The 2025 horror/morality tale of Sinners delivers pure gold. It is, at the base of it, a battle of the blues versus folk music. That is the base of the music at any rate. The tale itself is about identity, family, and a balance of “us and them” that, at the start, works.
Sinners gives vampires a chance to sing. This is perhaps my only issue with the film. This immediate ability to play instruments and sing, in tune, with their leader. It made me think of another vampire trait that has always amused me. A’la Joss Whedon’s Buffyverse, where newly made vamps can parkour and know instantaneous karate moves.
On another level though, it makes a certain amount of sense. The lore being that new vampires take on the “soul” of their vampiric creator.
Sinners Story
A pair of “Robin Hood” type twins return from their short stint working for Al Capone in Chicago. They immediately start spreading some long green, aka cash, through the community. Smoke and Stack mean to open the town’s first “Juke Joint” for the people who live in the town.
They soon learn that something worse than the KKK is awaiting them in the fields around their new “joint.”
Sinners Cast
Michael B Jordan is Smoke and Stack.
Miles Caton is Sammie Moore
Jack O’Connell is Remmick.
Andrene Ward-Hammond is Ruthie.
Delroy Lindo is Delta Slim.
Jayme Lawson is Pearline.
Hailee Steinfeld is Mary.
It All Works
Sinners takes a bit from legends of old. The old guitar legend of Robert Johnson who sold his soul to the devil is one. Vampires, is the other long serving legend taken almost lock, stock, and barrel. Everything thing is done right here.
The vampire lore in Sinners goes back to its cinematic roots. Vampires die in sunlight, hate garlic and, more importantly, must be invited in. It is this last “root” that helps the protagonists identify newly made vampires.
*There is a splendid scene with pickled garlic juice that is evocative of the 1973 science fiction/horror film Westworld. In that long ago film, water was thrown in the face of a villain. It started fizzing immediately. That effect was made by crumbling good old Alka-Selzer into powder and applying to the “victim’s” face.*
Behind the Camera
Writer/Director Ryan Coogler brings us a deeply marred world with a feel of reality. Each scene is full of historical accuracy. Although the metaphoric scene in the Juke Joint of their “healing” dance shoots across the ages. Everything here feels right in its inherent “wrongness.” Barefoot workers picking cotton juxtaposed by the twins and their “Chicago” duds is just one example.
It jars, as does the time period, when looked back upon today.
The stunts are stunning, the VFX and practical effects are practically breathtaking. This could well be the best horror film of 2025.
The Verdict
Sinners storms in with a solid 5 stars. *Despite that singing issue mentioned above.* All the actors knocked this one out of the metaphorical park. I have to admit, though, that it took me ages to recognize Jack O’Connell as Remmick. This gentleman can act!
For those who were patient enough to wait for this brilliant blues horror, it is streaming on Max right now.
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