Wild Horse Nine film review: Hitmen, horses and heresy
John Malkovich brings depth to Martin McDonagh’s irreverent take on CIA skulduggery and American political interference
John Malkovich gives a funny, tortured and poignant turn as cancer-stricken CIA operative Chris Carlisle, who’s reflecting on his life’s work and prospect of getting into heaven (his friend tells him he’s ‘100 times better than a Nazi,’ by way of reassurance). Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Wild Horse Nine is set in the lead up to the 1973 Chilean coup d’etat. It sees Malkovich’s softly spoken and loose-lipped hitman high on morphine and shooting his mouth off to anyone in earshot about the CIA’s current plot and shady past, including his own involvement in the assassination of JFK.
This total liability is holidaying in Easter Island with long-suffering colleague / babysitter Lee (a reliably entertaining Sam Rockwell). Lee has his hands full as he fields calls from exasperated CIA bureau chief MJ (Steve Buscemi), whilst dealing with his anxious and adulterous wife, Marge (Parker Posey), who has recently had sex with a clown.
As you’d expect from McDonagh, it’s a film filled with idiosyncratic observations, irreverence and provocative one-liners (sample: ‘So what you’re saying is that almost all major western democracies are gay and have nice cheeses?’). Unlike his previous film The Banshees of Inisherin, which took on the Irish Civil War in a tangential, almost fable-like fashion, Wild Horse Nine adopts a much more direct approach to its critique of US political meddling. In amongst its intentional absurdities, the film manages a couple of genuinely moving moments, including a scene featuring Mariana di Girolamo’s young Chilean activist Monica, who Chris takes a shine to, and who is horrified to learn about the plans for her country.
Wild Horse Nine makes the most of the island’s unique vistas with its iconic moai and free-roaming horses, giving Chris a fruitful backdrop for his musings. Despite its vaguely honourable intentions, it’s also an unashamedly fun, characteristically bad taste effort that’s only ever looking to scratch the surface of the issues in question, but Malkovich’s soulful performance gives it the depth it needs.
Wild Horse Nine is in cinemas from Friday 6 November.