Wild Horse Nine Movie Review: A Darkly Funny but Disappointing Detour

I was excited to see Wild Horse Nine. It stars both Martin McDonagh (one of my all time favourite directors as he made Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri) and John Malkovich which I am a huge fan of.

The story is a dark comedy thriller set on the stunning Easter Island. With Sam Rockwell also starring there was nothing not to like.

However, even though there are some stellar performances, some great dialogue and dark comedic moments, the film does not really deliver.

It is an interesting and sometimes brilliant character study but fails to keep its momentum due to its slow pace and aimless plot.

A CIA Assignment on Easter Island

Set in 1973 just prior to the Chilean coup d’état, Wild Horse Nine tells the story of veteran CIA agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell), who are sent from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau boss MJ (Steve Buscemi) after being tasked with a new mission.

As time goes on, the two get to ponder about their lives and what they have done throughout their careers.

Chris has been struggling with old age and has lost some of his mental capacity. He has started to realise that he has lived a life of violence and has little to show for it.

Lee is carefree and confident, however, their differing views mean their relationship starts to develop.

Whilst spending time on the island Chris forms a bond with two rebellious local students (Mariana di Girolamo & Ailín Salas).

The students have a very idealistic view of life which contrasts with the cynical views of the CIA agents. It threatens to change the mission completely.

The concept has a lot of potential, as 1973 Chile means McDonagh can explore the dark side of American interference.

However, this film isn’t really about a typical spy thriller and focuses on the characters having conversations and debating their place in the world. Whilst this can create some interesting moments, the plot lacks direction.

John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell Steal the Show

The main reason to watch Wild Horse Nine is definitely the dynamic between the two leads. John Malkovich is brilliant throughout as Chris.

He uses his trademark sarcastic humour and quirky style extremely well, but also injects a heartfelt emotion into his performance.

Chris is such an interesting character. He has suffered throughout his life due to political manipulation and violence, but is beginning to question how much of an impact this has had on him.

Malkovich portrays the cynical nature of the character brilliantly. However, during the calmer moments of the film, he really shines. His increasing understanding of his mortality really adds some heart to the film.

It’s very touching to watch Chris come to terms with the fact that his life might be coming to an end. His fears around losing his mind, death and the afterlife are some of the most interesting parts of the film.

Malkovich adds a lot of humanity to the character, as he could easily have been seen as just another cynical intelligence operative.

Sam Rockwell is also excellent. Whilst Lee doesn’t quite get as much of a spotlight as Chris, Rockwell uses his usual charm and coolness to his advantage.

This compliments Malkovich well, as he keeps things very calm. The banter between the two is always some of the funniest parts of the film.

The rest of the cast are also great. Even though they don’t get as much screen time, Steve Buscemi is very entertaining as the scary MJ. Parker Posey and Tom Waits also have some great cameos.

Overall, the main duo are the best part of the film. Their banter, arguments and increasingly complex relationship provide the most consistent source of entertainment throughout the film.

Without the chemistry between Malkovich and Rockwell, the film would struggle a lot more.

Martin McDonagh’s Dark Comedy and Political Satire

McDonagh has a certain style of filmmaking that typically includes dark comedy, awkward dialogue and characters struggling with the worst parts of life. Wild Horse Nine has many of these elements but has a much slower and sadder feel.

Through the CIA mission, the film explores the politics behind the US being interventionists. By having the film take place shortly beforehand the Chilean coup it acts as an uncomfortable reminder of how much control the United States had over other countries during the Cold War.

McDonagh often prefers to imply the political themes rather than explicitly stating them. Often he will show how ridiculous the agents are acting and speaking.

The whole time Chris and Lee are acting with extreme certainty however they really couldn’t care less about the implications of their actions.

This shows how arrogant people can be when they think they know what is going on in a foreign country.

A more interesting element of the film was the portrayal of Easter Island and the Rapa Nui people. There are not many native people in the film which was a deliberate choice to show how the American agents do not care to learn about the people in the country they are in.

