Wild Horse Nine is the latest film from writer-director Martin McDonagh, a filmmaker who is certainly no stranger to critical acclaim or the awards conversation. John Malkovich stars as Chris, a veteran CIA officer with terminal cancer who travels to Easter Island with his friend and colleague, Lee (Sam Rockwell). Shortly after they arrive, Chris begins to question whether he and Lee were ever truly friends or whether there is an ulterior motive behind this trip. As the story unfolds, we learn more about their complicated history while gradually discovering what might be in store for Chris.
McDonagh is a filmmaker whose work I have always appreciated and admired. I have enjoyed all of his films quite a bit, with the exception of The Banshees of Inisherin, which never matched the quality of the acting or writing found in his earlier work. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has always been my favorite McDonagh film, with In Bruges coming in as a close second. After seeing Wild Horse Nine, however, I am thinking that this might be his finest outing yet.
What makes the film so impressive is its simplicity. It remains consistently entertaining and emotionally engaging without relying on a massive cast, a lot of locations or a complicated story. In fact, it is the intimacy that often makes it feel more like a stage play than a feature film.
As expected from McDonagh, the writing is funny, sharp, and incredibly clever, but also deeply nuanced. The film made me laugh out loud several times, yet there were just as many moments when I found myself sitting back and dissecting what these characters were saying to one another. Beneath all the humor is something surprisingly powerful and mature about friendship, regret, mortality, and the lies a person tells themselves.
The film walks an incredibly fine line between comedy and drama, and I would argue that McDonagh balances those two tones better here than he has in any of his previous films. Nothing about Wild Horse Nine feels showy. Much of the movie follows a structure similar to Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, with two people talking and slowly revealing themselves through conversation. There are a few moments of action, if you really want to call them that, but this is primarily a dialogue-driven film. It works as beautifully as it does thanks to the fantastic writing combined with the impeccable chemistry between Malkovich and Rockwell.
John Malkovich has always been one of Hollywood’s most underrated actors. Yes, everyone knows his name, and his career is undeniably iconic and respected, but he has never received the same level of recognition afforded to many of his peers. His performance in Wild Horse Nine feels like a swan song, not because I believe he is finished with acting, but because the material seems to speak to him on such a deeply personal level.
It is almost difficult to believe that McDonagh and Malkovich had never worked together before this film because they are a match made in heaven. Malkovich completely understands McDonagh’s viewpoint as both a filmmaker and a storyteller, which is why I believe this ranks among the finest performances of his career.
I realize that is a bold statement to make. We are talking about an actor who has delivered so much unforgettable work in Being John Malkovich, In the Line of Fire, Ripley’s Game, and countless other titles. What makes this particular performance so powerful, however, is how closely it connects to that feeling of the final stage of life. Chris is an older man reflecting on his life, the choices he has made, and whatever future he and others around him may have left. He is bitter, angry, and completely unfiltered. He no longer cares whether he upsets the people around him. At this point, all that matters is making sure someone finally hears his truth.
Rockwell, as usual, brings plenty of humor to his role, but like Malkovich, his performance is far more layered than it initially appears. Lee is trying to manage Chris while simultaneously dealing with MJ, a CIA bureau chief played by Steve Buscemi. MJ remains in constant contact with Lee, pressuring him to obtain crucial information from Chris. This puts Lee in an increasingly difficult position and creates a genuine moral dilemma for him, adding another layer of nuance to the storytelling as the film progresses.
Rockwell and Malkovich are terrific together. Their back-and-forth banter feels completely natural. They come across as two old friends shooting the shit, poking fun at each other, and using humor to avoid confronting everything left unspoken between them. That lived-in chemistry is essential because the entire film depends on the audience believing in their long and complicated history.
The supporting cast rounds out the story nicely. There are not many additional characters, but Monica (Mariana di Girolamo) and Alicia (Ailín Salas), two college students whom Chris and Lee repeatedly encounter throughout their trip, become increasingly important to the narrative. Buscemi is also quite good as MJ, bringing rage and comedic timing to a character whose intentions are considerably more self serving than they initially appeared.
All three supporting characters play meaningful roles in the film with some connecting more directly with Chris than with Lee but each contributes to the dynamic and relationship between the two men. The supporting cast members become even more significant as the various pieces of the story begin to come together, especially towards the end of the film.
I also need to take a moment to acknowledge Parker Posey who makes a brief but memorable appearance as Lee’s wife. She is probably only in the film for about 15 minutes, but she is very funny. I certainly would not have complained about having more of her, but the limited screen time ultimately works given what McDonagh was going for. Her appearance gives us a glimpse into Lee’s life away from Chris and the CIA, showing us a side of him that would otherwise remain hidden.
Wild Horse Nine is Martin McDonagh’s most mature and complex work to date. It is funny, moving, beautifully acted, and deceptively simple, with the kind of screenplay that only grows stronger the more you think about it. Wild Horse Nineis unquestionably one of the best films I have seen so far in 2026 and will likely become a major awards contender. More than anything, the film proves that sometimes all you need to make something truly great is a remarkable script, two extraordinary actors, and something meaningful to say. Wow, what a picture!
Grade: 9 out of 10
Awards Buzz: John Malkovich has cemented his place in the Best Actor conversation, Sam Rockwell will more than likely be nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and McDonagh is a lock for Best Original Screenplay. Best Picture is on the table as well, along with another below-the-line nomination or two like Cinematography, which is absolutely stunning throughout.
Trailer:
