Fantastic Fest 2026

John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell are a pairing I could happily watch argue their way through almost anything. In Wild Horse Nine, their chemistry turns a buddy comedy with a serious undercurrent into one of my favorite Fantastic Fest experiences. Writer-director Martin McDonagh gives them clever material, and they deliver it with the precision that makes even an uncomfortable exchange a pleasure to watch. I loved this film, and those two are a major part of the reason.

Set shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, the story follows CIA agents Chris (Malkovich) and Lee (Rockwell), whose bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi), sends them from Santiago to Easter Island. Their assignment becomes entangled with personal baggage, mistrust, and Chris’s developing connection with two rebellious students, Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas. Old grievances and present uncertainties complicate an already uneasy partnership. It is fertile ground for McDonagh’s dark humor, with the political setting giving the proceedings consequences beyond the men’s considerable problems with each other.

Malkovich and Rockwell make that relationship feel wonderfully lived-in. Their exchanges have the rhythm of people who know each other well enough to anticipate an irritation and move toward it anyway. Both actors understand how much a pause, a look, or a perfectly measured delivery can accomplish. The writing is sharp, but the pleasure comes from watching them put every line to work without making the dialogue feel rehearsed for applause.

Buscemi is terrific, too, and the ensemble gives the film a strong foundation beyond its central duo. Each supporting performance contributes to the larger story, helping the other characters feel involved in the world rather than merely standing around the leads. Still, Malkovich and Rockwell are the draw that holds everything together. Their partnership keeps the film engaging even as its subject matter grows more troubling.

McDonagh also handles the stories within the story effectively. The smaller threads deepen the characters and complicate their relationships while keeping the main narrative moving. There is enough going on beneath the banter to give the comedy substance, and the shifts between humor and seriousness feel natural. I appreciated the balance: the laughs come readily, but the darker implications have room to register.

The period setting is equally effective. The costuming feels spot-on for the 1970s, and the storyline belongs to its historical moment without bogging down in explanation. Those details give the characters and their circumstances a convincing frame. McDonagh maintains a steady hand on the tone, allowing the absurdity of individual behavior to coexist with the gravity of the political backdrop and heavier themes.

Seeing Wild Horse Nine at Fantastic Fest made it even more fun. Sharing a comedy with a festival audience brings a particular energy, and this was a welcome chance to enjoy a film whose wit matched the strength of its performances. I left delighted by the writing, impressed by the ensemble, and thoroughly sold on its leading pair. Malkovich and Rockwell make spending time with these difficult men remarkably enjoyable—and McDonagh gives that enjoyment something substantial to rest on. Wild Horse Nine arrives in theatres on November 9th.