Yeah, we need more movies like this. Sinners delivers an original story that’s unsettling, captivating, and wildly entertaining. A fascinating departure, writer-director Ryan Coogler reveals the full scope of his artistic vision that is uncompromised by the studio system, nor is it hindered by the need to adhere to any existing source material.
Masterfully tip-toeing between historical-drama and gothic horror, Sinners’ unhinged story serves as a painful meditation on American History. An incredible tribute to Southern Black people as well as their yearnings for liberation through creative works, Sinners boldly addresses racial inequality, generational trauma, and cultural appropriation. Expertly weaving together elements of fact and fiction, Coogler delivers an astonishing horror movie that’s immensely entertaining to experience.
Coogler’s unmistakable direction is complemented by the exceptional performances from its all-star cast. Jordan delivers a career-best performance as the enigmatic SmokeStack twins, with supporting actors such as Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, and Wunmi Moskau doing a tremendous job in adding incredible depth to the Jim Crow-era horror film. I’d be remiss if I didn’t single out both Delroy Lindo and Miles Caton as standouts of the movie, the latter of which delivering his feature film debut in Sinners.
While the cast is incredible all-around, Sinners would not be as phenomenal as it is without the showstopping score by Ludwig Göransson. A frequent collaborator of Coogler, Göransson’s take on blues history elevates the already excellent premise to incredible heights. In Sinners, the music is a character unto itself. It all comes together in a breathtaking, surreal music sequence that made history according to cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who deserves credit for crafting incredible visuals to match the visceral story of the film.
Sinners is the kind of movie that doesn’t come often enough. Placing an enormously personal stamp on the movie, Coogler presents a compelling perspective on art, one that sees creative endeavors being informed by spectre of the past and future. Uncompromising in all of the right ways, Sinners is a remarkable Southern horror epic that fires on all cylinders.
