THE KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (2023) REVIEW

"Hey, can you spot the wolves in this picture?" Ernest Burkhardt (Leonardo DiCaprio) quips as he flips through a children’s book early in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Spoiler alert: the wolves aren't hiding in the book, and they're not lurking in the film either. Instead, this cinematic gem unveils a jaw-dropping historical drama about evil running amok right under everyone's noses. What's scarier than a hidden wolf? Evil that struts around like it owns the place.

Picture this: it's the turn of the last century, and after a land shuffle, the Osage Nation strikes black gold, becoming richer than Midas in a heartbeat. But where there's oil, there's greed, and the Osage find themselves in the crosshairs of some seriously shady characters. Enter William King Hale (Robert De Niro), a cattle baron who can charm the devil himself. De Niro nails it as the smooth-talking sociopath who orders murders like he's ordering a round of drinks. Cheers to evil, anyone?

Hale sets his sights on his unsuspecting nephew, Ernest, fresh from the war and ripe for manipulation. Ernest stumbles into Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a member of the Osage Nation, and sparks fly faster than a firecracker on the Fourth of July. But their budding romance takes a dark turn when Osage people start dropping like flies. Mollie's sister Anna (Cara Jade Myers) is found shot, and Mollie herself battles a deadly illness, leaving her vulnerable to the sinister forces lurking in the shadows—maybe even in her own home.

With De Niro, DiCaprio, and Gladstone at the helm, the cast of “Killers of the Flower Moon” is like a Hollywood dream team. But it's not just star power that makes this movie shine. Scorsese and his crew weave together a rich tapestry of history, injustice, and the dark side of the American dream. It's a puzzle where every piece—the cinematography, the score, the editing—fits perfectly to reveal the chilling truth beneath the surface.

And while “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a deep dive into America's dark past, it's also a mirror reflecting our present. Scorsese doesn't shy away from the ugly truths of our history, shining a spotlight on the wolves among us. But as the credits roll, the question lingers: now that we've found the wolves, what do we do next? Grab some popcorn and ponder that while you're watching this masterpiece unfold.