Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Stars: John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi
Synopsis: CIA agents Chris and Lee face a trust-testing mission from Santiago to Easter Island during 1973 in Chile.
Martin McDonagh is no stranger to making movies which tackle serious issues with a darkly comic edge. From In Bruges to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to The Banshees of Inisherin, McDonagh is incredibly effective at bringing across an emotionally powerful and damning story through his approaches, often giving his primary cast members a lot of range and room to work with the narrative. His latest effort, Wild Horse Nine, continues his tradition of telling stories with that particular directorial flourish.
The year is 1973. CIA agents Chris and Lee (John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell), stationed in Santiago, Chile, have just been sent to Easter Island by their chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi). While positioned as a bit of a vacation for the two agents, in the midst of planning the incoming coup d’etat against the Chilean government–which did, in fact, happen in ‘73–things take a drastic turn when Chris, who has many years in the CIA under his belt and beginning to reckon with his darker past, begins to let loose about the details of his work, in a manner that may threaten to derail what is coming and lead to decisions being made that could affect both Chris and Lee’s visit.
Wild Horse Nine, in many ways, plays like a B-side to In Bruges, a comparison that will likely be echoed by many who watch the movie and are familiar with McDonagh’s work. Chris and Lee in many moments reflect the back and forth between Colin Farrell’s Ray and Brendan Gleeson’s Ken in that movie, and just like the duo from In Bruges, the two have an eccentric, bizarre boss in MJ, though he is not quite as unhinged as Ralph Fiennes’ Harry Waters. This is not a slight at Wild Horse Nine, mind you. It just means that fans of In Bruges will likely find this latest effort quite enjoyable on simply that level, but it also has a lot of McDonagh’s signature flourishes as far as storytelling that help make it an incredibly entertaining watch.
What is perhaps most interesting about Wild Horse Nine, however, is how emotionally somber its central narrative really is. Malkovich, giving one of his best performances in years, captures the years on Chris wonderfully, reflecting back to the audience a man who has spent so long in the system and witnessed so many events that the legacy he looks back on is one with great regret, seeking some form of absolution through everything but also, not holding back anymore on the CIA’s current operations This plays out particularly in his interactions with two university students (Mariana di Giorlamo and Ailín Salas), who grow increasingly concerned by Chris’ premonitions on the incoming coup. His observations in life continue to become more existential as well, leading to a very frustrated and confused Lee quite often, played brilliantly by Rockwell. The dynamic between the two is incredible, and the flow of dialogue and moments of comedy play like they have been doing this work for years together, almost improvisational in its approach and delivery. Buscemi, in his limited screen time, provides some hilarious deliveries as well, one in particular that might be among the best of 2026.
Wild Horse Nine is also stunning to behold, with Ben Davis’ gorgeous cinematography capturing the beautiful vistas and architecture of Easter Island–only the second movie ever to be filmed there–as well as the period of time the movie takes place, backed by a wonderful score from Carter Burwell and an increasingly twisty but darkly funny storyline unfolding as the dynamic of Chris and Lee begins to unravel and more truths are revealed in regards to their mission and the ultimate aim of what they plan to achieve. Parker Posey also gets a few hilarious moments sprinkled in as Marge, Lee’s wife, who he has an increasingly strained relationship with. There is hardly a dull moment to be had with Wild Horse Nine throughout its 1 hour and 57 minute runtime, moving at a pretty brisk pace throughout and never really losing its momentum till the end.
While Wild Horse Nine doesn’t let up and remains an engaging watch throughout, it does take a minute to really center itself and figure out where it wants to go with its broader narrative and zany characters. For a while, it really is just Chris and Lee having hilarious back-and-forth conversations about going to Easter Island or trying to keep major secrets from being revealed to others. Once it becomes clearer why many of these events are taking place, the movie stabilizes a bit more and then leads to an overall really great and satisfying third act that brings everything together. While it may not be quite as fine-tuned as some of McDonagh’s other works like In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin, it remains a really enjoyable time backed by incredible performances, tight dialogue writing and some intriguing and emotionally tumultuous storytelling. And yes, the title will make sense when you see it.
