Jackal of Nahueltoro (El Chacal de Nahueltoro) is a 1969 Chilean drama film directed by Miguel Littín. It is based on a real life event about Jorge del Carmen Valenzuela Torres, the "Jackal of Nahueltoro", an illiterate, alcoholic peasant who killed a poor widow and her five children in 1960. He learned to read and write in prison, converted to Catholicism and deeply regretted his crime. However, he was still sentenced to death and executed by firing squad three years later.
Jackal Of Nahueltoro contains examples of:
- The Atoner: Jorge.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Jorge's past includes alcoholism and murder
- Downer Ending: Despite everything Jorge has done to reform himself and his remorse, he still gets executed.
- Mercy Kill: The Jackal says he killed the kids in order to spare them from suffering in poverty.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Jorge's immediate reaction after killing the woman.
- Precision F-Strike: The journalist lets out an angry "¡Asesinos de mierda!" ("You fucking murderers!") after Jorge's execution.
- Redemption Equals Death: Jorge is executed via firing squad, even after all he has done.
- Shoot the Shaggy Dog: Even if the final outcome is known from the get-go, it's quite jarring to see the new, reformed Jorge meet his end.
