# Wild Horse Nine

> CIA agents vacation on Easter Island as Chile's 1973 coup looms.
- Title: Wild Horse Nine · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: CIA agents vacation on Easter Island as Chile's 1973 coup looms. Martin McDonagh's film 'Wild Horse Nine' ignores Chile's U.S.-backed coup history for a…
- Keywords: wild horse nine, chile, cia, military coup, martin mcdonagh, john malkovich, sam rockwell, salvador allende, augusto pinho, nixon, kissinger, chilean military
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/11/06/wild-horse-nine-movie-review-martin-mcdonagh-chile-cia-coup-history-conspiracy
- Author: Drew Gorman
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: wild horse nine, chile, cia, military coup, martin mcdonagh, john malkovich, sam rockwell, salvador allende, augusto pinho, nixon, kissinger, chilean military
## CIA agents vacation on Easter Island
CIA agents Chris and Lee take a vacation on Easter Island before the 1973 Chile coup.
## CIA's role in Chile
The CIA planned U.S.-backed coup against socialist President Salvador Allende in 1973.
## CIA agents' history
Chris and Lee have been involved in past coups including Guatemala and Congo.
## Chris's cancer and guilt
Chris is dying of cancer and regrets his past coups.
## Easter Island setting
Easter Island's moai statues provide a spiritual backdrop for Chris's regrets.
## In Bruges connection
The film references Martin McDonagh's 2008 film In Bruges.
## CIA's historical involvement
The U.S. funded anti-Allende operations totaling $3 million by 1964.
## Kissinger's role
Henry Kissinger approved funding to prevent Allende's election in 1970.
## Kennedy assassination
Chris is linked to JFK's assassination but avoids discussing it.
## Film's focus
The film centers on Chris's guilt over CIA operations rather than Chile's coup.
## Critique of historical context
The film ignores U.S. involvement in Chile's coup and historical details.
## CIA's impact on Chile
The U.S. blocked Chile's trade and financial aid to weaken Allende's government.
## Film's moral ambiguity
The film struggles to address the moral consequences of CIA actions.
## Viewers' experience
Viewers wait for the coup to happen while the film focuses on Chris's regrets.
## Historical accuracy
The film avoids historical details about the 1973 Chile coup.
## Conclusion
The film turns away from Chile's history for a conspiracy-focused story.
## Key takeaway

Martin McDonagh's film 'Wild Horse Nine' ignores Chile's U.S.-backed coup history for a conspiracy-focused story about CIA agents' regrets.