In many murder cases, the person responsible is usually not some random stranger but someone familiar to the victim, such as a family member. How terrifying is that?
This very real fear is brought to the surface in Martin Scorsese’s latest epic, “Killers of the Flower Moon”. Based on the novel of the same name, the story is inspired by a series of real-world murder cases that took place in Oklahoma in the United States from 1918 to 1931.
The Osage Indian murders saw several members of the indigenous people murdered in a nefarious conspiracy by white men to steal their land.
“Killers of the Flower Moon”, which received a nine-minute standing ovation when it was screened out of competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is a depiction of the horrifying events that took place and the ensuing miscarriages of justice.
The film largely follows war veteran Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), who arrives in Oklahoma to work for his uncle William K Hale (Robert De Niro).
While Hale looks like a respectable businessman who befriends the Osage natives, he is actually a devious criminal with murderous intentions. As it turns out, the Osage homelands sit atop oilfields, making the natives very rich folk.
Of course, Hale wants this wealth for himself – through any means necessary.
On the murder list is the family of Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), with whom Burkhart ends up falling in love and marrying. Yet he continues doing his uncle’s bidding by secretly harming his wife and her family, while slowly being torn apart by his mixed feelings.
To make things more complicated, FBI agent Tom White (Jesse Plemons) shows up and is determined to uncover the truth behind the untimely deaths.
So, is “Killers of the Flower Moon” worth a watch? Well, the first thing you should know is that it’s a very long film, spanning some 3.5 hours… so try not to drink too much while you’re in the cinema!
For some, the bloated timeline might be a bit much, especially given the movie’s slow pace. But this isn’t entirely a bad thing as it gives the audience plenty time to get to know the characters and their motives, resulting in impactful deaths.
And given that you know who the baddies are right away, it is actually an effective way of building dread. As you empathise with these characters, it’s devastating to know there’s no way of warning them of the danger to come.
What is also likely to disturb you is the sheer callousness with which Hale treats his victims, while being polite and loving in front of them.
DeNiro has always been a talented actor, capable of playing a mob boss, a cross-dressing pirate, and a TV host without missing a beat. In “Killers of the Flower Moon”, he is truly remarkable as he immaculately depicts a masked monster.
There is just something inherently disturbing about how he never drops his façade, casually discussing plans for murder as he would domestic affairs. He even sees the human cost of his actions first-hand without ever once showing remorse – just crocodile tears.
It’s a good reminder that real-world villains are usually those whom you would least expect: here, it is the privileged members of society whose power and wealth mean they are protected from the law.
Not that the law is in and of itself perfect, given how the Osage find themselves under siege with little support from the authorities.
All in all, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a solid but disturbing depiction of the racial injustice that permeated that period of American history – and which, sadly, lingers on today.
And it’s truly affecting to consider how justice remains out of reach for many minorities, not just in the US but everywhere. Food for thought for Malaysians, perhaps.
As of press time, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.