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Synopsis
Set in Prohibition Era Mississippi, twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) return home after spending time in Chicago. With the money they’ve earned, the twins decide to open a juke joint and plan to have a grand opening. Their younger cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), agrees to play guitar at the joint despite warnings from his pastor father. Smoke and Stack also recruit piano player Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) and singer Pearline (Jayme Lawson) to perform. Smoke rekindles his relationship with his estranged wife Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) while Stack deals with his ex Mary (Hailee Steinfeld). Despite some setbacks, the joint’s opening is a smashing success, with drinks overflowing and music swaying the crowd. Unfortunately, the music also attracts a group of vampires led by Remmick (Jack O’Connell), who wants to turn everyone. Who will survive the night, and who will become one of Remmick’s vampiric followers?
Review
Sinners was one of my most anticipated movies of 2025, and I’m happy to say that it exceeded my expectations. I’ve been a fan of Ryan Coogler for years, and this is easily one of his best movies. It’s exciting to see Coogler create his first original property, and for it to be as successful as it is. Admittedly, the film does bear more than a few similarities to From Dusk Till Dawn, but it’s not a rip-off. Aside from the fact that the leads are brothers, the vampires, and the isolated location, they are two distinct movies. I do not doubt that Coogler took inspiration from Robert Rodriguez’s crime thriller/vampire hybrid, but that’s where it ends. Sinners is strictly a Ryan Coogler film in all the best ways possible, retaining his trademark urban grit. Everything here works: the cast, the music, the setting, the story, and so on.
Michael B. Jordan is so good as the SmokeStack twins that I forgot it was the same person playing both. He manages to make both brothers feel distinct enough that they feel like two different characters. Character actor Delroy Lindo steals the show as a drunken pianist, acting as a father figure to the twins. Wunmi Mosaku and Jayme Lawson also shine as Annie and Pearline, respectively, both adding a seductive charm. Hailee Steinfeld is another highlight as the part-black, part-white Mary, who relishes every line she delivers. Jack O’Connell is delightfully sinister as the vampire leader Remmick, acting more like a charismatic cult leader, ala Jim Jones. However, the real standout is newcomer Miles Caton, who, in addition to being a great musician, delivers a fantastic performance. Seeing him transition from a shy preacher boy to a confident young man to a shell-shocked survivor is astounding.
Given the film’s Jim Crow era setting, there’s an obvious racial allegory about whites infecting the black community. Thankfully, Coogler is a masterful enough filmmaker that the message is woven into the story rather than the central focus. Of course, vampires have traditionally symbolized the other, something foreign and unknown, tainting the status quo like a disease. Here, it’s almost flipped on its head, where the marginalized groups are the ones tainted by the predominantly white society. The music further develops this message, combining classical blues with more modern sensibilities in an organic way. My only major complaint is that the filmmakers could’ve trimmed some scenes to reduce the runtime, but it’s a stretch. Otherwise, this is a beautifully crafted, well-acted genre blend that more than deserves its acclaim. Overall, Sinners is not only Ryan Coogler’s best film, but it’s also one of the best movies of 2025.
Sinners is in theaters.
