Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton
Week of November 2, 2026
Wild Horse Nine
Rated R for sexual references, pervasive language, drug use and some strong violence
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
In Theaters
Martin McDonagh has made some of the most memorable dark buddy movies of our generation. It pleases me to tell you that Wild Horse Nine will be a welcome addition to the list that includes In Bruges, The Guard and The Banshees of Inisherin, when it comes to this sub-genre which McDonagh has mastered like no other. In this new story, the year is 1973 and two CIA agents, played by John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, are sent to Easter Island by their bureau chief, played by Steve Buscemi. Their mission is largely unclear, but we know that they both have checkered pasts, and if you know your history, you will be aware that a coup is about to happen in Chile which will have long-ranging consequences for South America and the world. But the movie is not about the coup. It’s about the characters, and these characters are so well-written with performances that should put both lead actors in contention for hardware this awards season. Most of us already love Malkovich and Rockwell to death, so seeing them come to life in these roles can only be described as the sweet spot. And with McDonagh’s writing and directing, the film is as sharp and witty as you can possibly imagine. The production is also top notch with a perfect score from Carter Burwell and incredible cinematography from Ben Davis, both of whom who have worked many times with McDonagh on other projects. These guys know how to make a spectacular movie and the chemistry between the crew and cast is impressive here to say the least. While it’s a tough year to compete, especially with The Odyssey and Dune 3 set to dominate, Wild Horse Nine might just sneak in and surprise many an award show this year. A