Warner Bros. Pictures

“Sinners” is an amazing film that weaves tales of vampires with vodou while also highlighting the struggles existing as a minority in the 1930s Jim Crow South. While the struggles are the main feature of the setting the film shows how the characters find comfort and power in one of the most devastating periods in history
“Sinners” opens with a tale that explains the belief that poetry and singing can attract spirits. The movie officially takes place in the Mississippi Delta in 1932. Identical twins and WW1 veterans, Smoke and Stack (each played by Michael B. Jordan) return to Clarksdale, Mississippi, where they set out to purchase a juke joint from a suspicious landowner for their local Black community. The twins recruit staff that includes their cousin Sammie, an aspiring guitarist who joins them despite his pastor father, Jedidah, warning him that Blues music is supernatural. Consequently, Sammie’s performance on opening night attracts spirits from the past and the future, along with a strange trio of musicians looking to trade a performance of their own for money.
Writer and director Ryan Coogler drew a lot of inspiration for this movie, revealing in interviews how his grandfather and uncle were from Mississippi. His uncle listened to blues music often making Coogler associate blues music with himself. This is clear in the movie’s main theme: music transcends life and death.
As much as the film is an action/ horror film, it shines in its beautiful portrayal of the community of Clarksdale. You could tell that everyone depended on each other to an extent and worked hard to get to where they are now.
Each character’s distinct body language tells us so much about just how passionate they are about Blues music. Delta Blues originated in the Mississippi Delta during the early 20th century and is known as the earliest style of blues. The genre was a sort of escape for Black communities, as blues songs often contained emotional lyrics and explored themes of hardship, love, and loss.
The way all the characters’ faces light up everytime Sammie plays his guitar or sings is so touching, but the songs actually are captivating and make me feel like I’m in the juke joint dancing to the sounds of Delta blues.
As for the movie’s horror/ action side, most of the jumpscares definitely got me, but the visuals are what take the cake. The vampire’s eyes glow ominously, and the sight of blood completely drenches their faces in the most terrifying manner. The fight scenes had me at the edge of my seat too.
Overall, I would recommend this film to anyone because it can truly appeal to all, no matter what movie genres you’re into. Ryan Coogler did such a great job setting the stage and getting you invested in the story that you almost forget about the horror until the characters are faced with it. The film is truly a culmination of romance, drama, and comedy and is definitely worth seeing in theaters. And if this review still hasn’t inspired you to watch or not watch “Sinners” just keep in mind that Michael B. Jordan is shirtless at some point in the movie.