Tag: martin-mcdonagh

Wild Horse Nine (2026)

  • Director: Martin McDonagh
  • Screenplay: Martin McDonagh
  • Producer: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Martin McDonagh, Anita Overland
  • Cast: John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, Parker Posey
  • Cinematography: Ben Davis
  • Editing: Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
  • Score: Carter Burwell
  • Genre: Black comedy spy thriller
  • Runtime: 117 minutes

Martin McDonagh’s latest film, ‘Wild Horse Nine‘ combines the talents of actors John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. It’s an inspired pairing. This is the third collaboration between McDonagh and Rockwell but the first with Malkovich, who really shines.

The duo play CIA agents off on an excursion to Easter Island. Chris (Malkovich) is in the early stages of dementia, not even remembering the purpose of their visit. It’s not a straightforward vacation. The real reason: he has terminal cancer and has asked his partner, Lee (Rockwell), to shoot him. His prognosis was six months to live and since he’s forgotten all about his impending demise, half a year has passed and he could expire any day.

Not exactly the most cheerful scenario yet McDonagh’s hilarious writing never misses. Malkovich gets the funniest material – Chris, a loopy blabbermouth, goes off on these daft tangents. They’re by no means politically correct and you never know where they’ll end up but you know for certain they’ll have you cracking up. Rockwell, on the other hand, carries the emotional heft. Chris irks Lee tremendously but there’s a strong bond between the two. Killing a friend is a tall order.

Rapa Nui is a scenic place to close your final chapter. Remote enough to get away with (predetermined) murder whilst also doubling as a sightseeing tour. There’s really only the famous stone heads to see, that’s the star attraction. McDonagh frames Chris in profile as if he’s one of the Moai; part of the ancient landscape.

Set in 1973, John F. Kennedy’s assassination is in recent memory. Chris is at risk of spilling secrets on his involvement in the operation while he’s composing his memoirs. Steve Buscemi’s CIA bureau chief doesn’t dare chance leakage of classified information so flies to the island himself, intent on tying up loose ends.

‘Wild Horse Nine‘ has lots of laughs, tears and thrills. Do yourself a favour and give it a watch.

My rating: 9 / 10