Overview

• John Maclean finished writing Tornado in 2017–18 and spent nearly ten years securing financing after Film4, BBC and BFI declined to back the project.
• Set in 1790 Scotland, the period drama fuses Western and samurai genres as it follows Kōki’s Tornado on the run from Tim Roth’s Sugarman and his gang.
• Reviewers have praised Robbie Ryan’s expansive cinematography and Jed Kurzel’s drum-driven score for their stark grandeur and brooding atmosphere.
• Critics commended Kōki and Tim Roth for their committed performances while noting Jack Lowden’s portrayal of Little Sugar adds tense counterpoint.
• Many have criticized the film’s fractured narrative and sparse characterisation, describing the story as disjointed and the characters underdeveloped.