Searchlight sets Nov. 6 date for Rockwell film
Martin McDonagh directs Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in a CIA thriller set on Easter Island.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Theaters in the United States will open the Martin McDonagh film "Wild Horse Nine" on Nov. 6. Searchlight Pictures holds the distribution rights for the release. The movie features Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in the lead roles.
Rockwell plays Lee Chesterfield. Malkovich plays Chris Carlisle. The characters are CIA agents who have worked together during the 1960s and 1970s. Their bureau chief, MJ, assigns them a new mission. Steve Buscemi portrays MJ in the film.
The mission takes the pair to Easter Island. Only one of the agents knows the specific details of the assignment. This information gap creates tension between the partners as they adjust to their remote surroundings.
The plot introduces two college students named Monica and Alicia. Mariana di Girolamo plays Monica. Ailin Salas plays Alicia. The students complicate the agents' mission. The narrative functions as a cat and mouse game where the audience holds more context than the characters possess.
Tom Waits appears in a small role as Chris's brother, Jim. His sequence provides an emotional focal point in the middle of the film. Parker Posey plays Marge, who is Lee's wife. Her scenes consist primarily of phone conversations with her husband.
Ben Davis handles the cinematography. The visuals capture the physical setting of Easter Island. Carter Burwell composes the score. The sound design supports the atmospheric tone of the scenes.
McDonagh is known for previous works such as "In Bruges" and "The Banshees of Inisherin." His style often combines dry humor with dramatic weight. The script for this film continues that blend. Dialogue drives much of the interaction between the two leads.
WXIX-TV reviewed the film and gave it a rating of 4.5 out of 5. The reviewer described the movie as an emotional swan song for the characters. The review notes that the third act shifts the tone to a poignant conclusion about legacy and memory.
The film is scheduled for a wide theatrical release on the upcoming Thursday. Audiences in Cincinnati and other markets can see the movie starting from that date.
