LOS ANGELES — Sinners, one of the true gems of this film creativity, specializes in the intersection of vampires, soul music, and Southern gangster drama. Heavy hitting actors like Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld push the boundaries further under the direction of the acclaimed Ryan Coogler. The film takes place in the Jim Crow-era of the humid Mississippi Delta in the Fall of 1932 and is an emotionally layered and thrilling experience that engages in many ways.
Jordan shines in a dual role as twin brothers Stack and Smoke, who’ve scavenged enough wealth from warring mob families in Chicago to purchase an old sawmill from a Klansman. Their audacious plans for the ramshackle sawmill to be a juke joint — even just for a night — create the backdrop for a suspenseful and action-filled story. Steinfeld, who plays the role of Mary, enriches the story with toughness, sensual vibes, and spirit that light up the screen.
Much is credited to Coogler; he loves highlighting important historical moments intertwined with the current-day climate. The characters talk with each other in not only taut but also interesting ways, and the conflict between heroes, their friends, and their enemies — particularly the main villain, Remmick, who Jack O’Connell plays — is dynamic and exciting. Remmick’s master of manipulation tactics of his vampire leadership, who wrestle up an army casts a dark shadow over the town as he persuades the remaining townsfolk (including Smoke, Stack, Sammie (Miles Caton), Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), Pearline (Jayme Lawson), Grace (Li Jul Li) and the comic Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo)) to band together in their quest to live.

Its IMAX 70mm film usage is among the highest-resolution formats in cinematic history, elevating the film even further. This decision allows the audience to indulge completely in the stunning visual storytelling, complimented by a phenomenal musical score that rings together an endearing combination of Blues, Funk, old-school Hip-Hop, Rap, Modern Dance, and dance from Asian culture. This vibrant amalgam of the score led by composer Ludwig Göransson is key to the film’s narrative and a celebration of diversity recognizable to many moviegoers.

However, while Sinners has a captivating story and themes, some aspects could definitely improve. Cornbread (Omar Miller) is another character whose doom seems foreordained; his death was supposed to shock us, but it would have had even more impact if it had happened later in the plot — during the climactic showdown with the vampires inside the barn, maybe. On top of that, the representation of blood in some scenes is more tomato soup than gore fest — an unfortunate detail that runs against the overall tension of the show (Tom Burke, who plays Alex, puts in a sterling performance) and could have used a bit more realistic effects.

Among the film’s highlights is the arc of Sammie, the gifted and anointed guitar player who dreams of being a traveling Blues musician. The name of his band, “Pearline’s,” is an homage to his first love, which shows how deeply rooted and personal many struggles are.

The 2 hours and 17 minutes with Sinners and the investment is well worth it. Coogler and his jaw-dropping cast tell a story of overcoming generational darkness, set in the 1930s to the 1990s. Its layers are revealed as the audience rejoices over the brilliance of Ryan Coogler, where the film leaves the door open for most layers of this film to be unraveled.

After the film’s review, Sinners scored 9/10 and was a must-see.
*In its opening weekend, Sinners made $45.6 million domestically and a global tally of $60 million as it opened number one at the Box Office. The film’s estimated cost was around $90 million.