WILD HORSE NINE is exactly what I expected and wanted from a Martin McDonagh film: a brutally darkly funny script; career-best multifaceted performances; beautiful landscape cinematography; an acute sense of moral and political corruption; but a deep and moving emotional core centred on male friendship.
Those friends are Chris and Lee - two CIA assassins in Chile ahead of the 1973 coup that replaced the democratically-elected Marxist President Allende with the fascist General Pinochet. Chris is old and sick and indiscreet but as played by John Malkovich reveals layers of conscience and melancholy and genuine good. Lee is a series of mostly reaction shots, with Sam Rockwell both open-mouthed aghast at Chris’ inappropriate behaviour but also caring and loving.
The bulk of the action takes place amidst the “Big Heads” on Easter Island as the friends enjoy a last hurrah, befriending a couple of idealistic young feminists on the way. Of the two, Mariana di Girolamo Arteaga as Monica really holds her own in the more demanding role. The action occasionally cuts to Lee’s wife Marge (Parker Posey) or to their boss MJ (Steve Buscemi) - both superb. To say more would be to reveal a pleasingly twisty plot full of surprises.
There’s much to be said in praise of Carter Burwell’s beautiful score and incredibly well-chosen needle drops; of Ben Davis’ stunning cinematography; and of Mikkel E. G. Nielsen’s precise and subtle editing that makes so much of the humour and suspense land. But really this, as all of his films, is a Martin McDonagh joint. And he is at his most supremely McDonagh-y here. You will laugh consistently but more importantly you will neither forget these men nor their friendship.
WILD HORSE NINE and has a running time of 1hr 58m and is rated R. It played Venice, Telluride and Toronto 2026. It will be released in the USA and UK on November 6th.
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