45/39
The show moves the setting to the present day
Scenario
The Jackal is an elusive assassin who makes his living by carrying out assassinations for the highest fee. He soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who pursues him in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe. The novel “Day of the Jackal” was set in 1963 and involved an assassination attempt on the then President of France, Charles de Gaulle.
A remake of The Day of the Jackal (1973)
The Day of the Jackal is a technically accomplished and ambitious remake of the 1973 classic. What immediately impressed me was the high production value and, most notably, Eddie Redmayne’s performance as the Jackal. His masterfully restrained portrayal kept me engaged throughout the series.
I particularly appreciated how the show modernized the source material
It deftly addresses the challenges a modern assassin would face in our world of digital surveillance, social media, and sophisticated security systems. That said, I did have a few significant issues with the series. I found Lashana Lynch’s performance as the MI6 agent to be unconvincing.
Despite these drawbacks, there’s still a lot to admire here
She seemed to lack the gravitas needed for such a pivotal role, and this unfortunately weakened what should have been an engaging cat-and-mouse dynamic at the heart of the story. I was also frustrated by the pacing and unnecessary padding of the subplots. The MI6 agent’s family drama, in particular, felt like a formulaic addition that only served to dilute the tension of the main story.
Check out our November calendar for more!
The technical execution is impressive, and the supporting cast delivers strong performances—Charles Dance is a particular standout. While it may not reach the heights of the 1973 version, I’d still recommend it to thriller fans, even if it doesn’t live up to its potential. A new season of “Silo” is one of the biggest TV and streaming premieres this month.