Film Review: Sinners

Sinners
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Proximity Media
Released: 04.18.2025

Ryan Coogler has done it again! A masterclass in visuals, storytelling and music, Sinners brings more than enough for the audience to sink its teeth into. If I only had one word to describe this movie it would be rich — rich in themes, rich in culture, rich in soul. At its very essence,  Sinners is a movie about community and culture, and the sense of freedom those things bring us. 

The movie is set in 1932 and follows criminal twin brothers Elijah “Smoke” Moore, and Elias “Stack” Moore, both played by Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther, Just Mercy), as they return to their hometown in the Mississippi Delta to open up a juke joint. They gather people to help out in this endeavor including their silky-voiced, musically gifted younger cousin Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore (Miles Caton), local blues player Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo, Malcolm X, Gone in 60 Seconds) and singer Pearline (Jayme Lawson, The Woman King, Till), field worker and club bouncer Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie), Chinese shopkeepers Bo (Yao, Tiong Bahru Social Club) and Grace Chow (Li Jun Li, Babylon) and Smoke’s wife Annie (Wunmi Mosaku, Lovecraft Country, Deadpool & Wolverine) as the cook. They also run into Stack’s white-passing ex-girlfriend Mary (Hailee Steinfeld, Pitch Perfect 2, Hawkeye) who is not too happy about the way things ended. On the night of the grand opening, Preacher Boy’s soulful music conjures up spirits from the past and future and attracts the attention of the Irish vampire Remmick (Jack O’Connell, 300: Rise of an Empire, Eden Lake). The night that was meant for celebration quickly becomes one of survival and forces us to wonder, what makes us truly free?

There is no doubt that cinema’s favorite monster is the vampire. From Dracula to Twilight and now Sinners, the vampire is a creature that allows for deep and interesting exploration for a plethora of themes. With Sinners, we see the vampires as a metaphor for colonization and white supremacy, wanting to come into a place that is not theirs and take it over. There is this idea of the vampires having their souls trapped in their bodies as a sort of purgatory, and that paralleling the Jim Crow south as a purgatory for Black people, free, but in name only –– never truly being able to move up in the world. Remmick’s Irish origin showing that even those who were once oppressed do not gain freedom by oppressing others. With every scene there is something new to interpret and analyze. You can tell that Coogler did his research with subtle moments like the wooden nickels to the Chow’s two separate store –– one for Black people and one for white people –– giving glimpses into the history of the Jim Crow south. It’s a movie that rewards rewatching, as each viewing allows you to peel more and more layers and come up with new interpretations.  

We also cannot talk about Sinners without mentioning the music. As a Mexican-American, music has been one of the primary sources I have to connect to that part of myself, so it was a profound experience for me to see music be used and described the way it is in the film. It is something that is meant to connect us to people we may have never met, but we are linked to in some way. Composer Ludwig Göransson brings to life the blues music in the film, imbuing it with an infectious energy that feels timeless. Highlights include “I Lied to You” and “Pale Pale Moon.” And you can’t deny that the Irish folk songs also made you want to do a little jig. The lyrics of each song help to emphasize the themes of the story and establish the characters arcs as well. It is a celebration of a style of music that was created by Black for Black people –– a thing that was not force on them. It isn’t often we get a musical horror movie, all that is left is a surprise appearance by Tim Curry. 

I would also be remiss, if I didn’t mention the visuals of the movie. Finally, a movie that knows how to do lighting. When you see this movie, WATCH IT IN IMAX. Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history with this project, and I am not just saying that because this movie is a period piece, but because she is the first woman to ever film with an IMAX film camera. The shots of the nature are lush, and you can feel the heat of the dusty towns and fields. The nights scenes are also lit well enough for me to actually see what is happening while maintaining the unease. The way the camera moves in certain scenes makes you feel like you are floating and you experience every emotion, especially during the musical sequences. 

No review can truly do justice to not only how great, but how important this movie is. It is a celebration of Black culture and the power in connection. It is erotic, thrilling, moving, suspenseful, captivating and transcendent all at once. If you are looking for a movie that can satiate multiple cravings, then Sinners is the way to go. —Angela Garcia

Read more film reviews:
Film Review: A Nice Indian Boy
Film Review: On Swift Horses