This review was made possible due to an advanced fan screening of Killers of the Flower Moon courtesy of Apple TV+ & Paramount Pictures. Killers of the Flower Moon releases in theaters on October 20, 2024. This review contains spoilers and mentions of colonial violence.

Important Note: This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of actors currently on strike, the film being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon has been one of the year’s most anticipated films. With a fantastic cast including the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow, and Lily Gladstone, the 206-minute movie thoughtfully focuses on the Osage Murders/Reign of Terror of the 1920s and the FBI’s first major case, bringing to light a devastating part of Native history that is not common knowledge. With gorgeous shots, a carefully thorough script, and a wonderful opportunity for Native representation, you won’t want to miss Scorsese’s newest cinematic masterpiece.

A STORY OF INTRIGUE AND HEARTBREAK

Based on the nonfiction novel of the same name by The New Yorker journalist David Grann, Killers of the Flower Moon follows the marriage of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Osage native Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone) during the 1920s. Given the advantageous location of Osage land atop a giant source of oil, members of the Osage Nation became some of the world’s wealthiest people, earning them the jealous ire of greedy white men, infantilization/exploitation in regards to asset ownership, and incentivizing the marriage (and death) of Native women to white men. After a string of murders targeting the Osage people, betrayal and danger permeated Oklahoma, drawing the attention of a US government that has historically turned a blind eye to murdered Native Americans. As such, Ernest and Mollie get swept up in the whirlwind of murders, affecting not only their family but the whole Osage community.

Credit: Apple TV+ & Paramount Pictures (Killers of the Flower Moon)

From start to finish, Killers of the Flower Moon is an immensely gorgeous film that immediately draws you into the world of 1920s Oklahoma. However, as layers of beauty are pulled back, a dangerous world of white supremacy and greed is revealed, transitioning the film from one of romance to suspense. With the aid of paranoia (an expert tool often used by Scorsese), viewers are brought to the edge of their seats, fearing for Native lives and cringing in dread as the killers plan their crimes. Given the initial focus on Ernest and Mollie, the film’s events are an especially heartbreaking twist to the gut as the reality of organized attempted genocide and complicity come to light, forming a wedge between the devoted couple.

A NATIVE PERSPECTIVE

Though I do not speak for all Native or Indigenous people and am not Osage myself (we are not a monolith and have our own unique, valid, and lived experiences – I definitely encourage reading Osage perspectives like this one as well!), Killers of the Flower Moon definitely still resonated with me as a Navajo (Diné) viewer who had family members living in the area at the time. Especially in the opening scenes, I was initially moved by the depiction of the bustling and successful town of Pawhuska, overjoyed to see so many thriving Native people filling its streets (in a similar manner to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s underwater Talokan scene). This is underscored by the fact that many Native artisans, crewmembers, and actors contributed to making this film a reality, helping to bring such beauty to life. Knowing our painful history and general treatment in society at the time, it was especially amazing to realize that something like that had actually existed – due to the beautiful beginning and setting, however, the morbid film’s trajectory is all the more tragic.

Credit: Apple TV+ & Paramount Pictures (Killers of the Flower Moon)

Once the killings start, the film really doesn’t hold back, though not in a gratuitous way. From depicting one of the murders at the site of the actual crime, to a white man’s point-blank shooting of his Native wife in front of their infant, the severity and sheer evil of the Reign of Terror is certainly a strong statement. While it may be difficult for some to watch (especially for Native viewers with historical ties to such treatment), the film didn’t attempt to sugar-coat the brutal reality of these killings, leaving no room for doubt as to the brutality of the situation. Due to this emphasis on how the murders affected the Osage community, however, I did notice this focus’ absence in the last legal-oriented act of the film. While I think Killers of The Flower Moon could have benefitted from touching a tiny bit more on an Osage perspective of the investigations/trials in the latter part of the film (similar to Osage language consultant Christopher Cote’s POV), I see how this could have exacerbated an already lengthy runtime. As such, I by no means think that this takes away from the overall message of the story, and I still appreciate its storytelling message and Native representation on screen!

SCORSESE: A BEACON OF CARE & MASTERFUL CRAFT

Ever the sage of cinema, Martin Scorsese left no exception to his signature expertise when uniquely adding Killers of the Flower Moon to his filmography. Though very different from many of his past gang-focussed projects, his dedication to research, accuracy, and artistry is clear, wearing his heart on his sleeve throughout his storytelling. From hiring many Native filmmakers and artists, to the use of Osage cultural consultants, it means so much that he was able to use his platform and skills to bring such an important story to screen. In production notes provided to the press, he wrote of the Osage:

Credit: Apple TV+ & Paramount Pictures (Killers of the Flower Moon)

This care for the story is especially evident in the very ending of the film, in which the events after the trial are suddenly explained in a playful manner through a 1950s radio show (in lieu of pre-credit text on screen). Following this dramatized acting in front of an audience, the stage goes silent as Martin Scorsese himself walks on stage to deliver a powerful and tear-inducing reading of Mollie’s obituary. By inserting himself into his own film, Scorsese takes ownership of his own storytelling by adding his own personal convictions and emotions about the tragedies that surrounded the Osage people. Rather than centering the film’s events on himself and his credit for the film, Scorsese intentionally redirects this attention to Mollie, who paid dearly for the sins of her husband. As such, and fitting with the last shot of today’s Osage people dancing around a moon-like drum, the fact that Mollie and her people still survived is a poignant note to end on, for our peoples’ existence is resistance and proves that such devastating hegemonic cycles can be broken.

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: FINAL THOUGHTS

Especially at a time when contemporary Indigenous women are still disproportionately at risk of murder, violence, and abduction in North America (another tragedy not widely known), Killers of the Flower Moon comes at a perfect time to spread awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. With a notably extraordinary and multi-award-deserving performance from Lily Gladstone as Mollie Kyle, Native women are finally given a strong, inspiring, and timeless voice in popular media – a space where we are not often represented. Executed in a tasteful and conscientious manner, Martin Scorsese has ensured that an important part of the United States and Native history will not be erased through this compelling masterpiece, and for this reason, I know I am personally thankful. Hopefully, this high-profile film will promote more Native voices in Film/TV and help raise awareness about such important issues that still affect Indigenous people today.

Check out the trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon below:

Killers of the Flower Moon — Official Trailer

Want to watch some more Native and Indigenous stories? View our Indigenous Media category articles here!

TL;DR

With a setting that underscores the beauty of the Osage, Martin Scorses's Killers of the Flower Moon is phenomenal, yet all the more tragic. From an amazing cast, to a strong story, this film uncovers a little-known part of history, bringing arwareness to a chilling issue and serving as a beacon of Native representation.

Review Breakdown

Story0
Performances0
Style and Direction0
Overall Enjoyment0

Home

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (Review)