{
  "id": 14025443,
  "title": "Wild Horse Nine review: Martin McDonagh plays the hits in crime caper",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/wild-horse-nine-review-martin-mcdonagh-plays-the-hits-in-crime-caper",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-12T18:51:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/wild-horse-nine-review-martin-mcdonagh-plays-the-hits-in-crime-caper/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh, is a crime caper that follows two bumbling CIA agents, Chris Carlisle (played by John Malkovich) and Lee Chesterfield (played by Sam Rockwell), on a mission to Easter Island in 1973. The film, McDonagh's latest, is a near-perfect blend of humor and melancholy, reminiscent of his earlier works such as In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin.\n\nThe story begins in the American embassy in Chile, where Carlisle and Chesterfield exchange banter about their involvement in a historic event and their dissatisfaction with the current situation. Their mission to Easter Island is fraught with complications, as they find themselves dealing with the consequences of their actions and the weight of their own mortality.\n\nMalkovich delivers a powerful performance as Carlisle, a man on the brink of old age who grapples with the end of things but refuses to let go of his bitterness. Rockwell, on the other hand, brings a quiet charisma and deep melancholy to the role of Chesterfield, a man who seems to have little trouble navigating the complexities of their mission.\n\nThroughout the film, McDonagh's signature dry wit shines through, as he juxtaposes moments of high comedy with deeper, more profound reflections on the human condition. The film is heavily influenced by its setting, with picturesque landscapes and iconic landmarks serving as a backdrop for the characters' internal struggles.\n\nWhile some may argue that Wild Horse Nine doesn't quite reach the same heights as McDonagh's previous works, it remains a poignant and engaging exploration of the absurdity of life, love, and loss. The film is a fitting testament to McDonagh's ability to blend humor and drama in a way that leaves a lasting impact on the viewer.",
  "summary": "Wild Horse Nine | Dir Martin McDonagh | ★★★★☆ ‘Two bumbling hitmen contemplate life and death on an ill-fated holiday’ could be the synopsis of Martin McDonagh’s near-perfect 2008 debut In Bruges, but in this instance it is in fact a synopsis of his new film Wild Horse Nine. It’s fitting that his latest film [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}