Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Killers of the Flower Moon is a sprawling, slow-burn historical crime drama from director Martin Scorsese, adapted from David Grann’s nonfiction book. Set in 1920s Oklahoma after oil is discovered beneath Osage Nation land, the film follows a wave of mysterious deaths targeting Osage people whose land and wealth make them targets of greed, betrayal, and violence. As the body count rises, the newly formed FBI steps in to investigate, uncovering a ruthless conspiracy that exposes deep corruption, racism, and moral rot. Watching the film is an immersive experience: painstaking period detail and atmospheric cinematography draw you into a small, prosperous community under siege, while a deliberate pace lets tension and dread build steadily. Performances anchor the story—Lily Gladstone delivers a quietly powerful, heartbreaking portrayal of an Osage woman caught between grief and resilience, while Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro inhabit complicated roles that illuminate how personal ambition and cold calculation feed the crimes. The screenplay and direction emphasize character, motive, and the institutional blindness that allowed these atrocities to occur. Expect an emotionally heavy, sometimes brutal viewing: scenes of violence and psychological manipulation are handled with weight and restraint rather than sensationalism, and the film doesn’t shy away from the sorrow and injustice at its center. The investigative thread provides procedural suspense, but the movie’s primary impact is its moral and historical reckoning—an elegiac, angering portrait of exploitation and loss. This is best enjoyed by viewers who appreciate long, thoughtful historical dramas and true-crime stories that prioritize character and context over quick thrills. It rewards patience: the runtime gives space for nuance, and the film leaves you with lingering questions about power, complicity, and the cost of silence.

Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone

Director: Martin Scorsese

Genres: Crime, Drama, History

89 /100 7.6 /10 8.2 /10