What Is Killers Of The Flower Moon About? The Real Meaning Of The Martin Scorsese Movie, Explained

The themes of Killers of the Flower Moon are deep and complex, but are also a key reason why the story of Martin Scorsese’s 2023 historical drama are so important. Set in the early 20th century, Killers of the Flower Moon adapts David Grann's novel of the same name. Both the book and movie showcase the suffering of the Osage Nation of Indigenous Americans at the hands of the white population of Oklahoma.

There are many themes at play in Killers of the Flower Moon, and all stem from the shocking and tragic real-life history behind the narrative. The plot covers a period known to the Osage as the Reign of Terror. During this time, which lasted several decades, many Osage Nation people were murdered to enable Oklahoman industries to seize their land. It’s a harrowing series of events, and the core message of Martin Scorsese’s movie reveals why ensuring they’re not forgotten is so important.

The History Behind Killers Of The Flower Moon Explained

The Reign Of Terror Is Central To The Movie's Message

Understanding the themes of Killers of the Flower Moon is impossible without historical context, as the real-life events that Martin Scorsese’s movie adapts are central to its message. The story covers one of the greatest atrocities to take place on U.S. soil during the 20th century - the Osage Indian murders, known to the Osage themselves as the Reign of Terror.

Taking place in Osage County, Oklahoma, between the late 1910s and early 1930s, the Osage Indian murders saw at least 60 members of the Osage Nation of Indigenous Americans killed. At the time many of these killings were covered up, but recent evidence points to the deaths being very much deliberate.

As depicted in Killers of the Flower Moon, the Osage Indian murders occurred due to local white business magnates and industry leaders using any means necessary to acquire land owned by the Osage people. These lands were incredibly rich in minerals and, importantly, oil. Congress had protected the Osage territories with a series of laws, and the Osage Indian murders were a ruthless attempt to bypass them and bring these valuable oil and mineral deposits into white ownership.

Specifically, many of the victims of the Osage Indian murders were high-ranking members of the Osage Nation. This was done so that their children and dependents (those who would inherit the land) would require “guardianship” from a white American. This insidious practice was due to the Oklahoma courts believing Indigenous Americans were unfit to manage their own land and finances.

As well as the murders, multiple white American men also took Osage wives to inherit their estates. This practice was outlawed in 1925, with many “guardians” found guilty of corruption. Unfortunately, this did little to protect the Osage people, as the closing of the legal loophole led to more deaths and killings. Like many atrocities inflicted upon Indigenous Americans, the Osage Indian murders were arguably a case of attempted genocide.

What Are The Core Themes Of Killers Of The Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese's Movie Has Several Key Messages

Many themes are at play in Killers of the Flower Moon, and some are clearer than others. The most obvious theme in the 2023 movie is racism. The treatment of the Osage Nation by the people and institutions of Oklahoma is driven by racial prejudice at almost every level.

This is present in the callous indifference with which the killings of Osage Nation members are planned and carried out, and also in practices like the “guardianship” laws. It’s also apparent in attitudes towards Leonardo DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart, as many of his contemporaries seem unable to comprehend that he genuinely loves his Osage wife, Mollie, and views her as his equal.

The second core theme of Killers of the Flower Moon is that of entitlement. The Osage Indian murders upon which the movie is based occurred due to the white elite in Oklahoma believing the mineral-rich lands of the Osage people rightly belonged to them, and that any means taken to acquire the wealth held by the Indigenous nation were justified.

It’s a level of corruption and greed that almost defies belief but was (and, sadly, in some cases still is) extremely prevalent in the corporate world. Killers of the Flower Moon may be set in the 1920s, but its exploration of corruption, much like its commentary on the evils of racism, are incredibly poignant for modern audiences.

The two secondary themes in Killers of the Flower Moon are legacy and the importance of historical truth. The movie opens with a tent of Osage lamenting the fact that their children are due to be educated by the local white population. Their ways and history are going to be wiped out, and this is a wound whose depth is difficult to put into words (though shown incredibly well on screen). The Osage know that the reeducation of their children is an attempt to erase their legacy. What’s more, it will mean the memory of all that the nation has suffered at the hands of the white population of Oklahoma will vanish.

The final secondary theme is that of the importance of historical truth. The Osage Indian murders were covered up for years, with dozens of the deaths attributed to other causes - often ones that placed the blame on the victim, such as accidents that happened while they were intoxicated. Martin Scorsese’s 2023 movie delves into these deliberate attempts to obfuscate the truth and the damage it had on the people of the Osage Nation, who knew that the spate of killings was deliberate from the very first. A key message of the movie is the importance of historical truth and recognition of the facts when atrocities like the Osage Indian murders happen, as they’re essential for the healing of those afflicted.

What The Killers Of The Flower Moon Title Actually Means

The Significance Is Two-Fold

The meaning of the title of Killers of the Flower Moon, which is taken directly from the original novel by David Grann, is two-fold. It’s a nod both to a specific time of year that was significant to the Osage Nation, and to the Reign of Terror itself. Many flowering plants die in Oklahoma during May as this is the time that taller, sturdier plants begin to reach heights that block them from the sun. To the Osage, this period of the year became known as the time of the flower-killing moon.

This is partly where Killers of the Flower Moon draws its title from. However, the title is also something of a play on words. The “killers” in Killers of the Flower Moon refers to characters like Robert De Niro’s William Hale and the various other white Oklahoma residents. It’s a reference to the Reign of Terror and those who carried out the Osage Indian murders.

Why Martin Scorcese Had A Cameo At The End Of Killers Of The Flower Moon

The Final Scenes Crystallize The Themes Of Killers Of The Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese has a cameo at the end of Killers of the Flower Moon as a radio show producer. While it’s only a small part, it’s also a significant one when it comes to the themes of Killers of the Flower Moon and the importance of its story. The cameo takes place during a scene that crystallizes many of the core messages of its story, especially when it comes to the importance of historical truth (and the lengths some will go to obfuscate it).

Scorsese’s cameo and the radio show his character is producing occur several decades after the Osage Indian murders and the main plot of Killers of the Flower Moon. It’s revealed that many perpetrators of the atrocity were never convicted due to lack of evidence. Despite many years passing, it’s still yet to be officially acknowledged that the Reign of Terror took place.

What’s more, those who were prosecuted ended up walking free on parole. It’s a final note that highlights the sense of overwhelming injustice that runs throughout Killers of the Flower Moon, and showcases exactly why its core themes and messages are so important even in the present day.