{"id":799,"date":"2026-10-19T19:40:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.easterisland.travel\/blog\/?p=799"},"modified":"2026-10-19T19:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:40:12","slug":"wild-horse-nine-easter-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.easterisland.travel\/blog\/wild-horse-nine-easter-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Wild Horse Nine in Rapa Nui: Discover the 5 Filming Locations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wild Horse Nine<\/em> is Martin McDonagh’s<\/a><\/strong> fifth feature film and the largest Hollywood production ever shot in Rapa Nui. John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell portray two CIA agents who travel from Santiago to the island in 1973, weeks prior to the military coup in Chile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We work every day at the exact sites where the movie was filmed. That is why we put together this guide: which places appear on screen, how the production was coordinated with the Rapa Nui community, and what you need to know if you want to visit these locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The film hits theaters on November 6, 2026<\/strong>, after winning the Volpi Cup in Venice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"John
Empire exclusive image showing John Malkovich at the Rano Raraku quarry. The volcano\u2019s slopes, with hundreds of half-carved moai, serve in the film as a powerful symbol of time, wear, and ancestral memory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Wild Horse Nine<\/em> Is About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The story takes place in 1973<\/sup>. Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) are CIA agents<\/sup>. Their superior in Santiago, MJ (Steve Buscemi), dispatches them to Rapa Nui just months before the coup against Salvador Allende<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris is ill and knows his time is running short. Lee accompanies him, noticing that his partner’s behavior is becoming increasingly erratic. On the island, they meet two left-wing students, M\u00f3nica and Alicia, who complicate their assignment and force both men to confront their past actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McDonagh blends dark humor with political drama<\/sup>. Rather than offering a minute history lesson on Chile, he uses this backdrop to explore loyalty, guilt, and male friendship at the end of a career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ensemble cast is completed by Parker Posey, Tom Waits, Chilean actress Mariana di Girolamo, and Ail\u00edn Salas<\/sup>. The film is distributed by Searchlight Pictures, the studio behind The Banshees of Inisherin<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sam
Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in a dialogue scene from Wild Horse Nine. The interior locations reflect the 1973 retro aesthetic and the constant isolation in which the conflicts between both CIA agents unfold.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why McDonagh Chose Easter Island – Rapa Nui<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

McDonagh visited the island as a tourist about 13 years ago. He was struck by its remoteness, dramatic scenery, and the moai<\/em>. Ever since, he wanted to write a story where the island itself functioned as a character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Toronto International Film Festival, he explained that the moai<\/em>, the terrain, the vegetation, and the ocean formed the core foundation for giving Rapa Nui a starring role in the narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The screenplay underwent several drafts. The turning point arrived when McDonagh linked the island to Chilean politics in 1973. Since Rapa Nui is part of Chile, sending CIA agents from Santiago made complete narrative sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In The Banshees of Inisherin<\/em>, McDonagh isolated his characters on a remote Irish island. In Wild Horse Nine<\/em>, he repeats this formula in the South Pacific. Two men with nowhere to run must face their morality and the erosion of their bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Film critics also note a compelling contrast: statues carved centuries ago contrasted against a foreign power intervening in another nation’s affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 5 Wild Horse Nine<\/em> Filming Locations in Rapa Nui (Easter Island)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The crew filmed inside Rapa Nui National Park<\/a>, which encompasses roughly 44% <\/strong>of the island and is a UNESCO <\/strong>World Heritage Site. Here are the key sites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location<\/strong><\/td>Description<\/strong><\/td>Use in the Film<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
Ahu Tongariki<\/strong><\/td>The island’s largest ceremonial platform, featuring 15 restored moai<\/em>.<\/td>Primary visual backdrop of the story.<\/td><\/tr>
Rano Raraku<\/strong><\/td>Volcanic crater and main quarry where the moai<\/em> were sculpted.<\/td>Scenes shot amidst massive half-finished statues.<\/td><\/tr>
Anakena Beach<\/strong><\/td>The primary white-sand beach, guarded by Ahu Nau Nau.<\/td>Key interaction sequences with local residents.<\/td><\/tr>
Ahu Tahai<\/strong><\/td>Ceremonial complex located near the main town.<\/td>Dramatic scenes filmed during sunset.<\/td><\/tr>
Hanga Roa<\/strong><\/td>Rapa Nui’s sole town and urban center.<\/td>Everyday life scenes and production logistics.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ahu Tongariki<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is the largest stone platform on the island: 15 giant moai<\/em> standing in a row against a dramatic ocean backdrop. Director Martin McDonagh utilized this setting as a primary backdrop to emphasize the stark visual contrast between the agents and the island’s grandeur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n