'Tornado' review: A samurai's daughter faces the winds of change in 1790s Scotland
Wind-scoured hills and rugged moors of 18th-century Scotland become the unlikely stage for a collision of worlds in John Maclean’s evocative film Tornado. This time, the Western genre sheds its American roots and takes on a new form—blending samurai tradition with the harsh realities of the Scottish Highlands. The result is a mesmerizing tale where steel meets soul, and identity is forged in blood.
'Kôki' in Tornado.
Jack Lowden and Kôki.
Glasgow Film Festival/Lionsgate UK
Tornado, portrayed with fierce intensity by Japanese pop star-turned-actor Kōki, wrestles with her dual heritage. As the daughter of Fujin (Takehiro Hira), a stoic samurai transplanted from Japan, she rejects many of her father’s teachings. Speaking English instead of Japanese, preferring forks to chopsticks, Tornado embodies the cultural clash at the heart of the story. Yet beneath her resistance lies a profound struggle to understand the warrior legacy Fujin tries to pass on.
“Know when to move and when to wait,” Fujin instructs—a mantra that echoes throughout the film’s deliberate, slow-burning narrative.
Director Maclean returns to the minimalist storytelling style that defined his acclaimed Slow West, using the breathtaking cinematography of Robbie Ryan to paint Scotland’s landscape in muted browns, smoke, and sunlight. This stark and haunting environment shapes Tornado’s journey, where every frame feels charged with history and emotion.
At just 90 minutes, Tornado carefully balances silence and tension, drawing viewers into a world where violence is not just action but a deeply personal expression of rage, survival, and transformation.
Glasgow Film Festival/Lionsgate UK
When the climax finally arrives, it delivers a visceral, brutal payoff. Sword fights eschew flashy choreography in favor of raw, meaningful blows that carry the weight of Tornado’s inner turmoil. Each battle is a crescendo of pain and purpose, driving home the film’s themes of honor and defiance.
Supporting actor Tim Roth brings gritty gravitas as Sugarman, a hardened gang leader whose presence adds another layer of danger and complexity to Tornado’s quest.
More than a tale of swords and survival, Tornado is a story of coming-of-age in a divided world—an evocative and blood-soaked exploration of identity, culture, and resilience. Kōki’s compelling performance anchors the film, conveying Tornado’s fierce determination and vulnerability with powerful close-ups that speak louder than words.
John Maclean’s samurai Western set in Scotland defies genre conventions to become a poetic meditation on legacy and rebellion. Tornado is a storm that builds slowly, leaving a lasting impact long after the final blade falls.
