Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine, starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as bickering CIA agents in 1970s Chile, received a 14-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere on September 3, 2026. The film, which examines the US government's role in the 1973 coup that overthrew Chile's democratically elected president, is scheduled for UK and US cinema release on November 6.
A sharp, funny take on a dark chapter
The film follows McDonagh's signature odd-couple dynamic, pairing the 72-year-old Malkovich with Rockwell, who won the 2018 Academy Award for best supporting actor in McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. They play Chris and Lee, CIA agents stationed in Santiago, Chile, who are dispatched to Easter Island, home to nearly 1,000 famous stone statues. Wild Horse Nine is one of the few films ever to shoot on the remote island.
Malkovich's Chris is cynical and frustrated, haunted by regrets about his past work and complaining to Rockwell's Lee about most things. When Chris befriends rebellious students on the island, played by Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas, the situation threatens to spiral dangerously out of control.
Malkovich's standout performance
Malkovich delivers a hilarious yet heartfelt performance as a cranky, petulant loose cannon. He monologues about moths, insists their boss is a heroin addict, tells British tourists he was 'always on Ireland's side,' and openly announces that he and Lee are agents working to destabilise Chile's democracy. 'Don't pull rank on me, I've been killing people since before you were born,' he snaps at Lee, revealing a deep-seated problem.
Chris also threatens to write a memoir, listing previous CIA missions including Guatemala in 1954, Congo in 1960, and the 'less successful' Bay of Pigs in 1961 as key milestones—a concern for MJ, played by Steve Buscemi. The film also hints at covert intelligence operations involved in JFK's assassination, referenced as 'Dallas '63.'
Relevance and reception
The film's political message has gained relevance since McDonagh wrote it, following the US strike on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. Despite the steady supply of jokes, the film never cheapens its political commentary, poking fun in intelligent, searching ways.
Rockwell is 'great as ever' as the exasperated Lee, and the pair's chemistry is evident. Parker Posey co-stars as Lee's boozy wife Marge, though her role is largely confined to phone calls. Buscemi's angry MJ delivers the memorable line 'bon f**king voyage.' The film runs 1 hour 58 minutes, with an age rating yet to be confirmed.
Wild Horse Nine premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2026, and will release in UK cinemas on November 6.
