Assassin Bromance: Martin McDonagh Finds New Freedom Making Wild Horse 9
A different kind of McDonagh film
Wild Horse 9 retains the dark humor, unruly characters and sudden violence associated with Martin McDonagh’s work. The period story centers on two CIA agents and unfolds largely on Easter Island in the days before the 1973 Chilean coup.
McDonagh says he loosened his usual close adherence to the script. He wanted the film to feel more improvisational, with at least one line in each scene coming from somewhere other than his screenplay.
Two agents, one journey
John Malkovich plays Chris Carlisle, a veteran agent facing terminal cancer and worsening memory. Sam Rockwell is Lee Chesterfield, Chris’ protégé, whose steady manner and appetite accompany a conflicted conscience.
McDonagh described wanting the actors to understand the scene’s structure while finding their own way within it. Rockwell said the film carries emotional depth shaped by the performers’ life experience, describing its central figures as two grown men facing hardship.
A long-held island setting
McDonagh first visited Easter Island about 15 years ago and had wanted to set a film there ever since. He considered several versions, including a story about a father and son on a bucket-list trip, before settling on the politically charged plot.
Casting director Sarah Finn said the team began discussing the project early. She researched Chilean history and culture and sought to represent Chilean actors and the country authentically; cinematographer Ben Davis also visited the location before filming.
Key points
- Wild Horse 9 follows two CIA agents on Easter Island before Chile’s 1973 coup.
- John Malkovich plays veteran agent Chris Carlisle; Sam Rockwell portrays his protégé, Lee Chesterfield.
- McDonagh aimed for a more improvisational feel than in his previous films.
- The director had wanted to make a film on Easter Island since visiting about 15 years ago.