Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 American epic crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and co-written with Eric Roth.

Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 American epic crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and co-written with Eric Roth. Based on David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book, it dramatizes the Osage murders in 1920s Oklahoma after oil was discovered on tribal land. The film features a large ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone.

Premise

Set in 1920s Oklahoma, the film follows events after the Osage Nation became wealthy from oil discovered on tribal land. It depicts murders and fraud targeting Osage people and the subsequent FBI investigation.

Production

The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and co-written with Eric Roth, adapting David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book. It features a large ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser.

Historical background

The story is rooted in the real Osage murders, a series of killings and disappearances in the 1920s associated with greed over oil wealth. Sources describe the period as the Osage Reign of Terror.

Reception

The film received significant critical attention and was described by major outlets as a major historical crime drama. Reviews highlighted its depiction of American violence, colonialism, and greed.