Killers of the Flower Moon
Directed by Martin Scorsese1919, Osage County, Oklahoma. Due to the discovery of oil on their land the Osage people are per capita the wealthiest people in the United States. Having just been discharged from the US Army, Ernest Burkhart returns to the area to work for his wealthy uncle, William Hale. Lately many Osage people have died in suspicious circumstances but nothing is being done about it.
Cast of Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon Ratings & Reviews
- tellumAugust 17, 2025I hesitate to say this because white people get really upset when I criticize this movie, but it just comes across as Native American trauma porn. Native culture is barely highlighted despite the movie being about them, and doesn’t even do a good job making them sympathetic as their wealth is more prominently displayed than what makes them Native. Leo’s scowl dominates the film to the point that it’s not even subtle that it’s first and foremost a narrative from a white lens. Then Scorsese directly inserts himself in the ending as the arbiter of truth, completely unironically. It’s great that these tragic events are brought to light, but Hollywood is so terrible about appropriating other cultures history and filtering it in such a way that it becomes their story more-so than the people who had to live through that history.
- DrinelsonSeptember 28, 2025This movie was exquisite. It seemed very factually correct to what actually happened. I was simply appalled watching all of this go down. Such a sad story.
- TanalienJanuary 9, 2025Martin Scorsese, the director of this film, is in a league of his own because his films taken together feel like an entire genre. Perhaps this is because the most Scorsese-ian question can also be found in Killers of the Flower Moon: How can men, whose actions are clearly evil, continue to believe in their righteousness? Every Scorsese movie is an honest investigation of such questions, but one should never expect any answers. In the pursuit of these questions, Killers of the Flower Moon weighs heavily on the mind. I did not know this story. Scorsese pulls no punches by ensuring the telling is not sanitized. None of the horrible events become normalized. Over the course of a viewing, Scorsese’s other films desensitize us to criminally bad behavior but, in Killers of the Flower Moon, he does the opposite. Every act of violence is added trauma. The cumulative impact of the murders is harrowing.
- mickerdooJuly 15, 2025A terribly tragic story with no redemption or hero. Even Scorsese couldn’t save it (although beautifully told and shot). So evil.
- constant51May 21, 2025This film has great performances and cinematography. However, I believe this movie is too long and (unfortunately) drags. It’s also not one that thrills and grips you in such a way that you don’t notice the hours pass. That type of film was obviously not the goal here, but I will point it out either way.
- brxx4February 25, 2025Its a masterpiece of storytelling If only it wasn't so dreadfully tragic
- The Gutter MonkeyFebruary 25, 2025It wasn't bad, but I expected more from Scorsese. There weren't really any characters to relate to and, at times, it felt more like an attempt at a lecture than a compelling story.
- rg9400November 1, 2024So to start, I do need to highlight that the movie, which clocks in at 3.5 hours, is definitely something that needed some stronger editing. Certain sections manage to feel rushed (!!!!!) despite the runtime, while others drag. The pacing is not nearly as tight as it should be, and the length itself is not the issue. I did not have this engagement issue with Oppenheimer which clocked in at 3 hours, so definitely something that knocked KotFM down a few pegs in my rankings. I'm fascinated by Scorsese's career trajectory, which has now arrived at this exploration of the American story as a story of sin, as a story of unspeakable horrors slowly unwinding in the guise of the moral high ground. It's a powerful thematic core that is explored to great effect here, though I do wish we got more from the perspective of Molly since she's the beating heart of this movie (and absolutely fantastic). In general, the performances all around are exceptional, with small side characters becoming fully inhabited and feeling like they live rich interior lives. The cinematography, soundtrack, score, technicals are all well executed as can be expected from one of the greats, but I don't know if there is any scene truly exceptional from a technical level that will stick with me like from some of his other movies. Though the penultimate scene is acted so phenomenally, so hauntingly, that I am sure that will. Finally, while something should be said about Scorsese turning a story centered around the birth of the FBI to a story grounded in the horrors the Osage experienced, it does still feel like an outsider's perspective. A story where the Osage are often passive, reactionary. I feel like this could have been executed better to make the actual characters more central to the story because the movie is at its best when that happens. Some really strong aspects, but noticeable weaknesses as well.
- Corrine KocjancicOctober 25, 2024Enjoyed the book, but the movie was meandering.
- Eric BakkeOctober 18, 2024An excellent film about humanity at its worst. An American tragedy long forgotten.