They act as if the island is just a temporary place for them to play around with their own personal and political issues.

The difference between the younger characters and the agents adds another layer to the film. Chris and Lee have lost all faith in life due to becoming heavily cynical from working within the political manipulation industry.

The students still have a positive outlook on life. This shows the gap between people who have spent their lives defending current power structures and those who still believe change is possible.

There are some similarities between this film and Of Mice and Men. The relationships throughout show interest in friendship, weakness and optimism vs pessimism.

However these themes are not always well explored. Although there are many sharp political jokes throughout the film at times it feels like it is more interested in making funny observations rather than creating a satisfying story.

Easter Island Looks Stunning

Wild Horse Nine is a visually impressive achievement within the film. With the help of cinematographer Ben Davis, the film has a distinct 1973 feel to it.

Using vibrant colours, film grain and well shot scenes, the film feels like something discovered from the past.

Easter Island provides an incredible location. The harsh beach, wide open landscapes and iconic Moai statues give the film a distinctive look.

The cinematography within the film creates a sense of loneliness which matches with the characters becoming more reflective throughout.

The visuals also have a nice texture to them. Some scenes use certain visuals that make it feel like it was filmed on a Super 8 camera by one of the characters.

This adds to the retro feel of the film. Frequently the film looks much more interesting than the story.

However, this is one of the biggest missed opportunities within the production. Although there is an amazing location, at times it can feel like it is being used as an expensive prop.

The location may be beautiful but they do not really take advantage of the unique cultural, historical and geographical features of the island.

It is hard not to want McDonagh to have incorporated the island into the story in a more meaningful way.

A Film That Struggles to Find Its Direction

Unfortunately, the issue with Wild Horse Nine is that it suffers from an uneven pace. We are left waiting a while for the core conflict to be established.

Once the characters arrive on Easter Island, we often feel as though we’re just going from one conversation to the next without a clear narrative.

Whilst a slow, dialogue driven film can be a great thing, as McDonagh has shown before in his films, the characters aren’t always developed very interestingly through their dialogues.

Whilst some are incredibly funny and some are surprisingly heartfelt, there are moments where it feels like the film is dragging.

The second half in particular is very slow. It can be hard to truly engage with the film due to how little narrative drive there is.

The political aspects make us think that this could have been a far more interesting thriller. However, they often veer off course into lengthy conversations.

At times this does not feel more like a full film but rather a long joke. Whilst there are moments of the snappy writing and confidence that made The Banshees of Inisherin such a memorable film, Wild Horse Nine lacks the tight narrative.

This is probably the most disappointing aspect of the film. With this director, cast and setting we were expecting something far more engaging.

Final Verdict

Wild Horse Nine is an incredibly frustrating film. The elements that are present within it are extremely impressive in their own right, but they fail to come together into something that is satisfying overall.

John Malkovich gives a fantastic performance as he adds genuine emotion to his character as he deals with themes of death, regret and a violent past.

Sam Rockwell is a fantastic scene partner and adds some of the funniest and most enjoyable moments in the film. Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey and Tom Waits also add some great moments to the film too.

Martin McDonagh brings some great dark comedy and political commentary throughout the film. Ben Davis has created some lovely cinematography to show off Easter Island.

Some parts do feel like it could have been made by the person behind Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin as during some parts the comedy can give way to some emotional moments.

Unfortunately these moments are notconsistent throughout. With a slow and meandering plot, an unused setting and little forward movement the film really does feel longer than it should be.

It is a shame because everything is there, but there is not quite the balance between comedy, political commentary and character driven moments.

As I was going into the film with high expectations (particularly due to my love for McDonagh’s previous films and Malkovich’s performances) I was left disappointed.

Although there are some great elements it definitely feels like a missed opportunity, it is worth watching for the main cast but was not an outstanding addition to McDonagh’s collection.