Martin Scorsese’s western true-crime thriller Killers of the Flower Moon has generated a lot of reactions and criticisms from fans, especially Native American viewers. The film, based on David Grann’s nonfiction book, tackled the brutal and systematic murder of Osage Nation members in the 1920s for their oil-rich land.
The movie aims to raise awareness among the audience, but some viewers felt it was lacking in substance, while others found it uncomfortable to watch. A few native people also believed the culture and history of the Osage nation were not fully explored.
Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon Yielded Mixed Reviews From Native Americans
Devery Jacobs revealed via Twitter/X her honest feelings watching Killers of the Flower Moon. She noted how she had to witness painful scenes:
“Being Native, watching this movie was f—king hellfire. Imagine the worst atrocities committed against (your) ancestors, then having to sit (through) a movie explicitly filled with them, with the only respite being 30-minute long scenes of murderous white guys talking about/planning the killings.”
Meanwhile, American University assistant professor Elizabeth Rule admitted the Martin Scorsese movie was not for the faint-hearted. She revealed via The Guardian:
“It was a very difficult film for me personally to watch as a Native viewer. I see that coming through as one of the dominant critiques and that absolutely holds true for me and my experience as well.”
She also noted how important it is to watch the movie because it still depicts the horrors that her ancestors suffered in the past:
“We have to remember that these were depictions of true, brutal premeditated murders of Indigenous people and so we should get upset and feel deeply uncomfortable taking in these scenes of violence and especially all the more so because they reflect a true history.”
The significance of the movie was indeed in its ability to raise awareness about the violence that the Indigenous people have faced and experienced.
More Reviews Of Killers Of The Flower Moon Praised Film’s Cast And Costume
Lawyer, playwright, and screenwriter Mary Kathryn Nagle, who hails from Oklahoma, commended the actors’ prowess in delivering a very important message to the world (via The Guardian):
“The acting in this film is absolutely spectacular. It’s raised awareness of an issue with the American public that a lot of folks were not aware of, and that’s critically important.”
Meanwhile, University of Kansas professor Robert Warrior applauded the movie’s accurate depiction of the Osage nation’s traditional clothes and language:
“I appreciate the extent to which the external markers of the Osage – language, clothes – are portrayed accurately. The presence of tons of Osage people in the film itself is pretty neat.”
Killers of the Flower Moon has become a ground for discussion because of its many controversial aspects. Some viewers felt satisfied with the story, while many others still believed it needed to have more context.
