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last mo.

Tornado’s Grand Visuals Overshadow Its Fractured Narrative

After nearly a decade in development, John Maclean’s samurai western set in 1790 Scotland arrives in cinemas on June 13.

Bloodhound gang: Tim Roth (centre) with his gang of misfits on the hunt for their stolen loot. Image: Norman Wilcox-Geissen
Tornado
Jack Lowden stars as Little Sugar with Koki as Tornado

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.