“The Twister: Caught in the Storm” delivers a powerful examination of one of America’s most devastating tornadoes. This Netflix documentary, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alexandra Lacey, chronicles the catastrophic EF-5 tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011. Released on March 19, 2025, this 88-minute film combines real storm footage with survivor testimonies to create an immersive experience that many reviewers describe as “heart-pounding” and “emotionally intense.”
Watch “The Twister: Caught in the Storm” – Streaming options and details
This gripping tornado documentary remains exclusively available on Netflix, requiring a subscription to access this riveting portrayal of natural disaster. The streaming giant offers several subscription tiers for viewers:
| Subscription Level | Monthly Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard with ads | $7.99 | Basic access with commercial breaks |
| Standard without ads | $17.99 | Uninterrupted viewing experience |
| Premium | $24.99 | Higher quality streaming + additional features |
The documentary’s release timing proved particularly significant, coinciding with several deadly Midwest tornadoes that claimed 37 lives. This relevance likely contributed to the film’s strong audience reception, garnering numerous 5-star reviews and achieving a 77% Tomatometer score. For those analyzing entertainment trends, this documentary represents an excellent case study in how tragedy-based content performs with viewers seeking authentic storytelling.
An intense and terrifying documentary experience
Raw footage and survivor testimonies
The film’s power derives from its authentic presentation of the Joplin disaster through:
- Actual cellphone recordings capturing the 200+ mph winds tearing through homes
- Weather camera footage showing the mile-wide tornado’s destructive path
- CCTV recordings from businesses as debris fills the air
Interviews with teenage survivors who experienced the storm on their high school graduation day provide emotional depth. The documentary shows how warning sirens gave little preparation time before the EF-5 tornado transformed ordinary neighborhoods into apocalyptic landscapes of twisted metal and splintered wood.
The flesh-eating fungus nightmare
Perhaps most haunting is Steven Weersing’s story – nicknamed “Miracle Boy” after being sucked from his car during the storm. His survival took a nightmarish turn when he contracted Apophysomyces trapeziformis, a rare flesh-eating fungus. This horrifying medical complication shows how tornado victims faced threats beyond the immediate storm damage.
Director Alexandra Lacey’s masterful documentary approach
Lacey brings considerable documentary expertise to this project, having previously helmed acclaimed works including:
- “Tinder Swindler” – exploring romantic deception
- “American Nightmare” – examining sensational true crime
- “Three Identical Strangers” – unraveling a shocking family mystery
Her approach focuses on the human impact of natural disasters rather than meteorological technicalities. The film tracks multiple survivor stories – a couple huddled in a freezer, a terrified 17-year-old yogurt shop worker, and a football captain who later became a paramedic. Beyond physical destruction, Lacey examines the lasting mental health consequences for Joplin residents who survived a disaster that killed over 158 people, injured approximately 1,000, and damaged an estimated 8,000 homes.
