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Review: ‘Sinners’ is a Slick Supernatural Thriller, a Gripping Gangster Story and a Powerful Social Commentary
April 17, 2025Ben MK
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One of the oldest and most storied sub-genres in horror, vampire movies have been a Hollywood staple since the earliest days of cinema. Whether it's the very first vampire tale ever put to film, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, campy cult classics like Hammer Studios' Dracula franchise, or modern-day reimaginings like Blade, Twilight or What We Do in the Shadows, theater-going audiences continue to be fascinated with the exploits of these bloodthirsty creatures of the night. And now, over a century since the vampire first made its cinematic debut, writer-director Ryan Coogler is making his own contribution to the genre, teaming up once again with Michael B. Jordan to unleash a tale about bigotry and the supernatural, all set against the dangerous backdrop of the Jim Crow South. The year is 1932, and in Clarksdale, Mississippi, former soldiers and identical twins Elijah and Elias (Jordan) have just returned from Chicago — fresh off a stint working for none other than Al Capone — to try and make a name for themselves in their hometown. Known as Smoke and Stack to everyone who ever met them, not to mention everyone else who's only heard of them by their trigger-happy reputation, Elijah and Elias have a very specific plan — to buy an abandoned saw mill and transform it into their very own juke joint, where people of color can enjoy nights filled with music and dance, free from the hatred and the stares of the predominantly white population and those who pledge their loyalty to the Ku Klux Klan. Enlisting the help of their musically gifted younger cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), as well as a few old friends, the twins are quick to set their plan into motion, opening their establishment to a packed house one clear night. But when a trio of uninvited visitors show up requesting to be let in, that's when things take an unexpected and violent turn. Attracted by Sammie's otherworldly musical abilities, Remmick (Jack O'Connell), Bert (Peter Dreimanis) and Joan (Lola Kirke) claim to be ordinary folk musicians in search of a good time. However, it's their skin color that gives Elijah and Elias pause. What neither the twins, Elijah's Hoodoo-practicing ex, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), or Elias' ex, Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), could ever anticipate, however, is that these three party crashers are motivated by something much more sinister than plain old racism. And when they reveal themselves to in fact be vampires, it's up to this small group to figure out how to survive the night and stand up to their supernatural aggressors. Armed with little more than a few wooden stakes, some garlic water and a handful of Molotov cocktails, they prepare to face an enemy unlike any they've fought before. But will good prevail over evil on this night? Or will the darkness consume each and every one of their souls, bite by bloody bite? A slick, satisfying and sultry vampire movie that also does triple duty as a gripping gangster story and a social commentary about present-day race relations and the ulterior motives of those who only claim to allies in the struggle of the African American peoples, the result is a brooding cinematic odyssey that has much more meat on its bones than your typical genre entry. What truly sets Sinners apart from other similarly themed films, though, is Jordan's captivating and powerful dual performance, as well as the soul-shaking notes of blues and folk music that serve to accompany viewers on this hypnotic and thought-provoking journey deep into the dark heart of one of cinema's most iconic and unforgettable supernatural archetypes. Throw in a handful of fitting religious allegories, an appearance from real-life Blues legend Buddy Guy, and a couple of the most riveting action sequences ever committed to celluloid, and it's easy to see why Coogler and company have been receiving nothing but universal praise for this daringly unorthodox and uniquely compelling take on vampire mythology. Of course, that's not to say moviegoers simply thirsting for an old-fashioned and gory supernatural thriller won't be sated either. The beauty of Sinners is that it has plenty to offer audiences from both extremes of the spectrum — with a few extra gallons of blood to boot. Sinners releases April 18th, 2025 from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has an MPAA rating of R for strong bloody violence, sexual content and language. Its runtime is 2 hrs. 17 min. |
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