El día del chacal (1973)★ 8.2/10

Fantástica

The film’s brilliance lies in its dual perspective—it not only details the Jackal’s methodical assassination plot, but also follows the dogged efforts of the French police to stop him. It’s an intellectual duel between predator and prey, with both sides displaying formidable cunning. Every step is executed with chilling precision, keeping the audience gripped in a state of tension.

Even after more than fifty years, "The Day of the Jackal" holds up as an exceptional thriller. That said, I found the 2024 series adaptation starring Eddie Redmayne even more compelling, with a richer plot and a more enigmatic, even faintly sympathetic, portrayal of the Jackal. In contrast, the 1973 film presents him as a clinical, cold-blooded assassin whose sole mission is to kill Charles de Gaulle.