La muerte del chacal

It may not seem so, based on the rating and the light-hearted tone of my review, but I truly loved "La Muerte del Chacal". This Mexican-produced low-budget horror flick set in Texas is pretty much the embodiment of all the slasher-cliches that exist. How shall I put it ... If you should ask a hundred people, who almost never watch any horror movies, to invent the plot for a slasher flick, chances are quite high they'll describe the plot of this movie quite accurately.

"La Muerte del Chacal" is a typical product of the 80s, but there are also many similarities with the Italian Giallo from the early 70s, notably the disguise of the killer (all black, including the gloves) and his/her unusual choice of preferred murder weapon (a walking cane with a razor-sharp edge). In a southern Texan town, there's a vicious killer at large who targets promiscuous women, but also joyously butchers everyone who trespasses his ingenious hideout place (which is a broken old ship in the nearby harbor). Sheriff Bob seeks the help of his brother Roy, and together they go a-hunting for the psycho-killer.

The identity of the killer is revealed before the movie is halfway. I won't spoil it for you, but it's the easiest and most obvious twist in horror history. That doesn't mean the fun's over, though, because the killer escapes again from the psychiatric ward (a place with the lousiest security imaginable) and continues the murderous mission. What's not to love about a movie like this? Within the first ten minutes, four victims have been staffed already. The killer owns two vicious Dobermans as well, and Sheriff Bob literally smashes one to death against a wall. Priceless. Speaking of which, if you wonder why the resemblance and chemistry between Bob and Roy is so genuine, it's because they're also brothers in real life. Apparently, there exists a sequel named "Massacre en Rio Grande" and our beloved mustached muchachos reprise their roles. It's even more obscure than this one, but I will certainly do my best to find it!

The main reason to watch "La Muerte del Chacal" is to see Fernando Almada give his best acting performance in his most unusual role. It's a crime thriller with "horror" music and heavy breathing. Highlights include a hand to paw fight between Mario Almada and a Doberman pinscher; a high speed chase, but not in cars but speed boats; Lizzeta Romo as a police sergeant going under cover to lure out the mad killer; the Almada brothers fighting each other; and Mario making sure that he investigates a strip club just in case some suspects might be lurking there! The ever attractive Olivia Collins(who's also in the similar genre films, Terror y Encajes Negros & El Hombre que Volvio de la Muerte) tries hard not to get her hair mussed up or clothes torn as the girlfriend of Fernando, but she does manage to lose her high heel shoes! Christina Molina plays the part of Mario's wife. Film locations are not given in the credits but the setting is the United States. One car is shown backing up with its Texas license plate very visible.

This movie was filmed in Brownsville Texas. Brownsville is the most south-eastern city in the United States. Producers found this city in the United States ideal for film making Mexican movies for various reasons: 1. Located in the Mexico-US border, there are lots of Mexican- Americans to hire for extra roles, 2. Mexican culture around town guaranteed the availability of Cantinas, Mexican looking stores, Mexican looking outfits, etc 3. Various types of locations available: beach, jungle looking areas, open land, dessert looking places, etc. For example, the boat location in this movie was a boat parked at the Port of Brownsville that had crashed and was there for repair.

"La Muerte del Chacal" aka "The Death of the Jackal" is about a psycho killer clad in black,who stalks women and murders them with a sharp cane.A sheriff named Bob decides to stop his killing spree.The killer often hides on an abandoned ship."The Death of the Jackal" is an entertaining Mexican slasher flick with some strong Italian giallo overtones.Unfortunately the killer is very quickly shown,so there is no mystery.There is a bit of nudity and the electro soundtrack is menacing and creepy.The killings are not gory and brutal enough too.Still if you are into slasher movies or giallo sub-genre you can't miss "La Muerte de Chacal".7 jackals out of 10.