Directed by Ryan Coogler, Sinners follows twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) who try to leave their troubled lives behind by returning to their hometown to start again through a jukebar they purchase, only to discover that an even greater evil in the form of ferocious vampires arrive to welcome them.
Ryan Coogler has proven himself to be one of the greatest directors of our current generation who is capable of delivering truly powerful stories, whether it be through compelling and intense dramas or emotionally powerful and epic superhero stories. For his fifth film, Ryan Coogler decided to take the plunge into the horror genre with a vampire story set in the America South at the height of the Jim Crow era. Seeing one of my favorite modern directors doing a film based on one of my favorite sub-genres of horror was an instant must-watch for me and so I was eagerly awaiting to see this film ever since it was announced.
After getting to see the film the way it was meant to be seen in IMAX I can officially confirm that Ryan Coogler is officially 5 for 5 on his phenomenal filmography. Sinners is Coogler’s most ambitious and masterful film to date, full of ravenous power and unlike any other vampire horror that I’ve seen before. It takes a slow burn approach to have us connect to the characters, their culture, and their relationships with each other before igniting a powder keg of bloody southern gothic horror that results in an impactful film that feels larger than life and makes for a truly unforgettable experience that stays with you long after watching it.
The cast is full of highly talented individuals that Coogler utilizes to their full potential, allowing each of them a chance to shine in their respective roles and allowing us time to connect and care about them before the terror begins. Michael B. Jordan pulls a magnificent double performance as the Smokestack Twins, Smoke and Stack, giving them distinct personalities and making them very engaging lead characters. Unlike the highly volatile and mostly unlikable Gecko Brothers in From Dusk Till Dawn you feel a huge amount of empathy and emotional connection to the Smokestack Twins, despite the fact they have done some bad things in their pasts both together and individually. They are clearly capable of merciless violence but are also shown to be actual humans with depth and heart, which makes you really root for them rather than wish for their downfall for their past sins. This may honestly be one of my new favorite performances from Michael B. Jordan as he continues to prove himself as one of the best actors of our time.
Serving as a co-lead character of the film is Miles Caton as Sammie Moore, delivering quite possibly the best debut performance I’ve ever seen from a new actor in years. Throughout the film I was convinced that Miles Caton was a really talented and experienced actor that I’d never heard of, but as soon as the credits rolled and his credit started with “Introducing” I was absolutely stunned. Miles does a phenomenal job in the role of an aspiring musician who makes a name for himself amongst a group full of veterans and quickly proves to be an amazing lead for a horror. This may be his first film but it feels like he has the acting experience of 10 plus films under his belt, it is that impressive of a debut performance. I’m glad Ryan Coogler found this young actor and I hope this film will set him on the path to a bright future because this is one talented kid who deserves more roles going forward.
Wunmi Mosaku made a strong impression on me when I was introduced to her through the Loki series so I was incredibly happy to see her in this film playing the character of Annie, the love of Smoke’s life and the one who brings the most amount of heart to this film. She is a complex individual with so many engaging layers to her that we see come out throughout the story, making her one of the most beloved characters in the film. We fall in love with her in the same way Smoke does and we truly root for her when things take a dark turn, resulting in her taking the lead due to her established knowledge of witchcraft and folklore that comes in really handy for our main characters.
Taking the spotlight with a fierce and stunning performance is none other than the insanely talented Hailee Steinfeld as Mary, Stack’s former lover, that he shares a turbulent relationship with, though is clearly still full of fiery passion. She comes out of the gate strong with her independent and fiery personality that you can’t help but love, but then she becomes something else when she ends up being turned into a vampire later in the film, becoming a ravenous and terrifying creature of the night that Steinfeld performs to perfection. This is truly a unique performance for her to take on and I absolutely loved every moment she had on screen, as well as sharing incredible chemistry with Michael B. Jordan as Stack.
