John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell Shine in McDonagh's Poignant 1970s Spy Drama

In “Wild Horse Nine,” veteran director Martin McDonagh returns to his blend of bleak comedy and political satire, focusing on two disillusioned CIA agents stationed in Santiago during Salvador Allende’s brief presidency. John Malkovich portrays Chris Carlisle, a terminally ill, dementia-prone spy whose dry delivery masks a lingering sadness, while Sam Rockwell plays his reluctant companion Lee Chesterfield. Their planned Easter Island vacation becomes a backdrop for reflections on fading power and impending fascism.

The cast is rounded out by Steve Buscemi as the jittery handler M.J., Mariana Di Girolamo and Ailín Salas as Chilean activists, and Parker Posey as a flamboyant spouse on the phone. Though the script occasionally lapses into predictable edginess, the film’s melancholy tone and the chemistry between Malkovich and Rockwell elevate it beyond a simple caper.