Martin McDonagh’s new film, ‘Wild Horse Nine,’ features John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as two CIA operatives who travel to Easter Island while preparing for a planned Chilean military coup. The story is set in the 1970s and also includes Steve Buscemi in the ensemble, with the plot tied to the overthrow of Salvador Allende’s government.
Across reviews, outlets describe the film as a sardonic take on American interventionism and the strains of male friendship. Multiple sources frame it as a return to the dark-comic style associated with McDonagh’s earlier work, with Easter Island serving as a setting for both humor and uneasy political context. TIME highlights the film’s engagement with the dynamics between the two agents, presenting it as largely pleasurable.
Other reviews emphasize tonal and narrative judgments. IndieWire characterizes the CIA satire as prickly but questions how effectively it lands, while comparing its structure and vibe to McDonagh’s prior films and, in particular, to the buddy-comedy sensibilities of ‘In Bruges.’
