FILM
TORNADO
★★★
OUT NOW / CERT 15 / 91 MINS
DIRECTOR John Maclean
CAST Kōki, Tim Roth, Jack Lowden, Takehiro Hira
John Maclean’s acclaimed 2015 Slow West took a Scotsman to the American West; with Tornado, Maclean takes the Western to Scotland. This is an evocative portrait of 1790s Scotland, brought to life by Robbie Ryan’s rich cinematography. Japanese pop star Kōki plays Tornado, a samurai-intraining who crosses paths with a criminal gang led by Sugarman (Tim Roth) — which leads to a blood-drenched fight for survival. This is something of a slow burn, a film that requires patience before it finally reaches fever-pitch in the final act. Balancing multiple genres, the occasional pacing issues are countered by Jed Kurzel’s score, Ryan’s haunting photography, and standout turns from Kōki and Roth.