Joey Magidson
The works of Martin McDonagh tend to have a bite to their humor. Blood is often spilled, yet there can be a jovial nature as well. Comedy or tragedy, McDonagh likes to have his cake and eat it too. With Wild Horse Nine, he’s crafted what if not only his funniest film, but also his most emotional. For the first time in one of his movies, he brought me to tears. This is not just arguably his best flick to date, it’s a showcase for everything he does well. Playing at the Telluride Film Festival, it’s already one of my favorites of 2026.
Wild Horse Nine has a ton to love about it, but the magnificent turn from John Malkovich is front and center. This is Malkovich at his best and most brilliantly utilized. The dry with and ability to both go big and go small are given quite the showcase from McDonagh. Especially as this transitions from a hangout picture to something a bit different, Malkovich shows you sides of him that we’ve rarely gotten to see before.
In 1973, veteran CIA agents Chris Carlisle (Malkovich) and Lee Chesterfield (Sam Rockwell) are in Chile. History tells us that the democratically elected President of that country would be violently deposed by a coup in September of that year, but 72 year old Chris is happy to tell anyone, including left wing students Monica (Mariana Di Girolamo) and Alicia (Ailín Salas). Why? Well, he has end-stage cancer as well as the early signs of dementia. Lee is his only friend and looks out for him, including by going with him on a short pleasure trip to Easter Island. However, all is not as it appears.
For one thing, their CIA handler M.J. (Steve Buscemi) is worried about Chris’ loose lips, including the memoir he’s planning to write, considering some of the prior operations he’s been a part of. Then, there’s the fact that Chris has asked Lee to kill him on the island, though he’s also left himself notes, including one advising himself not to trust his friend. Lee has a drunk wife at home in Marge (Parker Posey) that annoys him over the phone, but he’s also conflicted about what Chris has asked of him. When M.J. makes it clear what’s expected, things escalate.
John Malkovich gives easily one of the best performances of his career, while Sam Rockwell turns in another excellent bit of work. Their bickering and bittersweet chemistry generates a lot of laughs, but also some genuine emotion. Malkovich initially alternates between troublemaking scamp and confused older man, but as things progress, more sides of him emerge. He absolutely delights, especially when he develops an affection for one of the wild horses on the island. Rockwell gives depth to a character that easily could have been second fiddle. Together, especially towards the end, they break your heart. For a while, Mariana Di Girolamo seems to be a non-factor, but she also gets way more to do in the third act, with the same going for Steve Buscemi. Both are good, if ever so slightly underserved, while Parker Posey is closer to a fun cameo than anything else. In addition to Ailín Salas, supporting players include Tom Waits in one quietly powerful scene.
Writer/director Martin McDonagh crafts his funniest film, as well as his most visual to date. Along with cinematographer Ben Davis, they’ve grown their visual palate, crafting a beautiful looking flick. McDonagh’s direction is as assured as ever, while his writing goes to some very unexpected places. Without getting into specifics, the boldness with which he involves the Kennedy assassination into the plot is something to behold. Well paced, this becomes a deeper and denser work the longer it goes on, culminating in a sequence that brought me to tears.
Awards-wise, look for this one to be an across the board player. Look for Oscar nominations in Best Picture, Best Actor for Malkovich, Best Supporting Actor for Rockwell, and Best Original Screenplay for McDonagh. Best Director could also be on the table, as could some technical categories. I would expect this one to end up with a healthy haul at the Academy Awards, assuming voters respond like I did.
Wild Horse Nine is one of my favorite works of the year, at least so far. If you’re a fan of Martin McDonagh, he’s really outdone himself here. This is the best film I’ve seen at Telluride right now, so consider that high praise. This movie delighted and moved me in both expected and unexpected ways. Simply put, it’s a gem.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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