Packs a dynamic punch for a film that only runs 90 minutes-long.
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You wouldn’t believe us if we told you there was a film out there with samurais in the Scottish Highlands. But we hope you’ll listen because it is a film worth watching.
Tornado is set in 1790s Britain, following a girl named Tornado, who assists her father Fujin with his travelling puppet show. They encounter a group of bandits led by Sugarman, who had just come from robbing a church of a lot of gold. Tornado sees a pickpocketing young boy who manages to steal the gold from the bandits. She helps hide the boy in their wagon but later throws him out onto the road while keeping the gold. Sugarman and his men catch on to where their missing gold has gone and thus, a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase ensues.
The film is written and directed by John Maclean and stars Kōki, Jack Lowden, Takehiro Hira, Tim Roth and more.
Unnecessary lost lives and blood shed in the wake of Tornado’s actions will ultimately shape her to becoming the fierce samurai-wielding avenger she is destined to become. Kōki, a relatively unknown Japanese model, songwriter and actress, embodies the role of the titular character with great finesse that resembles a live-action Mulan. She is a captivating watch, both in her silence and action-packed endeavours, holding her own against more seasoned actors like Roth and Hira.
The narrative of the film is simple but the execution is far from. Powerfully quiet when it needs to be and deliciously thrilling otherwise, Tornado packs a dynamic punch for a film that only runs 90 minutes-long.
Maclean utilises his set pieces to a great advantage – with the vast countryside lending to amazing views and atmospheric backdrops for the action sequences that take place – while the urgency and depth of Jed Kurzel’s score synchronised with Robbie Ryan’s stunning cinematography helped elevate the simplicity of Tornado to greater heights. The sheer expertise exerted into this little film has made for an extremely artful watch that will sit with you long to come.
Tornado is a beautiful and grounded coming-of-age tale, a stunning revenge story that could also double as a solid superhero origin one. You’ve never heard of her before, but you’ll want to see more of her now.
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