Out 5th NOVEMBER 2026
Monday 3nd November 2026
Written by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
Film Stills provided by: Searchlight Pictures
HORSING AROUND IN RAPA NUI
Destabilising a South American Country is hard work, so CIA operatives Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rothwell) decide to take a break from their daily grind in Chile to sojourn in Rapa Nui, AKA Easter Island, to take in the Moai, AKA the Big Heads, but, just like their secretive day jobs, there is more to this trip than how it appears on the surface.
Pictured: Lee (Sam Rothwell) and Chris (John Malkovich)
Chris is getting on in years, and after decades of serving in the CIA has completely run out of fucks. He is openly hostile towards his superiors, loose lipped in his conversations with non-operatives, and even worse, working on a memoir that could expose a lot of shady things from his, and, by extension, the CIA’s past. As you can imagine, CIA bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi) is not keen for this to happen, so orders Lee to pull Chris back in line, or face the consequences.
Pictured: CIA bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi)
Directed by Academy Award winning writer-director, Martin McDonagh, the dark humour of Wild Horse Nine stands in stark contrast to the bright, vivid setting of Easter Island. Set in the early 70s, production went to great pains to make sure that all aspects of the film, from the clothing to the cars, were period perfect, and when you consider this meant shipping them to one of the most remote islands in the world, it says a little something about the love and passion that went into the creation of this film. As an added nostalgia topper, Lee films their holiday using a Super 8 camera, and the little excerpts that we get to see throughout the film really sell it.
Pictured: Margie (Parker Posey)
While it may be a slow paced, odd-couple-esque character study, the film provides plenty of twists, turns, and intrigue to keep you engaged. Chris’ politically incorrect outburst and Lee’s attempts to keep a low profile provide for many humorous moments as we learn more about the situations and circumstances they’ve found themselves in. The seemingly dry banter between the two is littered with absurd, yet germane references to things like dinosaurs and basketball playing dwarves that, even when the film turns to more serious matters, means something chuckle inducing is only moments away.
Pictured: Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rothwell)
There are some seriously stellar performances in Wild Heart Nine, with the entire cast turning in impeccable performances filled with equal measures of humour and heart as the plot thickens, nay spirals around them. I would love to tell you more about it, though I fear I may have already said too much.
In fact, if I told you any more…
