13-Minute Standing Ovation in Venice and 90% on Rotten Tomatoes: Critics React to Martin McDonagh’s New Film

Martin McDonagh’s new black comedy “Wild Horse Nine” made a triumphant debut in the main competition at the Venice Film Festival. The premiere screening ended with a 13-minute standing ovation for the cast and crew, and the film currently holds a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on the first 30 professional reviews.

CIA Agents on Easter Island and a Malkovich Showcase

The film’s plot transports viewers to 1973, on the eve of the military coup in Chile. Two American intelligence officers — veteran Chris, played by John Malkovich, and impulsive Lee, played by Sam Rockwell — are ordered to leave the turbulent Santiago and take refuge on the isolated Easter Island. Far from civilization, the agents are haunted by their own bloody past: cynical work routine gives way to belated remorse and fear of an inevitable end. The film also stars Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, Parker Posey, and Mariana Di Girólamo.

Critics agree that McDonagh has returned to the signature storytelling of “In Bruges” and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” where sharp dialogue and absurd violence coexist with deep human longing. Time Out gave the film five out of five stars, calling the duo of Malkovich and Rockwell flawless and Malkovich’s performance one of the strongest acting turns of the year.

As Reuters notes, the film works both as a scathing satire and a serious meditation on the moral cost of US intelligence intervention in the fates of South American nations.

WILD HORSE NINE, a film by Martin McDonagh. Starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Mariana di Girólamo, Ailín Salas, with Tom Waits, and Parker Posey. In theaters this fall. #WildHorseNine pic.twitter.com/Ogu1dcip2D

— Searchlight Pictures (@searchlightpics) March 19, 2026

Criticisms of Self-Repeat and Release Date

The screening was not without critical skepticism. A reviewer for The Guardian found the film less charming than the Irish playwright’s early masterpieces, criticizing the excessive violence and aggressive machismo of the characters. Other writers noted an uneven pace in the second half and a certain caricature quality to the supporting characters.

McDonagh’s new work runs 1 hour and 58 minutes. Searchlight Pictures will release “Wild Horse Nine” in wide theaters on November 6, 2026, hoping for the film’s active participation in the upcoming Oscar race.