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Killers of the Flower Moon
Movie

Killers of the Flower Moon

2023 • Crime, Drama, History

Woke Score
7
out of 10

Plot

When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.

Overall Series Review

The film depicts the true story of the 'Reign of Terror,' a series of murders against the wealthy Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma for their oil headrights. The narrative frames the historical conflict as a clash between the morally-corrupt, greedy white settlers and the traditional, family-focused Osage people. The story's core is the systemic abuse and murder of Indigenous people by white Americans, driven by entitlement and avarice. The primary villain is a seemingly benevolent white rancher and his nephew, who conspire to marry and poison Osage women to inherit their wealth. The movie spends significant time illustrating the duplicity, systemic corruption, and casual racism of the white American community and the justice system in the region. The FBI's involvement is framed as a necessary intervention to stop the cycle of violence where local law enforcement and institutions were complicit or useless. The film critiques the foundational greed of settler-colonialism while treating the Osage culture and spiritual practices with dignity.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics9/10

The plot's central conflict relies entirely on racial and ethnic categories, depicting a group of white men engaged in a systematic conspiracy to exploit and murder Osage individuals for their wealth. The white villains are depicted as evil, and the Osage are the victims of systemic oppression and racial greed, aligning with the highest score criteria for lecturing on privilege and systemic oppression.

Oikophobia8/10

The American culture and institutions in the region, including the local justice system and white society, are fundamentally portrayed as corrupt, greedy, and complicit in the murder of the Osage. The film suggests a civilizational failing, where white entitlement is a pervasive, murderous force. Osage culture, customs, and spirituality are presented with respect and reverence, positioning the Indigenous 'Other culture' as morally and spiritually superior to the depraved 'home culture' of the white settlers.

Feminism3/10

The main Osage characters, Mollie and her sisters, are victims of a patriarchal murder plot centered on financial inheritance. The narrative focuses on Mollie's role as a wife and mother fighting for her family's survival. The female lead is not a 'Girl Boss' or a 'Mary Sue'; she is a dignified woman enduring trauma and illness. The film does not contain anti-natalist messages, as family and legacy are central to the Osage motivation. The score remains low because the movie does not push the 'Girl Boss' or anti-family agenda.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative is a historically authentic crime story focused on the greed and betrayal within heterosexual marriages of the 1920s. The film does not feature or focus on alternative sexualities, gender identity, or related ideology, keeping the structure normative for its period.

Anti-Theism5/10

The film does not attack faith itself, but rather criticizes the hypocrisy of the white Christian community and the Ku Klux Klan members who casually practice racism and murder while claiming religious belief. The Osage's own spiritual traditions and ceremonies are presented as a source of community and dignity. A strong, objective moral framework (right and wrong) underlies the entire story, leading to a comeuppance for the villains, which counters the core concept of moral relativism.