Martin McDonagh's new film Wild Horse Nine blends CIA intrigue with 1970s Chile and Easter Island
Wild Horse Nine, set in 1973, follows two CIA agents on Easter Island against the backdrop of the Chilean coup, combining historical detail with a focus on male friendship.
Martin McDonagh's latest film, Wild Horse Nine, is set in 1973 and alternates between a bleak depiction of Chile shortly before the U.S.-backed coup that removed President Salvador Allende and the landscape of Easter Island. The story follows CIA operatives Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) as they pursue a personal and political objective on the island, where the iconic moai statues appear in several scenes.
The film continues McDonagh's pattern of mixing genres, shifting between farcical moments, historical drama, and dialogue-driven scenes. It also maintains his interest in the dynamics between male characters, portraying the evolving relationship between the two agents as a central element.
Visually, the production uses saturated colours intended to evoke the look of early-1970s American cinema, and it pays close attention to the historical context of the Chilean crisis. While the narrative includes comedic exchanges, it also engages with the political environment of the period.
McDonagh has described the project as his first "old-man movie," suggesting a thematic focus on aging and reflection. The film therefore operates on multiple levels, offering both a period-specific thriller and an examination of personal bonds within a turbulent historical moment.