Director Martin McDonagh has firmly established himself as a prominent voice in contemporary cinema. After an Oscar win for his 2006 short film Six Shooter, he achieved critical and commercial success with his feature debut, In Bruges, in 2008. While Seven Psychopaths garnered a more mixed reception, his last two films, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin, cemented his reputation, earning him Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Oscar nominations, as well as screenwriting awards at the Venice Film Festival.

It's no surprise, then, that McDonagh's fifth feature, Wild Horse Nine, is also making its debut at the Lido, vying for the coveted Golden Lion. Set just days before the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, this espionage comedy follows two CIA agents on Easter Island, brought to life by the formidable duo of John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. The film premiered on September 3rd, and the first wave of reviews has landed.

Easter Island's Devils

Critics are largely praising the film, with particular attention paid to its lead:

"John Malkovich – in his first collaboration with the writer-director – infuses McDonagh's concise, stinging lines with exactly the sad, poignant eccentricity they need to come alive on screen. Where the film, as enjoyable and mischievous as ever, becomes a little too wise, the actor's performance – with a gravelly, wounded voice, that of a man who has seen it all – comes to somewhat blur the lines." Variety
"McDonagh's greatest talent has always been his ability to look at deeply flawed characters with both curiosity and compassion, while refusing to grant them grace. Here, this tension gives rise to a mini-tragedy, at once dark, sharply humorous, and deeply moving, dealing with karma, friendship, and the stories people tell themselves to survive their own actions." The Playlist
"The analysis of grief and end-of-life regrets against a backdrop of political upheaval is a fascinating and captivating concept. The entire cast delivers remarkable performances, with Malkovich offering quite simply the best performance of his career." Next Best Picture

Wild Horse Nine It's going to be wild.

"One finds a few touches of anti-fascist polemic scattered here and there in Wild Horse Nine, but the feeling that lingers longest, and which gives the film its grandeur, is the joyful and raw way it addresses mortality and the inevitable end that awaits us all." The Times

While largely positive, some critics offered a more tempered take:

"*Wild Horse Nine* is neither endearing nor twisted enough to work. McDonagh doesn't make these dangerous men sympathetic; he assumes they already are and builds his narrative backward." The Wrap
"Martin McDonagh draws transcendent performances from John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, perfectly in tune with the subtle tonal variations of the text, both bringing emotional depth to the film's reflections on male friendship and loyalty." The Hollywood Reporter

Wild Horse Nine, Sam Rockwell, John Malkovich A duo we can't wait to see on screen.

"The piquant but unconvincing film Wild Horse Nine struggles to translate the barking, post-Guy Ritchie style of In Bruges into the language of a classic American Western." IndieWire
"Somehow, Malkovich manages to hold the film's many contradictions in perfect balance. He has never been so brilliant." Vulture
"Beyond the electrifying performances of John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, the film benefits from McDonagh's clever blend of poignant drama and biting dark comedy." Screen Daily

With a respectable average of 79/100 on Metacritic, Wild Horse Nine appears to be another strong entry from Martin McDonagh, even if it doesn't quite hit the stratospheric scores of Three Billboards (88/100) and The Banshees of Inisherin (87/100). It's too early to predict if the film will leave Venice with an award, but one thing is certain: John Malkovich seems to be on a clear path to Oscar buzz, given the widespread praise for his performance.

Beyond Malkovich and Rockwell, the film boasts an impressive supporting cast including Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, Tom Waits, and Mariana Di Girolamo (Ema), whose contributions are also widely lauded. Our excitement for this dark comedy is building, and we eagerly await its theatrical release in France on November 4th.