Sinners: Film Review
Ryan Coogler has directed Michael B. Jordan in an emotional biographical drama (Fruitvale Station), a boxing movie (Creed) and a superhero film (Black Panther), and for their fourth collaboration, they’re bringing us something completely different in the form of Sinners, a supernatural horror.
In this period thriller, set in 1930s Mississippi, Jordan pulls double duty and plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who return to their hometown after a stint in Chicago and open up a juke joint in an disued sawmill. Their grand opening goes disastrously awry when a vampire named Remmick (Jack O’Connell) shows up at their door.
I feel like I’m doing a disservice to Sinners to describe it as a supernatural horror because it’s so much more than that. It’s not a straightforward vampire film; there is substantially more meat on its bones. It is ambitious and feels like a few genres rolled into one – gangster, action, musical, etc. They don’t always blend in a seamless or tonally cohesive way but I respect Coogler for trying to do some much in one project and for using the vampire premise to tackle complex themes such as racial oppression and Black freedom, among others.
Music is the driving force of the film and so integral to the story. Ludwig Göransson crafted an exceptional score and soundtrack, which features brilliant foot-stomping music and vocals by actors Miles Caton, Jayme Lawson and O’Connell. The blues music within the juke joint makes sense but the folk music outside was a surprise. One particular musical sequence felt so random and at odds with the tone but I enjoyed it despite that.
Sinners takes quite a while to get going because Coogler needs to introduce so many characters, establish their relationships and build a sense of community. And the ensemble is sizeable – in addition to Jordan (who is terrific in this dual role), there’s Stack’s former lover Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), Smoke’s partner Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), alcoholic entertainer Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), the twins’ guitar-playing cousin Sammie (Caton), his love interest Pearline (Lawson), doorman Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller) and barmaid Grace (Li Jun Li). There is no weak link in the ensemble cast, but I particularly enjoyed Lindo’s surprisingly funny moments and Caton’s deep, soulful voice.
I have a few issues though. It’s a real shame the trailers gave so much away because there are certain moments (such as a specific character reveal) that would have meant so much more if it had been a surprise. Also, at 2 hours and 17 minutes, the film is a bit too long and feels like it doesn’t know how to end, with two credits scenes. The runtime should have been shaved down a little, perhaps by getting rid of the unnecessary prologue.
I went into Sinners expecting a straightforward horror movie and ended up getting so much more. It doesn’t completely work but I respect Coogler’s vision and ambition.
In cinemas from Friday 18th April