McDonagh's New Spy Film Wild Horse Nine Targets CIA Interventions

Martin McDonagh’s newest feature, Wild Horse Nine, follows two CIA operatives in 1973 Santiago, Chile, as they plot a coup against President Salvador Allende. John Malkovich plays Chris, an aging agent who begins to question the morality of his past assassinations, while Sam Rockwell portrays his partner Lee. The duo travels to Easter Island, where Chris contemplates writing a memoir that could expose classified operations, prompting their bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi), to consider silencing him.

"It's definitely my most political thing," McDonagh told Empire magazine, adding that the film expresses a clear stance on U.S. intervention abroad.

The narrative combines McDonagh’s trademark sharp dialogue with a broader condemnation of CIA activities, suggesting that the agency’s efficiency masks an inherently unjust mission. Critics note that the film departs from typical spy thrillers by emphasizing systemic wrongdoing rather than isolated conspiracies. Malkovich’s performance, described as both unsettling and vulnerable, has already generated Oscar buzz.

The movie arrives amid ongoing debate about Hollywood’s portrayal of intelligence agencies, contrasting earlier heroic depictions with more critical works such as Three Days of the Condor. Wild Horse Nine adds to the latter category by directly challenging the ethical foundations of covert operations.