James_Denton

If you're looking for a film to fill an evening then Locked (2025) is certainly worth considering.

It's a straightforward, lightweight film that never pretends to be more than it is and certainly isn't going to win any accolades. Even so, it features a strong cast, with Bill Skarsgård trapped inside a 4x4 controlled by Anthony Hopkins's character, a wealthy, elderly man who doesn't have much time left. The plot is fairly predictable, following Hopkins's character as he seeks revenge on petty criminals. With what I felt was a suitable ending given the abysmal finales that often plague films of this type.

Eddie Redmayne is outstanding in The Day of the Jackal, making what is already a good story even better!

However, the bulk of my review surrounds the baffling casting choice of Lashana Lynch as the female lead. A woman whose acting skills and ability have a lot to be desired and brings down an otherwise excellent series.

I've made a similar criticism in other reviews where a particular team lets a film or series down, and The Day of the Jackal is no exception. Whilst casting for role did no one in the casting team or Director say, "Lashana Lynch isn't suited for the role, let's explore other choices?"... and if this was mentioned, why was it dismissed?

This poor error in judgement is compounded by the fact the character is a field operative in MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section Six) a positon that requires (among other things) the actress to display a high degree of athleticism and fitness, neither of which Lynch has. Was this not one of the requirements for the role?

Sadly, the series is let down by a single poor casting choice but redeems itself (a little) with an unexpected yet accurate outcome in the last episode.

Is The Day of the Jackal worth watching? It is, but it's a poor 7 out of 10 when it could have been 9 out of 10.

We had high hopes for this TV series as it all started so well, and in the main it had potential throughout at the series does a fine job avoiding the usual ex-soviet style buildings in the background.

Sadly, what potential it had (and has) is lost through the series with long drawn out episodes that take a long time to 'get to the point'. For example, action scenes.

The series is reminiscent of 'Major Grom', Russian made film which again had a lot of potential but is lost with long drawn out scenes.

I wanted to like this series and it gave it a fair try... but it took until the end of episode 4 until is started to get interesting.

If you're looking for an enthralling TV series that draws you in, then give this a miss... there are better TV series out there, such as 'The Glory'.

5 out of 10.