Audiences are devouring “Sinners”

A party for the ages. Dancing, drinks, and music floats through the newly opened juke joint. Many people from the neighboring town come to experience the fun and get their hands on some alcohol. After all, this is 1930s Mississippi, during the great depression . For this small, religious Black community, fun doesn’t come often—and when it does, no one will turn it down.

However, something else is showing up to this party, even though it wasn’t invited. A story of culture, class, race, humor, and horror, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is a fabulously written and deliciously horrifying Vampire western that has taken the world by storm. 

Sinners tells the story of twins Smoke and Stack, two gangsters who return to their small Mississippi town after years of big-city lives and crimes. Both are portrayed brilliantly by Michael B. Jordan. They are committed to opening a juke joint for their small community—a place “for them” and “by them.” They each connect with a past lover, Mary (played by Hailee Steinfeld), and Annie (played by Wunmi Mosaku), who respectively guide each twin’s character arcs hand in hand.

 The twins also connect with “Preacher Boy” Sammie, their cousin, who has an almost supernatural musical ability. The ability proves to be quite supernatural when Sammie’s song attracts a trio of Vampires, led by Remmick, played by Jack O’Connell in a delightfully evil performance. The night of fun quickly turns into a fight for survival, blending action and terror in a way that just works. 

The film debuted Easter weekend, which turned out to be perfect for audiences as it provides deep and well-constructed religious commentary and ideals in its plot. While on the surface “Sinners” is the story of Vampires and people trying to survive them, at its core it is filled with searing social commentary and symbolism. While the film does discuss good vs. evil, it also peers into what makes “good” good and what makes “evil” evil. It’s no coincidence that the head vampire is Irish, and Coogler makes that very clear in his film. The juxtaposition of the Black lead’s experiences and those of the Irish vampire is strikingly clear, while their similarities are also highlighted and given a spotlight in the plot. Both victims of oppression in their own ways, but one keeps taking, stealing, and hurting, and one only wants to survive and thrive. To over-explain the significance of these connections would be a disservice to anyone who plans on watching the film for themself, which is highly recommended from almost anyone you may ask. 

Director Ryan Coogler is a Bay Area native who held multiple screenings of the film in Oakland’s historic Grand Lake theater. Everyone reading this article surely loves to see a Bay Area local succeeding in the industry, and it gives hope to the hundreds of kids in the Bay who wish for success and a life in the industry telling stories. 

Director of Photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first female DP to work with the 70mm Imax format, paving the way for the next generation of women to work with the equipment they deserve to tell their stories. Her abilities as a DP shine through in this amazingly gorgeous film, where every frame looks like a painting that was beautifully crafted with light and color to make a cinematic experience that audiences have not seen in a long time. 

Sinners is scary. Sinners is fun. Sinners is good. It’s a rare occurrence to get such a boldly original film in the theaters, and the people are definitely making it clear that this is a trend we want to follow. If you’re looking for a delightfully evil and boldly beautiful story, “Sinners” is the place to be. Always take the opportunity to see and support films like this in the theaters, while you still can. It’s a rocking time, and you won’t regret it. Even if it is a little sinful.