Tornado (2025) Movie Review – A Visually Striking Samurai Western That Fails to Cut Deep
In an era saturated with big-budget blockbusters and formulaic revenge thrillers, Tornado (2025), directed by John Maclean, dares to tread an unconventional path. A genre-bending samurai western set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, it stars Kōki in her English-language debut as Tornado — a puppeteer’s daughter-turned-avenger on a blood-soaked quest for retribution. Supported by a compelling cast including Tim Roth, Jack Lowden, and Takehiro Hira, the film attempts to marry arthouse cinema with grindhouse grit.
But does it work? Let’s unravel the silk threads of this tale and see if it cuts through the noise — or just tangles in its own ambition.
Plot Overview: Gold, Guts, and Generational Grief
The story begins in medias res, with Tornado hiding from a gang of killers in a roadside carnival. A mysterious cache of gold, stolen from the criminals by Tornado herself, sets off a chain of revenge and violence that threatens everyone she encounters. Her father, a Japanese puppeteer (played soulfully by Takehiro Hira), is killed early in the story — or so we think.
The film then backpedals to show us how it all began: a puppet samurai show gone wrong, ambushed by gangsters led by the ice-cold Sugarman (Tim Roth) and his less competent but just-as-ruthless son, Little Sugar (Jack Lowden).
Tornado’s choice to steal the gold — and by extension, her father’s fate — introduces one of the film’s more complex themes: vengeance as a self-perpetuating cycle. But while the themes are rich, the execution lacks bite.
What Works: Performances, Cinematography & Atmosphere
1. Kōki as Tornado
Kōki delivers a captivating performance, blending stoic resolve with underlying vulnerability. She channels a quiet rage that fits well within the samurai tradition, though the script doesn’t give her enough depth to truly explore the emotional cost of her journey.
2. Visual Storytelling
The cinematography is, without exaggeration, breathtaking. From mist-covered moors to tight forest passes, the Scottish Highlands provide an evocative, otherworldly backdrop. It’s a visual poem, one that sometimes compensates for the film’s narrative flaws.
3. Tim Roth’s Villainous Turn
Tim Roth is magnetic as Sugarman. He embodies a kind of quiet malevolence — part crime lord, part ghost of colonial trauma — that elevates the scenes he’s in. Jack Lowden as Little Sugar adds a chaotic, dangerous energy that plays well off Roth’s measured menace.
4. Soundtrack
The original score is moody, meditative, and layered with cultural nuance. At times it overreaches into bombast, but more often than not, it adds emotional weight and tension.
What Falls Flat: Structure, Action & Logic Gaps
1. Pacing & Narrative Choices
The decision to begin in the middle and then flash back feels more like a stylistic gimmick than a meaningful storytelling device. The structure promises momentum but delivers confusion. The stakes are blurred, and when revelations come, they feel more like afterthoughts than climaxes.
2. Underdeveloped Characters
Aside from Tornado and Sugarman, the supporting characters — particularly the gang members — are forgettable. Their motivations are murky, their actions nonsensical. One moment they’re walking across the Highlands like zombie tourists, the next they’re ambushing without explanation.
3. Illogical Plot Beats
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How did Tornado’s father move the gold after his supposed death?
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Why does the gang not pursue Tornado more aggressively when they’re already within reach?
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Why does a young boy willingly walk into danger just to deliver expositional dialogue?
These aren’t just nitpicks — they compromise the emotional logic of the story.
4. Action That Pulls Its Punches
A samurai revenge film lives or dies by its action sequences. Here, the fights feel restrained and over-edited. Whether due to budget limitations or creative choice, the combat lacks the intensity and choreography necessary for a satisfying payoff.
A Genre Lover’s Perspective: Tornado’s Missed Opportunity
As a lifelong fan of both samurai epics and gritty westerns, Tornado hit many of the right notes in terms of concept. It had all the ingredients: familial loss, revenge, a clear antagonist, a morally gray protagonist. But the film leans too heavily into art-house ambiguity, avoiding direct conflict and clarity in ways that weaken the final product.
It’s hard not to see what this could have been with a slightly larger budget or a tighter script. There are sparks of brilliance — a beautifully lit puppet show, a tense standoff on a foggy road — but they never fully ignite.
Final Verdict: Beauty Without Blade
Tornado is an ambitious, visually arresting film that attempts to blend samurai tradition with western grit, but it never fully commits to either. It’s not without merit — performances and cinematography do impress — but the film collapses under the weight of its structural decisions and underwritten characters.
It feels like the film wants you to “feel” rather than “understand” — but fails to earn those feelings through coherent storytelling. And in a cinematic landscape where films like John Wick and The Revenant exist, a revenge thriller needs more than atmosphere to stand out.
Should You Watch It?
If you’re a fan of slow-burning arthouse films, stylized landscapes, or indie cinema experiments — give Tornado a chance. It’s available to rent or buy on Amazon. Just temper your expectations and enjoy the view, if not the journey.
Where to Watch Tornado Online: Amazon Prime Video Rent or Buy
Have you seen Tornado (2025)? Did its haunting visuals and moral ambiguity win you over, or were you left wanting more swordplay and logic?
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