Martin McDonagh's New Film "Wild Horse Nine" Sets CIA Plot on Easter Island
The film follows CIA operatives in 1973 Chile and Easter Island, blending political intrigue with a western tone, according to a review.
Martin McDonagh's latest film, "Wild Horse Nine," places two CIA agents in 1973 Santiago before sending them on a vacation to Easter Island, one of the most remote locations on Earth. John Malkovich portrays Chris Carlisle, a veteran operative involved in past coups across Latin America, who reveals to Chilean students that his mission is to destabilize their democracy. Sam Rockwell plays his younger partner, Lee Chesterfield, who is reluctant to follow Carlisle's increasingly erratic plans, including a request for assisted death on the island. The narrative also features a South American bureau chief, played by Steve Buscemi, monitoring the pair, and a subplot involving Chesterfield's troubled marriage.
The review notes that the film adopts a slower, comic-western style, with dialogue that departs from McDonagh's typical rapid rhythm. While the setting and the presence of wild horses aim to evoke the island’s stark landscape, the plot offers limited action until the final act. The story includes a moment where a student corrects the protagonists to use the Indigenous name Rapa Nui, prompting a dismissive reaction from Carlisle. The reviewer critiques the film's tone, describing it as “smug” and “sentimental,” and questions the audience’s sympathy for a character involved in the historical coup that led to Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship.