Scots Actor Jack Lowden Stars In New Thriller Film ‘Tornado’
The world premiere of brand new film Tornado will open this year’s Glasgow Film Festival.
Directed by John Maclean and set in Britain during in the 1700’s, this highly-anticipated film stars famous Scottish faces such as Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) and Rory McCann (Gladiator II), as well as award-winning actor Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs).
Japanese model-songwriter Kōki plays the leading role of a girl named Tornado who finds herself in a very dangerous position.
A girl named Tornado (Kōki) seeks revenge on the criminal gang who killed her father. (Image: Lionsgate UK)
When her father’s (Emmy award-winner Takehiro Hira, Shōgun) travelling puppet Samurai show crosses paths with a ruthless criminal gang led by Sugarman (Tim Roth) and his son Little Sugar (Jack Lowden), things start to spiral out of control.
Filming took place in Scotland near Edinburgh last year, but very little has been released about the film until now.
The full synopsis for Tornado
“In an attempt to create a new life for herself, Tornado seizes the opportunity to take matters into her own hands and steal the gold from their most recent heist. With her father murdered by the gang and her life in grave danger, what follows is a thrilling tale of adrenaline-fuelled action, as Tornado races against time to escape a violent demise and avenge her father’s death.
“Armed with her father’s Samurai training, Tornado leaves a trail of devastation and bloody revenge in her wake, in this unforgettable tour-de-force thriller which promises to be both an homage and a fresh reinvention of the great traditional Japanese samurai films.”
Some first-look stills of the film have been released by 2025 Glasgow Film Festival. (Image: Lionsgate UK)
This will be the second film from Scottish screenwriter and director John Maclean, and it follows the success of his 2015 film Slow West, which won the Sundance grand jury prize-winning.
Tornado is based on a story written by Maclean and scriptwriter Kate Leys, who also has credits in Slow West. Director of Photography, Robbie Ryan, is another high profile in their field, who was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography thanks to his work in Poor Things.
Fun fact: John Maclean was a founding member of Scottish musical group The Beta Band, who have acquired a bit of a cult following these days despite having disbanded in 2004.
How To Watch Tornado
Glasgow Film Festival 2025 opens this weekend February 26.
Tornado will have its World Premiere as the Opening Gala film, before its theatrical release in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from May 23, 2025.
Explore the full Glasgow Film Festival 2025 programme.
