Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is a cinematic masterpiece that defies what it means to be a horror movie. Sinners is set in 1932 Mississippi, that’s all just a front. The movie setting quickly transforms into a blend and infusion of different cultures. In a time period where Black Americans were beginning to migrate from the south to the north, Sinners shows a reclaiming of home and heritage in the south for the Black characters. 

Ryan Coogler’s specialty is sneaking in political symbolism and real history that generates a sense of realness in his films.  The broad form of the movie is centered around twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Micheal B Jordan). His characters are greatly shaped by events such as Chicago prohibition and WW1 searching for a greater purpose that wouldn’t be held back by racism. All that backstory only for them to return home to Mississippi to open up a juke joint when the movie begins – a juke joint that gets the attention of violent vampires (klan members and an irish immigrant).

The first half of the movie is spent mostly introducing and observing the characters, giving the viewer almost a relationship with them, so when they are killed off it hurts. Introduced at the beginning is Sammie (Miles Canton) who is introduced as a “preacher boy” who has a passion for blues, choosing music over his faith. “Blues wasn’t forced on us like religion,” Smoke says. This is a clear example of how Sammie was reclaiming his culture and race in the deep white south, by choosing black folk culture over religion.  Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) plays Stack’s biracial (¼) ex, abandoned by the fear of how they would’ve been treated as an interracial couple. Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) is not only Smoke’s former lover but also a voodoo and natural medicine expert which shows a rich part of southern black gothic culture, but also comes into play later in the movie. The first hour is honestly an introduction to the characters and beautiful cinematic play infusing music, dance, and various cultures.

All of this is devastated by the second half, when they are visited by Remmick (Jack O’Connell), a deceiving charming Irish vampire who pitches a twisted form of assimilation and equality through vampiral sacrifice. He “unites” bigots and victims of bigotry through immortal life. “We believe in equality,” Remmick says. In reality the vampires are sucking their freedom away, in a space of safety and comfort (the juke joint) for the black characters. 

Overall I feel Sinners was a very soulful experience the is very socially relevant, everyone needs to go watch!

10/10