Tornado
A Japanese puppeteer's daughter gets caught up with criminals when their show crosses paths with a crime gang, led by Sugarman and his son Little Sugar.
Tornado, John Maclean
Tornado (2025) brings the spirit of old-school samurai cinema to the West with an unusual setting in the Scottish Isles. Focusing on a father-daughter duo of samurai, the film sets a distinctive tone that immediately separates it from traditional entries in the genre. It was refreshing to see a female lead in a samurai film, a shift from a traditionally male-dominated role.
I was particularly impressed by the film’s ability to build suspense within the almost barren landscape. However, the film struggles to reconcile its Japanese roots with its Western setting. The cultural disconnect is noticeable and at times, the storyline feels disjointed due to the lack of deeper integration with Japanese tradition.
Release Date: June 13th, 2025
Directed by John Maclean
Written by John Maclean
Produced by Leonora Darby, James Harris, Mark Lane
Starring Koki, Takehiro Hira, Jack Lowden, Tim Roth
Cinematography by Robbie Ryan
Distributor: Lionsgate UK
Runtime: 91 minutes.