Cinema VinesOscar‑winning director Martin McDonagh, who first earned acclaim with the short film Six Shooters and later with In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin, has returned to the big screen with a new dark comedy set in 1973 Chile. The film, titled Wild Horse Nine, follows two CIA agents, Chris and Lee, as they navigate personal turmoil while Chile approaches the final hours of President Salvador Allende’s government before a U.S.‑backed coup.
McDonagh drew inspiration for the story during a visit to Easter Island, where the island’s striking moai statues and rugged landscapes became integral to the film’s atmosphere. “All of those beautiful aspects of Rapa Ni were fundamental to it being a character in the story,” the director told reporters at the Toronto Film Festival, underscoring how the island’s scenery shapes the narrative.
The cast features John Malkovich as one of the agents, Sam Rockwell as the other, and Steve Buscemi as the CIA chief stationed in Santiago. Supporting roles include Chilean actor Mariana di Girolamo, Parker Posey and the legendary Tom Waits. The ensemble has already earned standing ovations at festivals, beginning with the film’s debut in Venice where Malkovich received an award for his performance.
Rockwell described the protagonists as an “odd couple,” noting that even their fights carry a sense of affection. Malkovich echoed this sentiment, saying their arguments resemble a married couple’s quarrels and that audiences appreciate the shades of regret the characters embody. He added that the agents view killing as a matter of practicality rather than morality, reflecting a cynical worldview that permeates the film.
McDonagh emphasized that while Wild Horse Nine is steeped in political context, it remains an entertaining buddy movie. “I love films that are entertaining,” he said, “and this has a lot of deep political context too, but you can do that through a joke rather than a diatribe.” The film promises a blend of humor, tension, and historical insight set against the dramatic backdrop of Easter Island and 1973 Chile.
