Review: Sinners

Directed by: Ryan Coogler

Written by: Ryan Coogler

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku

Rating: [4.5/5]

For the majority of American history, the Deep South has not been the safest location for Black Americans. Cracking open any history textbook would explain exactly why. From the shackles of slavery to outright discrimination that was only made illegal during a period of time not too long ago. Safe to say, this population has needed to overcome many obstacles in simply just surviving, and Ryan Coogler’s latest, Sinners, ties these elements together along with a new threat of vampires on top of it all. 

Returning to Mississippi after a stint in Chicago working for the mob, Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) seek to utilize the cash they have garnered to open a juke joint for their community to enjoy. As they prepare everything for opening night along with their young cousin Sammie (Miles Caton), a strange man has arrived in the town running away from individuals hunting him down and seeking to bring some mayhem. 

Through his exceptional work as a director, Ryan Coogler has made any film he crafts appointment viewing, as he refuses to make a bad film. After hitting success after success in big-budget movies sourced from intellectual property, he received the opportunity to craft something of his own. After making many Hollywood executives stacks of cash, the blank check arrived, and he had all of the pressure to make it work. We know he can make big-budget projects work, but Sinners presents the chance to demonstrate he stands on his own as a filmmaker many will seek out, and he proved himself threefold in what he puts together in this film. An incredibly entertaining ride that viewers can enjoy on its face value but contains a level of richness a few layers deep that adds to the enjoyment of the viewing experience. 

Watching Sinners as simply a vampire caper where these humans try to survive a night of horror works, and it succeeds just in that regard, but through this narrative, Coogler very intentionally positions these characters in a distinct place in history, revealing something much deeper. This occurs with the obvious racism involved at the hands of some usual suspects but also a combination of displaying the power of community, the utilization of music as a source of power, and how religion ties into all of it. As much as this film serves as testament to the directorial prowess of Coogler, he very much excels through his writing. 

Seeing this film through the eyes of the different characters involved provides some texture, but the main point of view that carries the most power lies with Sammie. A young man who would love nothing more than to play his blues music despite his pastor father branding this practice a sinful act that, if he does not take more care, could court the attention of the devil. Sammie’s persistence and passion prove very important throughout this film, but we cannot deny that perhaps some of what his father, while ridiculous on the surface, carried some level of truth given what narratively transpires as Remmick (Jack O’Connell) arrives on the scene. Sammie’s journey contains the many multitudes this story wants to operate through with his love of music central to it all. 

Miles Caton steps in as the musical core of this production and helps exemplify one of this film’s greatest components. Scored by the undeniable Ludwig Göransson, the way the music takes a front seat in this film in capturing its power of uniting people and, in one particular scene, bridging together multiple generations of individuals mightily impressed. There’s one particular scene where the evolution of music displays itself literally, exhibiting the very best moment of the film. A moment of filmmaking perfection in how the camera pans around Smoke and Stack’s establishment and then pans out to an ominous moment. It gives me goosebumps just thinking back on it now. Truly sensational work, and that’s all before we even get to the vampire element that adds horror components and even more intrigue to the story. 

Adding in these vampires into the tale gives it these touches of horror throughout where a real and present danger comes before the individuals of this small town in Mississippi. It all starts with Remmick and quickly spreads, but as much as this drives fear, it also surprisingly brings moments of humor. Coogler’s writing in this respect walked a tight line of ensuring audiences had the adequate fear of what could befall these characters while also allowing a few moments of comedy to slip through to cut the tension. It also exhibits the general silliness of vampires in the way they have their seemingly arbitrary rules, such as not having the ability to enter a room without explicit permission. Anyone who knows the lore behind vampires knows it’s not arbitrary, but seeing it in the horror-comedy manner in which this film presents specific scenes further adds to the terror these characters will soon face. 

A film that absolutely hums from beginning to end, Sinners brings together a group of artisans who each put forth some of the greatest work of their career. Michael B. Jordan excels in his dual performance of Smoke and Stack as he delivers two distinct and memorable portrayals. The rest of the cast thrives as well; they all intentionally serve a role in this overarching story of not only vampires but also different groups of people who have either helped or caused damage to their local communities when tragedy strikes. Ryan Coogler deserves all of the plaudits, as he received his blank check and delivered something so effortlessly entertaining but with plenty on its mind about the history of the Black community. A landmark achievement in the blending of broad entertainment and meaningful thought all through one film.