Muscogee Man Shares Experience Working On 'Killers Of The Flower Moon'

The movie Killers of the Flower Moon isn't in theaters yet, but it's already receiving rave reviews from some Oklahomans.

Martin Scorsese announced an October release date on Monday.

Related Story: 'Killers Of The Flower Moon' Gets October Release Date

The movie follows the mysterious murders of wealthy Osage Nation members in the 1920s that prompted a huge federal investigation.

Clifton Hill said he loves studying Native history and is thrilled he got to be a part of the movie.

His face lit up with excitement talking about everything from the details of the set and the old-time props, to the dialogue, to wearing those thick wool costumes in the Oklahoma heat, and of course being feet away from some of Hollywood's biggest names.

"They're big names, you know? Huge names. And to actually get to see these people in action being this close to them, it was just mind blowing and if they get an award from this it's gonna be like blown, what little mind I have," said Clifton. "I've just been on pins and needles ever since."

The set of Killers of the Flower Moon is the closest Clifton has ever come to time travel.

"That reign of terror you know that they talk about, that was real. Even to this day you go into those communities, the Fairfax they call that the Gray Horse District and you see the remains of this story scattered all through that community," said Clifton.

Clifton plays John Bigheart on the big screen and is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation; both his real wife and movie wife are Osage Natives.

"Hearing their versions that weren't told in the book, I'm just curious to see how he's going to put all that together because it was quite a bit. When you were on set you would hear these Osage tribal members talking about these things. Crying about these things. And like I was saying, the one that was playing my wife on the set, those were her close relatives, that was her grandpa that was talked about in this movie, those sisters, those were close relatives of her's. They talked about those things, they cried about those things, and to hear that, to experience that, I'm just excited to see how it's going to play out on the big screen," said Clifton.

Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said the Osage Nation was built on self-sufficiency and he's glad those making the movie cared enough to learn about the culture, the language, and immersed themselves in the history.

"That will be a discussion that you'll see the results of when you start to study Osage history. Of course, that new movie coming out is going to highlight some of that history and that's when we lose control, don't have control over our own future is when people from the outside control our property. So, you'll see that in that movie Killers of the Flower Moon," said Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. "We are very pleased that Apple and Scorsese team worked with our language department, worked with our culture department, worked with our own people and filmed here in Oklahoma."

He said it was amazing to see the results.

Clifton said studying history is great, but there is nothing that compares to seeing it actually come to life in front of you. He said even though it's a hard story to hear, he is anxious for people to learn the truth, including generations to come.

"[T]he ones that may have not heard these stories or able to comprehend these stories... to educate them in a way that they might understand. Yes, it's the ugly truth, but it's what happened and all the things the Osage Nation has gone through, including this, they're still here today. They still have their songs, they still have their dance, their customs and their culture, and now maybe this will help them also have a stronger history. And to me, that's greater than anything I think," said Clifton.

Clifton said he is blown away by Director Martin Scorsese and told us he really believes everyone involved did their very best to make a movie that's respectful to the Osage people.