Jack O’Connell comes in swinging as the vampiric villain of this film, going by the name of Remmick, entrancing the other characters and the audience with his seductive dialogue and terrifying looks, making for an instantly iconic horror villain. From the moment he entered the picture he immediately had my attention with his vicious actions and ambiguous mystique that lasted for the entire film. Also, I can’t help but applaud Jack’s ability to sing phenomenally well and how he was also able to make an Irish jig feel haunting.
There are a number of insanely lovable supporting performances by the likes of Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Lola Kirke, and Omar Miller but the one supporting performance that stood out amongst all of them was from one of my favorite actors of all time, Delroy Lindo. Delroy Lindo is absolutely f**king hilarious as the character Delta Slim, bringing a lot of great laughs even as things get dire and bloody. He may have a supporting role in this film but he manages to steal the spotlight on numerous occasions with his perfect performance, reminding everyone that he is massively overdue for an Academy Award.
The narrative of the film doesn’t immediately jump into the vampire horror elements when it begins but instead takes a slow burn approach to establish the characters, their relationships, the era they live in, and the culture they follow to build up a strong emotional core, leading up to the gory and terrifying chaos that begins when it turns into a full on southern gothic horror. People with the patience of a gnat are more than likely going to hate this bold narrative approach but truthfully it’s the best approach that Coogler chose to do for the film, not only to make us care about what is going on with the characters once they get thrown into a horror setting but also to allow us to be entranced by the world he has created and has pulled us into.
You can tell Coogler really did his research for the era the story is set in because he explores all the major elements of the American Jim Crow South, from the racial tensions and paranoia that created unity between marginalized groups at that time to the rise of rock-and-roll and blues that would evolve into the music we know and love listening to today. It also takes the time to explore Black culture and folklore in that era from a unique perspective that I not only found educational but also really addicting to learn about. A lot of American media tends to inaccurately portray or even erase some of these significant historical aspects in other period pieces, which is why I’m glad that Ryan Coogler hugely highlights it in this film.
In regard to the vampire elements of the story this film doesn’t necessarily try to reinvent anything in the genre but instead leans into a lot of the familiar tropes in unique ways. The biggest vampire trope that the film includes and has a lot of fun with is the “vampire invitation”. In many vampire myths and adaptations, a vampire cannot enter a residence unless they are explicitly invited by the owner or a resident. This “invitation” is considered a form of permission or a magical barrier that prevents the vampire from entering without it, and this film uses the concept in a fun and tension filled way that I found to be extremely refreshing. The vampires themselves are also truly terrifying with their delivery of solid scares and being extremely memorable with their ravenous hunger, animalistic teeth, sharp claws, and piercing eyes that you swear are looking right in your soul.
The film’s technical elements are masterful across the board, from perfect practical effects, sets, costumes and gore to visually stunning cinematography and editing that gives the film its larger than life feeling. The use of IMAX and special Panavision cameras give this film a gorgeous vintage look that absorbs you into the era that is being portrayed on screen, as well as subjecting you to the immense magic certain sequences give off, especially in the beautifully crafted musical sequences.
And speaking of musical sequences, music is treated as its own separate entity in the film, a living and breathing part of the film’s characters and the story, all of which is brought to life by various artists and cast members as well as the always magnificent composer Ludwig Göransson. His score is full of intense atmosphere that can be spine-chilling but also absorbing to listen to as it hugely enhances every emotion in the film. Additionally, you have the cast singing their damn hearts out with some truly moving songs that play a huge part in the fantastical elements of the story, as well as affect the mood of the characters on screen. There’s a one-shot musical sequence that occurs that may be one of the boldest sequences ever to be put on film, especially for a film that is mostly meant to be a period piece.
Ryan Coogler has taken some major big swings with this film that all paid off significantly, making it one of the best original films of this year and quite possibly one of the best vampire horrors of all time, just several months after Nosferatu set a new standard for the genre. Much like the music featured in it, this is a film that is guaranteed to touch the heart and soul of those who witness it on the big screen and I highly encourage people to go out and see it now. I’m going to give Sinners an A+ = 100.
You can find more of my writing on instagram, and check out my channel on YouTube!