I filled my Friday night with vampires and juke joints by checking out Sinners. It did not disappoint! I managed to avoid all the trailers for the film. I knew Ryan Coogler directed it, Michael B. Jordan was starring in it, and there were vampires involved somehow. That’s all I had to go on, and that was enough. Sinners was a blast! I came in with high expectations because Ryan Coogler knows how to tell a story with memorable visuals and he delivered.
Coogler Fully Snapped
Coogler also masterfully blended music into the storytelling. It wasn’t music for the sake of music (just needle drops), but it was a catalyst in the plot. The runtime may look daunting, but it does not feel like you’re in a movie theater for 2.5 hours. The movie flowed easily, and I found myself interested in every aspect of the story, not just the vampires. The star-studded cast helped me engage with their performances (outside of a few questionable accents).
There are plenty of influences from other films like Demon Knight, Near Dark, From Dusk Till Dawn, Fright Night, Salem’s Lot, etc. While it draws upon influences from horror movies from the past, it still manages to shine uniquely by incorporating history, music, and the Black Southern Gothic aesthetic. The film also had a heavier dose of seduction than I expected. Sinners is not only worth watching once. It’s worth going back for seconds.
Put It in the MoMA!
The visuals are amazing. Many of the scenes pulled me deeper into the film, so much so that there were shots I could smell. The scent of dirt roads, fish grease, and old church pews connected me to the images I saw on-screen. The lighting of each scene is thoughtful and complements the characters we see. Sadly, the correct lighting techniques when filming Black actors aren’t always common knowledge.
There is a scene that visualizes how Black music connects us to our ancestors. The camera movement felt like I was on a journey through time, riding shotgun while the music drove me with one hand on the wheel. Although it was a bit jarring, that scene has stuck with me the most. I am usually not a fan of excessive music in movies. However, it mostly worked for me in this film. It had ties to the plot and juke joint setting (you’ll know why once you see it), and it was GOOD. When Preacher Boy Sammie (Miles Caton) started singing, his voice made me lean back like Fat Joe in 2004. It’s a voice I would pay to hear outside of the movie.
It’s Sexy Too Tho
Sinners dials up the blood with vampires who tear at their victims instead of leaving small and polite bite marks. These vampires have the perfect balance of “hot” and “dangerous”. The stakes are set early by showing how quickly the vampirism affects the bitten. As soon as the sun sets fully, the dread kicks in. The script gives the audience moments of levity by sprinkling humor in the dialogue. The vampires have some wildly funny lines, especially when trying to get what they want. However, the dialogue can be equally upsetting because the vampires have an interesting way of acquiring knowledge. That knowledge is wielded like a weapon. It reminds me of possession movies when the demons start telling everyone’s business. The dead always know too much!
If the visuals, storytelling, dialogue, drama, music, or vampires don’t capture you, the seduction will. Vampires and sexuality are often portrayed together. However, the sexiness isn’t left to just the vampires. I cannot count how many times I gasped and clutched my pearls. Shout out to Sinners for highlighting cunnilingus, outdoor backshots, and spit kinks. All while making it tasteful for the screen. We can feel how the characters long for each other as vampires and humans love to yearn. Sinners will get you hot and then take you to church like Bj The Chicago Kid.
Audiences will get a serving of religion, spirituality, magic, history, racism, vampires, sex, and action. If you like to cry (I don’t), there are a few scenes and topics that demand tears, but the film doesn’t lean on those moments of sadness. Much of the pain and grief is filtered through music, a fundamental part of Black culture. With so much to offer audiences, Sinners is a must-see cinema experience.
