The Screen Scribe

The Day of the Jackal is a seminal political thriller novel that made waves in the year 1971. Written by British author Frederick Forsyth, it followed the titular assassin, known only as “the Jackal”, as he took on an assignment by a terrorist group to assassinate Charles de Gaulle. While the plot was entirely fiction, the novel was admired and the recipient of several awards, remaining a popular novel to this day. Having been the subject of four movie adaptations, only one of which is in any way worthy of the great novel, I was rather apprehensive following the announcement of this show. I’m happy to admit my apprehension was entirely unfounded.

The premiere is a slick, stylish and tense affair that introduces Eddie Redmayne as our titular killer. Redmayne brings a cold, calculating and menacing demeanour to the role that surprised me, given this type of role is not in his usual wheelhouse. In the opening twenty minutes alone, he portrays a calculated, sophisticated and meticulous assassin, who deploys bespoke weapons and elaborate disguises, all while uttering but a few phrases of gruff, broken German dialogue. You never truly see the actual persona of the Jackal for long, only in the brief instances he is alone, either removing his janitor disguise, communicating on the dark web, or in his meeting with a prospective contact. In all other instances, he affects a different variation of himself to brilliant effect, altering his speech patterns, mannerisms and behaviour to suit his needs and situation.

Bianca is an interesting mirror to the Jackal. An MI6 agent specialising in weaponry, particularly snipers, she is also a family woman with a complicated relationship with her daughter, in what can be assumed is caused by her dedication to her job. From what the audience see of her in this opening episode, Bianca is willing to push boundaries and relationships to achieve her objectives, sometimes with deadly consequences. It’s an intriguing parallel to the Jackal, showcasing a moral ambiguity to both characters that will undoubtedly have the audience questioning who they actually want to root for in this fascinating game of cat and mouse as the series progresses.

It is a strong opening episode, reminiscent of recent James Bond films in its stunning set locations and the absolute class of Redmayne’s wardrobe, which he carries on his slender frame with a cold confidence. But there is also a strain of Jason Bourne DNA to the proceedings. The tone, atmosphere, and clean, concise but tense action scenes reminded me strongly of the early Bourne films, complete with the usual trappings of a political thriller that feel fresh and relevant in our modern political landscape. This is especially evident with themes of greed and the abuse of governmental authority strongly portrayed throughout as the episode progresses through its plot at a steady, suspenseful pace.

This is a modern adaptation to it’s core, but one that is done in the correct fashion, intelligently updating the plot and characters but maintaining the spirit and thematic essence of the original. This is not a direct adaptation of the novel, nor should it be. Following the critically acclaimed 1973 film, and it’s three inferior reboots, we didn’t need another. This is a well-crafted modern revision of a classic story in a premiere that promises an intelligent, cerebral and thrilling series to come.

The Day of the Jackal is available to view on Sky Atlantic every Thursday, with it’s first five episodes immediately available from the 7th of November.

4 / 5 ✨ from the Screen Scribe.