Set in the rugged landscape of 1790s Britain, Tornado is a young and determined Japanese woman who finds herself caught in a perilous situation when she and her father’s travelling puppet Samurai show crosses paths with a gang of ruthless criminals led by Sugarman, and his ambitious son Little Sugar. 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, Tornado races against time to escape a violent demise and avenge her father’s death.

For in-depth thoughts on Tornado, please see my colleague Phil Walsh’s review from its theatrical debut here.

Video Quality

Tornado comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a 2160p presentation with HDR10, which gives this visually lush film a wonderful at-home experience. We would have been satisfied simply to have this film receive a Blu-Ray release, but we will not take this leap in quality for granted. The greatest benefit of this format here is the utilization of HDR to enrich the natural colors of the backdrop. From the deep, earthy colors of the forest to the bold colors within the clothing and production design, there is much to delight the senses. This also helps prevent any banding thanks to the deep black levels that do not exhibit any signs of crush. Highlights likewise hold firm with no blooming in the brightest shots. Skin tones are very detailed and natural all around. This transfer unlocks texture within the fabrics and landscapes that adds depth to the picture. IFC Films has made a wise decision to give this a 4K UHD release, as it takes every advantage of the format.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a powerful, complex DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings a real sense of vitality to the world. While there is dialogue when needed, the early part of the film unfolds nearly wordlessly as the track brings the sounds of nature to the forefront. Especially prominent are the rustling of leaves in the wind and thunder in the distance. The sound design is not overly kinetic, but the gentle sounds are positioned perfectly in the mix. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overpowered by competing sounds. The score sets the mood as it flows through the room with rich fidelity. A handful of moments add some exceptional come texture to the low end at points. Everything sounds great with this one. Optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/director John Maclean and director of photography Robbie Ryan provide a new commentary track in which they reflect on the production of the film, the compromises that needed to be made with the weather, inspirations for various moments, working with the performers, and more.

Interview with Director John Maclean: A nearly 18-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses his love of samurai films, how the story developed from his passion, inspirations for the story, and more.

The Making Of Tornado Super 8 Films: A three-minute piece in which you get a fly-on-the-wall look at the production of the film.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet is provided featuring the essay “Beta Test” by film critic Josh Slater-Williams that gives a thoughtful overview of the film.

Final Thoughts

Tornado is a compelling slow burn that has a fair amount of unrealized potential, yet it manages to get by on atmosphere and attitude. Director John Maclean captures some amazing imagery, but he doesn’t take some of the action far enough to its desired culmination. The stakes that are established are riveting, as you follow our heroine and pray for her survival against intimidating odds. Even though the film lets off the gas a bit at some inopportune times, it proves to be an effective blend of east-meets-west thrills. IFC Films has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some valuable special features. Recommended

Tornado is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome/OCN Distribution.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: IFC Films & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.