Sinners is currently showing in select theaters nationwide and is scheduled to drop on streaming platforms later this year. Written and Directed by Ryan Coogler, this supernatural horror-drama hit cinemas on April 18, 2025, and is rated R for its intense violence, language, and supernatural themes. If you’re a fan of subtle horror with rich cultural undertones, then you should watch this.
The Premise
Set in the American South during the 1930s, Sinners follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack—World War I veterans—who return to their Mississippi hometown from Chicago with a pocket full of cash, a truckload of Irish beer, and a dream: to open a juke joint where Black folks can come together, dance to the blues, and find some joy in a world that rarely offers it.
They first buy a property and recruit their talented young cousin, Sammie Moore, a guitarist and singer. We follow them as they gather a crew: Delta Slim, an alcoholic bluesman, provides the entertainment; Annie, a Hoodoo conjurer and Smoke’s past lover, cooks the food; Grace and Bo Chow, an Asian couple, run the bar; and Cornbread holds things down at the door. Stack’s former flame, Mary, shows up, as does Pearline, a local girl who catches Sammie’s eye.
But across town, things are brewing—literally. A strange, pale man named Remmick, a vampire fleeing from Native American hunters, seeks refuge with an unsuspecting white couple.
As opening night at the juke joint unfolds, Sammie’s music turns out to be more than good, it’s powerful. It is so powerful that it conjures the spirits of musicians and dancers from the past and future. As the narrator puts it, some people are born with the gift of making music so true it pierces the veil between life and death.
The music draws not just the living but the dead—and the undead. When Remmick and his newly turned couple arrive at the club seeking entry, they are turned away, mostly because they are white. But Mary offers to go see what they want, hoping the twins might make a little money off of them. That choice sets off a bloody chain of events. Mary is turned. And suddenly, the night turns into a fight for survival.
As chaos and vampires unfold, the few left are forced to rely on Annie’s ancient knowledge to make it through until sunrise. But Remmick has his eyes on Sammie—because Sammie’s music holds power even the undead crave.
Sinners is a wild, genre-blending ride—part Southern gothic horror, part historical fantasy, part social commentary. Imagine Django Unchained meets The Originals meets Get Out. It’s gritty, surreal, and deeply haunting.
Casts and Performances
One of Sinners’ greatest strengths lies in its cast—each actor brings something vital to the table, making the film’s bold narrative feel grounded and alive.
Michael B. Jordan delivers an impressive dual performance as twin brothers Stack and Smoke. He transitions between the two roles with ease and distinct personalities. As the story picks up and things get bloody, Jordan fully leans into his action-hero form, slaying monsters with intensity and charisma. It’s no easy task acting opposite yourself, but Jordan makes it look effortless; you forget he’s not a twin.
Joshua Canton starts quietly as Sammie, the young cousin swept up in his older cousins’ dreams. But his character blooms as the story progresses. One standout scene where Sammie performs an extended guitar solo was nothing short of breathtaking. The moment was steeped in Black history and spiritual power, and in my opinion, the finest moment in the entire movie.
Jack O’Connell plays Remmick, the original vampire, with a raw, menacing edge. He is simply the definition of a blood-sucking demon—vile, magnetic, and terrifying all at once. O’Connell fully embodies the dark charisma of his character, making Remmick as compelling as he is horrifying.
Wunmi Mosaku is commanding as Annie, the spiritual anchor of the story. As a Hoodoo conjurer, her presence is powerful, yet layered with grief and resilience. Her role only deepens as the chaos unfolds. Annie is more than just a guiding voice—she’s a complex, soulful heroine who becomes one of the film’s emotional cores.
Hailee Steinfeld brings warmth and nuance to Mary, Stack’s former lover, whose presence adds complexity to the already tense dynamic.
Delroy Lindo is a scene-stealer as Delta Slim, the harmonica-playing pianist who injects much-needed comic relief into the darker moments of the film. He brings a lived-in feel to the character that’s entertaining and grounded.
Omar Benson Miller adds his own charm as Cornbread, the imposing yet warm-hearted doorman. He’s part muscle, part humour, but always serves a purpose beyond the laughs,
Jayme Lawson brings emotional depth as Pearline, the soft-spoken local girl who catches Sammie’s eye. She’s graceful and captivating to watch, adding a layer of vulnerability and romantic tension to the story.
Li Jun Li and Yao round out the ensemble as Grace and Bo Chow, the Asian couple running the bar. Li Jun Li, in particular, delivers a powerfully emotional performance in one of the film’s pivotal moments, elevating the stakes and grounding the fantasy in something deeply human.
Across the board, Coogler’s direction ensures each character has space to be more than a trope. There’s levity, sorrow, power, and playfulness in this ensemble, and it all comes together in a way that feels real and richly human.
What I Liked
Sinners was genuinely a good watch. It takes a full hour before the real carnage kicks off, but surprisingly, it never drags. The pacing is tight, keeping you engaged from start to finish. One of the standout elements for me was the soundtrack—rich, soulful, and perfectly matched to the mood of each scene. That musical moment where ghosts from the past and future appear? Breathtaking. It felt like a powerful convergence of history and rhythm, blending eras through sound in a way that worked.
I also appreciated the different themes throughout the film. There’s a clear symbolism of racial oppression, the evolution of music, and even the cultural harmony between Black and Irish communities.
Remmick, the Irish vampire, subtly represents that historical link, while the songs sung and the dance steps performed carry deeper messages. It’s art layered in cinematic brilliance, and one has to be historically grounded to truly catch all the cultural references and symbolism embedded in the narrative.
The cinematography also deserves praise—every shot feels intentional, crisp, and visually compelling.
Weak Points
As satisfying as Sinners was, a few areas felt underdeveloped. Remmick’s sudden emergence, for one, felt abrupt and unexplained. We’re never quite sure if Sammie’s music summoned him or if Remmick had always existed in the background, waiting for the right moment. The Native American hunters chasing him felt like a fascinating narrative thread that never emerged. It hinted at a deeper mythology that the film didn’t explore.
Remmick’s motivations also struggled to land with clarity. He claims he’s trapped and wants to see his people again, but we’re left unclear. Are these spirits? Other vampires? Can they transcend time and take on human form? The ambiguity might have been intentional, but it left too many unanswered questions that dulled the emotional weight of his arc.
Finally, while the buildup was strong and steady for most of the film, the ending felt overextended. It lost some of the momentum and thrill that had been so carefully crafted. A tighter, more suspenseful resolution, with less reliance on dialogue, could have preserved the high note the film had earned.
Final Thoughts
Sinners is a very intriguing watch, a coming together of history, art, music, and cultural symbolism, all wrapped in a dose of horror. Ryan Coogler has crafted something bold and distinctive, a film that feels both timely and timeless. This isn’t just another horror flick, it’s a cinematic tapestry that may well become a creative benchmark for years to come.
Rating
I would rate sinners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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