Summary

Killers of the Flower Moon is a devastating and captivating film that showcases the cruelty, violence, and greed of the murderers and the agony suffered by the Osage Nation. Martin Scorsese has crafted a dark and intricately layered story with a phenomenal cast and captivating visuals that will break your heart and anger you simultaneously. The film explores themes of racism, complicity, and the violent brutality against Indigenous populations, delivering a gut-wrenching portrayal that is thought-provoking and emotionally impactful.

Killers of the Flower Moon may be one of Martin Scorsese’s best films to date. The film, which is based on a true story and adapted from the book by David Grann, is devastating, showcasing the cruelty, violence, and greed from William King Hale and his accomplices, and the agony the Osage Nation suffered because of their heinous actions. As a director and writer, Scorsese, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth, is at the top of his game, intricately crafting a dark story with a multitude of moving parts. With a phenomenal cast, captivating visuals, and a story that will break your heart and anger you simultaneously, Killers of the Flower Moon is a must-see film.

Set in 1920s Oklahoma, Killers of the Flower Moon follows the serial slaughter of Osage Nation members by the predatory William King Hale (Robert De Niro), a cattle rancher who used his connections with the Osage, his nephew Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), and others to murder the family of Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone) and a plethora of other Osage in a bid to steal their oil money. After multiple murders and the disappearance of a private investigator and others, the FBI, led by Tom White (Jesse Plemons), gets involved in the case.

JaNae Collins, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers and Jillian Dion in Killers of the Flower Moon

The story itself is layered, taking its time to develop the underlying tension before the FBI even enter the scene (and who are shamed for not paying attention until they’re paid to do so). The Osage Nation is portrayed with humanity; their culture is beautiful, their connections nuanced, and their trust of William King Hale well-established. Killers of the Flower Moon has a way of balancing the villainy of Hale and co. with the emotion and depth of the Osage Nation’s tragedy — namely in how Mollie and her family are affected. The film maintains its artistic integrity while portraying the details of a story that demands our full attention. Despite being three and a half hours long, Scorsese masterfully utilizes every moment as he gives us the big picture by capturing it through the daily lives of Mollie’s family.

There is the occasional pop of humor, but Killers of the Flower Moon in no way absolves Hale et al. of the crimes committed or allows us to sympathize with them. The story at the center of the film is one that is still relevant today. Some of the film’s dialogue, including a line about forgetting history and people moving on, are nothing short of the truth, reverberating through us as we’re called upon to pay closer attention to those whose crimes go unchecked, how history has shaped certain narratives and, in some instances, covered them up entirely. It makes Killers of the Flower Moon hard to watch on occasion, but all the more powerful and effective thanks to Scorsese’s framing.

Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon

The film is also a visual feast for the eyes. Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto’s lighting is warm, making the earthy colors stand out, but also distorted (Prieto used buried gas pipes and fire for this effect) to showcase the misleading aspects of the story. Along with a heartbreaking and intense script, the film’s visual language truly comes alive. Scorsese once again gathers an outstanding cast to bring the story to life. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest as a small-minded man with no real backbone when it comes to standing up to his uncle. The actor walks a fine line between sincerity and cruelty, with a lust for money that drives his actions. It’s as though Ernest believes he’s doing the right thing, but DiCaprio pulls back on making Ernest sympathetic, his performance showcasing the ways in which complicity works while simultaneously putting on a mask of kindness.

Robert De Niro is more straightforwardly ruthless as William King Hale. De Niro conveys the intricacies of Hale’s friendship with the Osage, a charade of trust and connectedness that drives the actor’s portrayal of a wicked, two-faced man. But it’s Lily Gladstone who steals the show as Mollie. Gladstone’s performance underscores Mollie’s quiet strength, her resolve in wanting to solve the murders, and being blindsided by love and trust. The actress’ intonation, body language, and facial expressions speak volumes; it’s a performance that will sit with you long after the film is over. It’s no surprise Gladstone’s performance will be campaigned for the Oscars in the best actress category — it’s that good.

The film is a gut-wrenching portrayal that lays out the devastating result of a racist system and the violent brutality waged against Indigenous populations. Killers of the Flower Moon is immeasurably captivating and compelling; it’s chilling and emotional, and I doubt anyone will walk away from the film — especially considering the way its ending is set up — without feeling moved by what they’ve just witnessed. Killers of the Flower Moon’s greatest achievement is in telling a very personal story while tying in the indignities and violence Mollie and the Osage faced to an unjust system. Scorsese once again proves what cinema can be: thoughtful, evocative, visceral.

Killers of the Flower Moon is out in theaters October 20. The film is 206 minutes long and rated R for violence, some grisly images, and language.