Martin Scorsese took inspiration from Midsommar and Beau is Afraid for Killers of the Flower Moon

The director wanted to slow down the pace to immerse the viewer in Osage culture.

We know it, Martin Scorsese is a fan of Ari Aster. When his last film was released, Beautiful is Afraidthe master had even interviewed his young colleague in public, presenting him as “one of the most extraordinary new voices in world cinema“. Just that.

Contrary to Heredity And Midsommar, Beautiful is Afraid however, received a mixed critical reception, and was a dismal failure in theaters. But cinema is not just about numbers. And Scorsese persists in supporting the filmmaker born like him in New York. Better still, he frankly confided to the Irish Times that he was inspired by him for his latest film, Killers of the Flower Moonwhich recounts the massacre of the Osage Indians in the 1920s.

“I really like the style and rhythm of good horror films, like Midsommar And Beautiful is Afraid by Ari Aster. The pace of these films is reminiscent of producer Val Lewton’s B-movies, The Feline Or Voodoo by Jaques Tourneur. We’re just going a little slower. A little more gently“, says Scorsese, always as sharp in his cinematic references.

This tempo explains the XXL duration of Killers of the Flower Moon, 3h26 on the clock, but for Martin Scorsese it was necessary to immerse the viewer in the story and the life of this Osage community, a century before us. Even if it means losing a few people along the way. At 80 years old, it’s a gamble that the director was ready to take.

“It was very important for me to keep scenes in the story that had no narrative value, scenes related to Osage culture.“, Scorsese continues. “We had to leave these scenes of customs, like choosing baby names, funerals and weddings, so that we could begin to understand these people a little more. I was confident that many people would allow themselves to become immersed in this world. You have to know how to take your chances. At my age, what else could I do?”

Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese’s impressive funeral song

Killers of the Flower Moonstarring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro, hits theaters this Wednesday.