TORNADO – Review by Liz Whittemore
Filmmaker John Maclean brings audiences a female-driven film that feels like a callback to his roots in Slow West. British Isles, 1790, a young girl, the titular Tornado, seeks revenge against the notorious gang who killed her father in search of stolen gold. Tornado is a character-driven action film.
The screenplay’s structure is intriguing. Maclean throws us headfirst into the chase with little explanation and breathless tension as our heroine, Tornado, evades capture. The nonlinear storytelling shifts the film’s momentum but delivers motivation and explains the evolution of the father-son dynamic between Sugarman (Tim Roth) and Little Sugar (Jack Lowden).
We flashback to the Samurai puppet show, the hiding of the stolen gold, and the subsequent murder of Tornado’s father. Mclean lays out the young woman’s journey as a reluctant participant in the circus community, a life that doesn’t satisfy her desire to seek broader opportunities. Tornado finds herself an unwitting piece of the theft plot when a young boy uses her wagon as a hiding spot, leading the gang to her people. Maclean goes beyond lawlessness and delves into complacency, survival, loyalty, and retribution.
Jack Lowden’s performance as Little Sugar is perhaps the most complex. Under the thumb of his father’s reign of terror, Little Sugar takes matters into his own hands to prove his worth. Lowden possesses a presence that demands your attention. His chemistry with Kōki (starring as Tornado) is magnetic.
Tim Roth is a legend. His mesmerizing and unpredictable style of delivery gives Sugarman a lethal edge. You cannot take your eyes off him. Kōki plays the titular role with an elegant vulnerability and dazzling ferocity. It is a grounded performance, never showy, and entirely age-appropriate.
Jed Kurzel’s epic score immediately sets the tone. The lighting, particularly candlelight and moonlit, is stunning. Elizabeth El-Kahdi’s production design team fabricates beautifully handcrafted circus wagons. Kirsty Halliday’s costuming is magnificent. Be on the lookout for the care put into these elements.
Maclean never fails to surprise, having zero qualms about killing off characters at any time. Do not get comfortable or attach yourself. The film comes in three distinct acts, and Maclean earns the finale where Tornado at last plots her revenge, one driven by rage and honor. Audiences can relish fifteen minutes of blood-soaked rampage filled with clever kills. It is not often I exclaim, “Ohhhhh!” It is deliciously satisfying to witness a strong young woman destroying a savage gang of men. Tornado evolves into a surprising coming-of-age tale that, if treated skillfully, has the potential for franchise expansion.
