Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler have had a fruitful relationship over the last decade. From Fruitvale Station, to Creed and Black Panther, a number of bonafide Hollywood hits have been created when the two join forces. Their latest joint project is Sinners, which is a bit of a departure from what audiences expect from the duo, but still hits a few familiar notes.
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Plot: From Dusk Till Vampire
Sinners takes place over the course of a single day in 1930s Mississippi. Focusing on twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), there’s a significant amount of racism, Black oppression, and Black excellence of the times. All of this is retained when the film takes a From Dusk Till Dawn vampire spin, which is an impressive feat.
The first act of the film, before any vampires come into play, offers an enticing look at Smoke and Stack. Who they are, where they’ve come from, their successes, and their misfortunes are all laid out in expert fashion. It feels almost as though you’re in for a classic gangster film, with a Black spin to it. That gives way to the horror elements of the second and third acts, which focus much less on a solid plot, and more on campy gore.
This change in pace is not unique to Sinners, but it has rarely been done with a backdrop of post-slavery Mississippi. The vampire aspects of the film are not as well-formulated as the first half of the movie. There’s plenty of traditional vampire fare, and it’s entertaining enough, but the rich substance of the initial plot is almost completely removed from the second and third acts, which is moderately disappointing. It’s becomes a fairly straightforward vampire film at that point.
Performances: Brilliant Ensemble Cast
Michael B. Jordan is easily the standout performer in Sinners. Playing twins, he’s still able to create two uniquely singular characters. There’s never a question of which brother is talking or on-screen at any given moment, despite their visual similarity. Delroy Lindo steals a number of scenes as Blues artist, Delta Slim, but this ensemble cast is filled with exemplary performances from Hailee Steinfeld’s racially torn Mary, to newcomer Miles Caton’s Blues guitarist, Sammie Moore.
There’s hardly a missed beat across the board, as even smaller roles such as Yao and Li Jun Li’s general store owners, Bo and Grace Chow, add to every scene they’re in. Adding to this, the music in the film adds a layer of dance and body expression to the performances, and that flowed through to the audience during the musical scenes.
Action: Campy Gore
Before the vampires make an appearance, the film focuses on Smoke and Stack as gangsters, returning home from Chicago. There are a number of action-packed scenes meant to showcase how dangerous the twins can be. These were generally more entertaining than the vampire-focused action sequences.
Many of the vampire scenes walked a fine line between campy horror, and realistic peril. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t walk this line very well as a whole. There’s a very real sense of urgency, but everything else falls by the wayside. You certainly can’t think about things too much, as the logic simply doesn’t hold up. The entertainment value is there, but the vampires don’t offer anything new that hasn’t been done countless times before.
Final Verdict: Missing a High Bar
Sinners is unique in that it combines From Dusk Till Dawn with a racially charged 1930s Mississippi, and from an African American perspective. However, once that novelty wears off, there isn’t much left beyond retreading vampire tropes that offer nothing new. The performances are excellent, but Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan have set a high bar that Sinners doesn’t quite reach.
About Sinners
Synopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writer: Ryan Coogler
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Omar Benson Miller, Yao, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 Hours, 17 Minutes
Releases: April 18, 2025
Bryan Dawson has been writing professionally since the age of 13. He started his career as a video game writer and has since worked for Random House, Prima Games, DirecTV, IGN, AOL, the British Government, and various other organizations. For GNN, Bryan taps into his passion for movies.
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
- Bryan Dawsonhttps://geeknewsnetwork.net/author/bdawson1/
