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Ryan Coogler (Black Panther) is a very well-renowned filmmaker, especially when it comes to black storytelling, yet Sinners sees his first foray into the horror genre. Starring a slew of incredible talent, including Michael B. Jordan in not one but two leading roles, Sinners follows twins Smoke and Stack as they return to their hometown to start again. However, they soon discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back – vampires. Featuring stunning cinematography, a delicious score, outstanding performances from all involved, and impressive horror beats, Sinners easily becomes the best movie of the year thus far.
If you’re a person who’s been crying out for original movies this year, Sinners is the epitome of this. With rich themes beautifully weaved together and original characters that are fully fleshed out, it gives plenty to sink your teeth into outside of its horror. It may take quite a while to get to the stuff we’re here to see – the vampires – but every ounce of runtime prior to their introduction is used to develop the themes, characters, and time period. This ensures we have a strong bond with the characters which increases the stakes tenfold, and lets us fully immersive ourselves in this world. The plot is quite akin to From Dusk Till Dawn, as it follows our group of characters being preyed on by vampires at a bar/music venue, but there’s plenty in here to set it apart from the rest, namely the themes. Coogler is a master when it comes to telling black stories, and race plays a very important part here. Through our villainous vampires, the idea of stealing Smoke, Stack, and their friends’ and families’ stories, music, and skills is explored with nuance yet brevity. There’s a lot in here to take away.
The music of Sinners plays such a huge part in the movie that it feels like its own character. The original score from Ludwig Goransson is utterly fantastic, and although we’re a way off Award Season, he’s likely the first shoo-in we have in this category. There are plenty of scenes in which music is the direct focus, and one in particular that features an amalgamation of modern and old influences is absolutely breathtaking, the best scene of the year so far. It shows how important music is in culture and community, how it brings people together, and has the ability to tell stories. It’s not just the sound of this film that impresses, but the aesthetic too, as Sinners is an absolute feast for the eyes. Aspect ratio changes, sunset shots, and applaud-worthy long take tracking shots enhance the material beautifully, with eye-catching costume design, hair, and make-up to match. Every element is well-crafted, making Sinners the perfect all-rounder.
Many will be watching Sinners for the cast, and they certainly deliver. Miles Caton is fabulous in the role of Sammie, and the fact that it’s his debut makes this even more impressive. Utterly mesmerising in every scene, especially those in which he’s playing the guitar and singing, he instantly becomes one to keep an eye on. Delroy Lindo is quite the scene-stealer here, bringing a fresh and comedic edge to the movie that it benefits well from. Delivering his humorous lines so effortlessly and naturally, he’s a fantastic addition to the cast. Li Jun Li follows up her commendable performance in Babylon (2022) with another fantastic turn, providing much emotion and depth. Jack O’Connell as our head vampire is an inspired casting, as he manages to be both creepy and addictive at the same time. He really gets to flex his acting muscles here, once again proving how much of an underrated talent he is. As stunning as the supporting cast is, it’s Michael B. Jordan’s movie, and he crushes it. Being tasked with two roles is no easy feat, yet he puts so much into the characters of Smoke and Stack. Their bond is believable, and their differing personalities ensure that despite being twins, they’re two very different people. The amount of range portrayed in just one movie is seriously commendable – he is perfect in these roles.
Because it’s so rich in themes and character development, it’s easy to forget that Sinners is a horror movie. As mentioned, it does take a while to unleash what it’s hiding up its sleeve, but once it gets there, it’s a wild ride. It never becomes too gory and hard to stomach, yet the injury detail is fantastic, with plenty of blood spilled. There is a nice mixture of unique additions to the vampire lore, and tropes we know and love, ie. Not inviting them into your home and using garlic, wooden stakes, and holy water to fight them off. Coogler puts his own spin on this classic monster, giving them piercing red eyes and musical sequences of their own that make them extremely eerie and fear-inducing. There are transitions and music queues that truly pay homage to the well-loved sub-genre, but enough newness in here to make it feel entirely original. The final act is full throttle and engaging, making the wait more than worth it. The horror beats are a blast.
No one expected Sinners to be a flop, due to the talent both in front of and behind the camera, but no one expected it to be this magnificent, either. Combining vampire horror with music, dance, and racial themes sounds like a lot on paper, but Coogler makes this work effortlessly. With an always engaging script, great characters backed by even better performances, entertaining and creepy horror, and music that makes you want to dance in your cinema seat, Sinners is a must-watch for all. It’s the type of movie that audience members have been craving.
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Grade: A
Sinners
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Release Date: April 18, 2025
Director: Ryan Coogler
Cast: Michael B. Jordan , Hailee Steinfeld , Jack O'Connell
