‘Sinners’ is a Vampiric Blues-Opera to Die For

At a Glance: Epic in scale and masterfully crafted, Sinners is Ryan Coogler’s blues-opera opus – an electric and horrifying vampire flick that refuses to pull punches – even after the credits roll.

Ryan Coogler’s hot streak continues with his first official entry into the horror lexicon – Sinners. The Black Panther/Creed director takes on his first original script since Fruitvale Station liked a seasoned pro, injecting his passion for music, his fascination with death, and his love for Black culture into the project – with remarkable results.

Sinners tells the story of Smoke and Stack, twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan, as they return home to Jim Crow-era Clarksdale, Mississippi, to fulfill their dream of opening their own juke joint. Things take a turn for the horrific after their opening night is crashed by a bloodthirsty Irish vampire (played by the gleefully mischievous Jack O’Connell).

From the first frame, Coogler’s filmmaking chops are on full display – as is the work of the entire cast and crew. The painstaking detail of recreating Clarksdale as it was in 1932 is a technical achievement on its own, but the cast is instrumental in populating this world and bringing it life.

At the heart of this world is the music, portrayed as an almost supernatural force that can bring people together throughout time and space. The score is a career highlight for composer Ludwig Göransson, who taps into the beauty and tragedy of blues music with his seemingly effortless compositions.

As far as originality is concerned, there are certainly hints and references to other films – particularly From Dusk Til Dawn, but Coogler, much like Robert Eggers, manages to breathe new life into the vampire genre. His portrayal of vampires as perversely liberated from the shackles of human oppression is a stroke of genius that does the impossible – it makes the audience truly consider joining them.

From the action set pieces to the musical numbers and everything in between, Sinners is the perfect event film – one that should be experienced communally on the biggest screen you can find.