--- title: "Wild Horse Nine: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/wild-horse-nine/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/wild-horse-nine" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Wild Horse Nine (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 21 reviews: 17 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics welcome Wild Horse Nine as a darkly funny, affecting tragicomedy, with praise centred on John Malkovich’s performance and his chemistry with Sam Rockwell. The reviews repeatedly credit Malkovich with making the character’s cruelty, vulnerability and regret credible, while the pair’s sharp exchanges supply much of the comedy. McDonagh’s dialogue earns broad approval, and many critics find that the shifts from abrasive humour to sadness work. The spread is wide, however, particularly over the film’s politics and sympathy for compromised men. Some find a serious reckoning with US foreign policy; others see glibness, sentimentality or questions the writing cannot adequately answer. Sight and Sound admires the performances but objects to the treatment of historical atrocities, while The Wrap finds both the redemption and political commentary unconvincing. Even favourable reviews register familiar territory, excessive provocation or underused women. Malkovich remains the clearest point of agreement across the divide. ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 5/5. 2 September 2026. Festival review. The review presents the film as an outrageously funny tragicomedy. It singles out John Malkovich’s performance as a tour de force. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/wild-horse-nine-review-2026) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2026. Freer finds the film uproariously funny and quietly moving, a glorious visit to McDonagh’s familiar territory. He singles out the electric chemistry and performances of John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wild-horse-nine/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 88/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. Festival review. Rooney finds the film a memorable, affecting tragicomedy that balances dark humor with deep sadness. He especially praises John Malkovich’s layered performance and the chemistry between Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell-mcdonagh-1236689345/) ## Evening Standard — Hannah Pettit Rating 4/5. 12 October 2026. Festival review. Pettit finds the film philosophical and fun, though less intimate than McDonagh’s earlier work. She particularly praises Malkovich and Rockwell’s chemistry and their ability to deliver the salty dialogue while shifting into melancholy. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/wild-horse-nine-london-film-festival-review-b1300418.html) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. Jenkins finds the film entertaining while also offering a grave critique of US foreign policy. He especially praises John Malkovich’s performance and the lively repartee between Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. [Read the review](https://www.lwlies.com/venice-film-festival/wild-horse-nine-first-look-review) ## The AV Club — Monica Castillo Rating B. 22 September 2026. Castillo finds the film an entertaining comedy about unlikely camaraderie, though some antics and secondary details become too silly. She singles out Malkovich’s unpredictable performance and the lively dialogue he trades with Rockwell for praise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/wild-horse-nine-review-martin-mcdonagh-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell-steve-buscemi-cia-comedy) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. The review presents the film as poignant and powerful, blending personal and political themes. It singles out John Malkovich’s performance as Oscar-worthy. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/wild-horse-nine-review/) ## Screen Daily — Nikki Baughan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. The review presents the film as a potent character study. It singles out John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as commanding performances. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-and-sam-rockwell-command-martin-mcdonaghs-potent-1970s-character-study/5219987.article) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. Festival review. Ebiri finds the film an entertaining but imperfect attempt to balance irreverent comedy with a moral reckoning. He singles out John Malkovich’s performance as extraordinary, while questioning whether the film has enough complexity to grapple with its larger questions. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/wild-horse-nine-gives-john-malkovich-the-role-of-his-career.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B-. 3 September 2026. Festival review. Ehrlich finds the film prickly and unconvincing, with its emotions less credible than its conspiracies. He praises John Malkovich’s performance and the film’s moments of tension between memory and erasure. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/wild-horse-nine-movie-review-1235213912/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. Festival review. Lodge finds the film enjoyable and moving, though familiar and occasionally overprovocative. He especially praises John Malkovich’s soulful performance and his warmly responsive double act with Sam Rockwell. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/wild-horse-nine-review-1236849978/) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2026. Festival review. The review finds the film entertaining but uneven, criticizing its glib treatment of historical atrocities and sympathy for its morally compromised men. It praises the crackling chemistry between John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, along with Malkovich’s performance and McDonagh’s dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/wild-horse-nine-martin-mcdonagh-deploys-his-trademark-irreverence-funny-sad-1970s-spy-caper) ## Slant Magazine — Marshall Shaffer Rating 2/4. 11 September 2026. Festival review. Shaffer finds the film entertaining in its thriller-comedy mode but ultimately hollow and overlong. He praises the lively banter and Steve Buscemi’s venomous performance, while criticizing the film’s unconvincing pessimism and dead air. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell-mcdonagh/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. Festival review. Bradshaw finds the film watchable but not a McDonagh classic, with its comedy and charm diluted by violence and machismo. He praises the lively, acrid riffing between Rockwell and Malkovich, while noting that the sentimentality does not resolve concerns about Lee’s family. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/03/wild-horse-nine-review-sam-rockwell-john-malkovich-martin-mcdonagh) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. Festival review. Hammond calls the film one of the year’s best and praises its unusual spiritual dimension. He singles out John Malkovich’s magnificent performance and the compelling friendship he shares with Sam Rockwell. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/09/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell-1237063020/) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Rating 9/10. 22 October 2026. Kelley calls the film an extremely enjoyable, stellar addition to McDonagh’s work, though it lacks the emotional force of his recent films. He especially praises Malkovich’s performance and the chemistry between him and Rockwell. [Read the review](https://collider.com/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell/) ## /Film — Bill Bria Rating 9/10. 14 September 2026. The critic calls the film McDonagh’s most emotional and incisive work to date, and a possible career pinnacle. He especially praises the performances and chemistry of John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/2255960/wild-horse-nine-review/) ## The Playlist — Rodrigo Perez Rating A-. 3 September 2026. Perez calls the film bleak, funny, and profoundly moving, praising McDonagh’s compassion for flawed characters without excusing their actions. He especially singles out John Malkovich’s performance for making Chris’s humor and buried regret equally palpable. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-martin-mcdonagh-20260903/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the film funny, unsettling and unexpectedly moving, with its political weight keeping it from feeling like a retread. They single out Malkovich’s chilling, amusing performance and McDonagh’s inventive dialogue for praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/wild-horse-nine-review-lff-2026/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 76/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds it another bitingly funny, bracingly tough McDonagh film, though the women are underused. Malkovich’s performance is singled out for bringing vulnerability to his caustic character. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell-martin-mcdonagh-3966848) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2026. Festival review. The critic finds the film dull and its attempts at redemption and political commentary unconvincing. John Malkovich’s performance is singled out as a rare source of depth and excellence. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/wild-horse-nine-review-john-malkovich-sam-rockwell/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/wild-horse-nine.md