Tornado (2025) Review: John Maclean’s Visually Stunning Revenge Film Falters with Cold Protagonist

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

A Bloody Beginning

Ten years after his neo-Western Slow West, writer-director John Maclean returns with Tornado, a stylized revenge tale that blends samurai theatrics with spaghetti western grit. It’s ambitious, eccentric, and occasionally thrilling—but it’s also saddled with a protagonist who’s tough to root for.

The film opens with a visually striking sequence: a puppet samurai show traveling across the dusty badlands, run by a troupe of misfits led by Tornado’s father. The show is ambushed by a notorious gang, leaving a trail of blood and tragedy in its wake. From there, Tornado sets off on a mission of vengeance, armed with a stolen blade and a stolen bag of gold, forging her own path in a lawless world.

Style Over Substance?

Maclean’s direction is stylish and often inventive. The cinematography pops with dusty palettes and painterly landscapes. The score—both twangy and percussive—fits the genre fusion perfectly. From a purely technical standpoint, Tornado is impressive. You can tell Maclean hasn’t lost his eye for offbeat visuals or his knack for pacing a scene. There’s a surreal edge to the world he builds, like a fable fraying at the edges.

A Protagonist Problem

But the film stumbles when it comes to its lead. Tornado, played with snarl and swagger, never quite earns the audience’s sympathy. She’s impulsive, reckless, and so stubbornly self-destructive that by the time the revenge plot kicks into full gear, it feels too little, too late. Most of the trouble she faces stems directly from her own actions. Instead of a tragic antihero, she comes off more like a brat out of her depth, and the script doesn’t do enough to complicate or redeem her.

Cold Vengeance

That lack of emotional grounding keeps the film at arm’s length. The supporting cast—especially the gang members and the eccentric townsfolk—offer texture and charm, but Tornado remains a tough character to invest in. Her journey is one of vengeance, but it never quite earns the catharsis it’s aiming for.

Still, Tornado isn’t without merit. Maclean proves once again that he knows how to construct a world dripping with atmosphere and attitude. His voice remains distinct in a landscape of genre rehashes. If you were a fan of Slow West, there’s enough here to pique your interest—just temper your expectations when it comes to character depth. Stylish and strange, Tornado is a genre mashup with undeniable visual flair but a cold center. The revenge tale eventually ignites, but it’s hard to care when the lead keeps blowing out the fuse.

Tornado is in theaters in the US May 30th, 2025 (Limited)

Details

• Rating Certificate: R (for strong violence, and language.)
• Studios & Distributors: Tea Shop Productions | BFI Film Fund | National Lottery | Ashland Hill Media Finance | Screen Scotland | HanWay Films | IFC Films
• Director: John Maclean
• Written By: John Maclean (story by) | John Maclean (screenplay) | Kate Leys (screenplay)
• Run Time: 90 Mins.
• Country: United Kingdom
• Language: English | Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
• Release Date: 30 May 2025