Killers Of The Flower Moon ending explained: Ernest did the right thing at the wrong time

Martin Scorsese was again reunited with Leonardo DiCaprio with Killers of the Flower Moon, which became their best work together, getting 95% of critics' approval on Rotten Tomatoes. This is followed by The Departed and The Aviator, which sit with 91% and 87% approval, respectively.

Other than DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, who plays her wife and film's lead, Mollie Burkhart (Mollie Kyle before the marriage), also stars. The film is a true story based on the events that followed after oil was found on a tribal land. While we have a compassionate and determined character in the form of Mollie, Ernest is totally the opposite. Although he truly loves Mollie and has some serious flirtatious skills.

He falls in love with Mollie but is a part of the capital game his uncle William King Hale (Robert De Niro) is playing. Following this, some bad things happen to Mollie's family. And while DiCaprio's character does the right thing and reveals what his uncle has done at the end, it is too late. So, his actions won't really matter now; Mollie lost her entire family to him.

Why did Ernest reveal his and his uncle's crimes?

Ernest has returned from World War, and after guns, he is the holding steering wheel for the Osage to take them to and fro in the town. His new job leads to his introduction to Mollie in Killers of the Flower Moon. While Ernest's flirting is on the bounce, she eventually is impressed.

This leads to their marriage in Killers of the Flower Moon, but neither of them is aware of what game they had entered. This gives Ernest's uncle William some extra greed, who convinces him that the more Mollie's family dies, the more head rights will go to her.

Interestingly, William poses as a friend of the Osage tribe, which is interesting as they used to oppose the white people trying to capitalize on their lands. Ernest ultimately agrees to William's plan, who later orchestrates the deaths of Mollie's family members. He arranged the bombing of his last remaining sister, Reta (JaNae Collins).

However, everything comes to light, and Ernest is still taking sides with his uncle. But then one of his children dies, and now he wants to be around his family, to keep them safe from his uncle. So he testifies about whatever has happened that we see in Killers of the Flower Moon, which doesn't matter now.

Did Mollie forgive Ernest for his deeds in Killers of the Flower Moon?

Lily Gladstone died of medical complications in real life. (Image via Paramount Pictures)

We see Ernest sitting with Mollie in a powerful scene where Mollie is clearly sitting with disappointment. While everything is happening in the film, Ernest gives his wife insulin shots throughout the film, given she is diabetic. There's just one twist in there: those shots are poisoned.

Mollie asks if he has told all the truths, and he affirms that his soul is clean now. She gives him a chance, calling him a coyote in her language, to tell her what he was giving her in the name of insulin.

Turns out his soul is stained, and she knows. As soon as he says "insulin," she leaves in disappointment. It's really clear from Ernest's expressions in this final Killers of the Flower Moon moment that he is trapped. At that moment, Mollie Burkhart again became Mollie Kyle as she left. Women always know the truth. So don’t bother lying.