That’s right — Martin Scorsese did it again. Killers of the Flower Moon is more than a movie — it’s an experience. One of the most devastating, thought-provoking, beautifully-delivered pieces of cinematic art that stays with you long after the credits roll. So is it the tour de force some critics suggest, or does it not live up to the billing? Let’s get deep into this epic story of greed, betrayal, and the dark history of America.
Killers of the Flower Moon: A Dark True Story Unfolds
Picture yourself in an age when wealth might be your worst curse. That’s the cruel reality the Osage people knew in the 1920s when oil had made them among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. But with wealth came envy, and before long, Osage citizens were dying under mysterious circumstances.
Killers of the Flower Moon digs up this dark chapter with the help of David Grann’s best-selling nonfiction book. Scorsese instead presents a layered, deeply emotional story that unearths the chilling calculation behind these murders, and the brutality with which they were carried out.
A New Kind of Crime Drama by Scorsese
If you’re looking for a classic Scorsese gangster picture with breakneck action, Goodfellas-style voice-over, and heart-pounding soundtrack, you may be in for a surprise. This isn’t Casino or The Departed. It’s a different kind of burn — slower, more meditative, more tragic, and, in so many ways, more unsettling.
The movie is almost three and a half hours long, and it takes its time working toward its ending, allowing every moment to register. The pacing may be methodical, but it’s the very deliberation of the storytelling that makes the film aching and poignant. It enables us to really understand the horror of what transpired.”
Powerful Performances Shine in Killers of the Flower Moon
When Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro share a movie, expectations run sky-high. And they don’t disappoint.
- Leonardo DiCaprio gives a career-defining performance as Ernest Burkhart, a man of poor willpower torn between allegiance and avarice. His performance is haunting — he is neither a mustache-twirling villain nor an innocent bystander. He’s a man who takes monstrous actions while assuring himself he is doing the right thing.
- Robert De Niro, as the manipulative, sinister William Hale, is terrifyingly effective. He plays a villain who twists the knife and smiles, a character that makes his performance all the more chilling.
- The best part is Lily Gladstone. As Mollie Burkhart, an Osage who suffers unfathomable loss, she gives a quiet but mighty performance. Her lonesome strength and sorrowful gaze say more than words ever could.
Gladstone’s work — in particular — has widely earned high marks, and for good reason. She brings an authenticity and emotional gravity that grounds the whole movie.
A Visual/Auditory And All Around Masterpiece
Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto captures a stunning — and chilling — portrait of 1920s Oklahoma. The expansive landscapes feel broad and lonely, a mute observer to the horrors that unfold. The muted color palette contributes to the film’s somber tone, allowing every shot to feel carefully composed.
The score (one of the final works before his passing) by the legendary Robbie Robertson is also hauntingly effective. It melds Native American influences and an eerie, atmospheric sound that adds to the tension.
Themes That Hit Hard
In addition to being a historical crime drama, Killers of the Flower Moon compels its viewers to reckon with uncomfortable truths. It’s about institutional greed, racism, and the nimbleness with which some people rationalize horrific deeds for the sake of profit.
It is also a story about complicity. How often do people turn a blind eye as evil manifests around them? Ernest Burkhart is the propagation of the fairest question — a man doing wrong, but he knows it and keeps doing it.
The movie doesn’t merely tell a story — it makes you sit with and feel the gravity of it.
Is Killers of the Flower Moon Too Long?
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: the runtime. At 206 minutes, this is one of Scorsese’s longest movies.
Does it feel long? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
Certain plot points languish and some scenes may have been pruned, but any heavy trimming would have risked sacrificing the emotional heft that makes this film so powerful. This is not just a crime story — it’s a historical reckoning. And sometimes it takes time for a reckoning.
How It Stacks Up Against Other Scorsese Films
Where does Killers of the Flower Moon stand in Scorsese’s legendary filmography? That’s a tough call.
Now if you love the high-energy, kinetic style of The Wolf of Wall Street or Goodfellas, this might seem like a departure. But if you liked Silence’s quiet devastation or the moral murkiness of The Irishman, this film’s going to hit home.
This time, it’s not about turning criminals into heroes. It’s about exposing the unsweetened, painful truth of a genuine American tragedy.
Final Verdict: A Must-Watch, But Not for Everyone
Killers of the Flower Moon is not your average crowd-pleaser.” It’s weighty, slow-burning, and requires patience. But it’s also one of the decade’s most powerful films.
It’s the type of film that not only entertains — it haunts. It makes you think. It challenges you in all the right ways.
⭐ Rating: 9/10
(A near-flawless masterpiece, though a bit burdened by length.)
The FAQ: What You Need to Know About
Is Killers of the Flower Moon a true story?
Yes, it’s based on actual events and adapted from David Grann’s nonfiction book of the same name.
Where is Killers of the Flower Moon streaming?
It was released theatrically but is set to stream on Apple TV+.
Why is the movie so long?
The time, he felt, was necessary to allow viewers to become fully immersed in the story, letting the emotional heft of events sink in.
Is the film violent?
Yes, but it’s not gratuitous. The violence is disturbing, not least because it is handled with brutal realism.
Should I bother if I don’t dig long movies?
Yes, if you can wait for slow-burn storytelling. For fans of very fast-moving films, this may become a challenge.
This will be the first Oscar win for either Leonardo DiCaprio or Lily Gladstone.
Both are powerhouses, particularly Lily Gladstone, who is already generating significant awards buzz.
How close is the film to the book in terms of accuracy?
Other parts were dramatized, but the core events are true to the historical record.
Final Thoughts
If you like historical dramas that have no time for sugarcoating the past, Killers of the Flower Moon is imperative viewing. It’s a hauntingly, masterfully wrought film that compels us to come to terms with history in a uniquely Scorsese way.
What did you think of this film? Love it or found it too slow? Let us know what you think in the comments!
