the story of a young man who sets out to learn more about his father but winds up understanding and appreciating his mom.

The epic melodramatic tone leaves the movie without nuance, which means that there's virtually no sense of realism in either the emotions or action. So while it's familiar and watchable, it's also contrived and sentimental.

Supercell winds up erring a bit too much on the side of caution.


When Baldwin and Heche pop up on screen, they clearly mark themselves as the professionals on set, which at least gives us something to lock onto for brief moments. Beyond that, Supercell is a trainwreck that I’m glad I caught up with.