Why Jack Lowden had “way more fun” on gripping new Scotland-set samurai thriller Tornado

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Regarding my character in the intense new thriller Tornado, written and directed by John Maclean, Jack Lowden notes that he often finds himself portraying a somewhat dubious figure while filming in Scotland.

In the movie “Little Sugar,” Lowden’s character stands in stark contrast to favorite character River Cartwright from “Slow Horses.” Unlike the honest and upright River, Little Sugar is a cunning individual who will stop at nothing to seize all the gold that was stolen during his gang’s heist. Unfortunately for him, Tornado (Kōki) managed to snatch it away first.

In a surprising turn of events, Little Sugar defied even his own father, the head of their gang known as Sugarman (Tim Roth), and was prepared to eliminate any fellow gang member that posed a threat to him.

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As a gamer, I’ll let you in on a secret: Tornado isn’t just a sweet name; she’s been trained in lethal samurai arts by her old man. So, when Little Sugar seems like an easy target for the gold he’s after, he might find himself schooled – the hard way – that not everything can be grabbed on a whim. You can’t always get what you want.

Before “Tornado” hits the movie screens in UK and Ireland on Friday, Digital Spy had a chat with Jack Lowden about gaining insights from Tim Roth, strangely enjoying the chill, and how playing a bad guy is just more exciting.

In terms of the films and characters you’ve portrayed before, which one do you believe shares the closest resemblance to the character Tornado?

In my opinion, Dunkirk seems to be particularly fitting because it is remarkably minimalist. Minimalist is an appropriate term for Dunkirk as it has limited dialogue, scope, and the landscape plays a significant role in shaping the story. Just like in Tornado, the setting is almost a character in itself in Dunkirk.

Filming a tornado must not have been your favorite shooting experience, given that it took place in the beautiful yet distant Scottish countryside?

No, but then I’m peculiar, being from a chilly region, I thrive in cold environments. I appreciate the wetness and inclement weather, making our shoot particularly challenging due to the freezing conditions. However, when producing films like this, you assemble an appropriate team who are all enthusiastic about the endeavor.”

“I don’t do warm climates; I come from a colder part of the world, so I feel at home in the cold. I enjoy working in rainy or harsh weather, but it made our shoot tough because it was freezing. However, when we make films like this, you gather the right people who are eager to join the project.

I vividly recall the chilliness, and it seemed every low-budget production I worked on, the weather could be lethal. However, John’s remarkable knack for swiftly adapting to the limited time at his disposal was truly awe-inspiring.

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What stands out most is the cold I felt, and it seemed that every small-budget film I worked on had weather that could potentially be fatal. But John’s incredible aptitude for swiftly adapting to the time constraints he faced left me amazed.

Is it less common for you to take on the antagonist character, with the exception of your role in Mary Queen of Scots, and do you find it more enjoyable to portray such a villainous persona?

It’s significantly more enjoyable, unless you happen to be an exceptionally unique, mysterious individual. However, I don’t consider myself to fit that description. For me, the ideal scenario is to portray something as different from myself as possible. Yet, it remains a dream because finding some kind of emotional depth and compassion for the character, so I can truly empathize with him, makes the experience all the more fulfilling.

Despite the fact that Little Sugar may be quite problematic, his father Sugarman takes things to a whole new level, particularly towards his son. But, getting the chance to work alongside Tim Roth made it all worthwhile. Can you share your experience working with him?

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Little Sugar may have his issues, but Sugarman surpasses him in terms of being difficult, especially towards his son. Yet, having Tim Roth as a co-star was an amazing opportunity. Could you tell me about your experience collaborating with him?

Working with such talented individuals is truly a marvelous experience. I find myself mostly absorbing knowledge from them and inundating them with questions about their brilliant movies, which can sometimes make it feel like I’m being overly curious and possibly tedious.

Tim excelled in his role. Not only was he an exceptional team player, but his kindness shone brightly behind the scenes. However, once the camera started rolling, he transformed into a whole new character.

What do you hope people take away from Tornado when they see it at the cinema?

It would be great if they left understanding that our team is capable of producing samurai films as well. Any movie genre isn’t exclusive to a particular region, and collaborations like these have the potential to be incredibly thrilling!

This innovative move transcends typical expectations associated with certain countries, and I find it absolutely captivating that [John] decided to create a samurai movie within the Scottish Highlands. It adds an exciting twist to my perspective, and I hope it encourages others to expand their understanding of this specific region.

Tornado is released in UK and Irish cinemas on 13 June.

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2025-06-09 14:20