Ludicrous, but when it is all said and done, Sinners is a classic horror in the making.

In 1930s America, young Samuel wants to become a blues guitarist. To achieve this dream, he joins a pair of twins who are setting up a new club house. But everyone’s plans and excitement are about to be dampened by some unexpected visitors.

Creed and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler rejoins with lead star Michael B. Jordan in this new horror movie. A cast of black American actors: Delroy Lindo (TV’s Unprisoned) Andrene Ward-Hammond, Tenaj L. Jackson, and Miles Caton. Hailee Steinfeld (Bumblebee, Spider-Verse) and Jack O’Connell also star. Sinners is a classic horror movie, a film that director Coogler describes as “a full meal”; an experience that gives you everything. While this may be in rebuttal to the director’s history of working in franchises, it is true of the movie as well. This one certainly goes places, takes influences, and is certainly memorable.

Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack. These two have a questionable past, but are learned from travelling and experiencing the world. Yet they return to New Orleans to give back to their community, family, and friends; to open a new bar full of entertainment and freedom from their troubles. But with music being a big part of this venture, they need musicians, and with music comes great otherworldly powers. The power of music can as easily bring joy and wonder “from past and future”. But it can also summon great evil…

You almost have to kick and remind yourself that Sinners is an original movie. It is so slick, well thought out, and inspired by other media, that it could easily be a comic book first. An adult comic book, one quickly needs to add. It is a horror movie that is a slow build, and by its tone later on it is clearly not a spoiler to say what is going on. But if you don’t want to know anything, stop reading after this sentence: Sinners is a very good horror movie and deserves your attention.

The film begins with a young Samuel (Miles Caton) driving while covered in blood. In his deathly grip is a broken wooden guitar neck. He cannot speak of the horrors he just saw. We then see events unfold through the day prior, leading up to the night. The night the Smokestack Twins open their new bar.
The twins are played impeccably by Michael B. Jordan. Both are unique characters and we immediately see how different they are. Smoke is a grounded man, haunted by the past. Stack is more liberated and casual. Both are fiercely dedicated to their families, but also very aggressive and lustful.

The film delights in showing us the characters in the community. We aren’t rushed straight into the action. Instead we get to know the people, of which there are several, who will play a part later. The film’s pacing has a Tarantino quality; with a lot of establishment and a wicked payoff at the end.

Speaking of Tarantino. Coogler has cited 1996’s From Dusk Til Dawn as an inspiration. This is so apparent that most cinephiles will notice. Because yes, its about vampires, and we are talking classic Anne Rice vampires.
Now, we know that vampires are a little… long in the tooth, nowadays. Once you go sparkly you can never go back, perhaps. But Sinners leans into its premise and doesn’t shy away from poking fun at itself. The film has a great sense of humour, and when the vamps finally show up, the black comedy ramps up to eleven. Chris O’Connell plays the antagonistic Remmick, a vampire with a distinctly Irish flair for the dramatic. The way the vampires look, act, and their strengths and weaknesses, are spot on.
The film oozes charisma and lust. Exactly what you want from a vampire movie. Some might bemoan the opening two acts for being “slow”. But the characters are interesting enough, the sets and costumes beautiful enough, that there’s plenty to enjoy. There’s an interesting through-line with music as a theme, too.

With Sinners, Coogler has proven himself a powerful director. Hopefully to go from strength to strength. It is very difficult to find fault with it, outside of the obvious inspirations its enjoys and maybe some tropey horror movie moments.

Additional Marshmallows: This film is no doubt beautiful in IMAX or any similarly large screen. The film was shot with various aspect ratios. Unfortunately I watched it in a bog-standard screen with, what seemed to be, dodgy sound quality.