The horror film “Sinners,” written and directed by Ryan Coogler and Autumn Durald Arkapaw, is off to a strong start with an opening weekend box office of $45.6 million.
Set in the 1930s in the Mississippi Delta, the film depicts the journey of Smoke and Stack, twin brothers, where Micheal B. Jordan plays both. The twins return to their Mississippi hometown to open a juke joint and are sucked into a world of supernatural phenomena, vampires and hoodoo.
The akinness to the 1996 film “From Dusk Till Dawn” is worth noting, but it doesn’t make “Sinners” any less of an ambitious project. With Coogler’s superb production skills that shined in the “Black Panther” series and Arkapaw’s impeccable cinematography and a standout cast, the result is magic.
The casting rings true to the long-standing diversity of Mississippi Delta communities, with Chinese grocers Grace and Bo Chow, played by Li Jun Li and Yao, white-passing Mary played by Hailee Steinfeld and the twins’ extended family bearing little difference from the locals of today.
Jim Crow segregation and overtly violent racism were prevalent during the time period this film is set in. With that being said, the twins’ aspiration to create a juke joint for black locals to seek refuge in is historically accurate, and their close encounter with the Klu Klux Klan drives the plot forward.
The first half of the film centers around these social dynamics, and things begin to get spooky when a blood-thirsty vampire, seeking to expand his coven, comes to town. From there, “Sinners” becomes a Southern gothic folktale that doesn’t shy away from gore, violence or sensuality.
The musical accompaniment for this film is integral to this transition. Coogler’s frequent collaborator Ludwig Goransson referenced 20th century blues recordings of Robert Johnson and Tommy Johnson to score the film, and the supporting cast members performed live on set along with musicians.
“Sinners” also has cinematographic appeal, with the color grading and lighting matching the intensity of each scene and setting the mood accordingly. The film was shot on 65 MM film, with the high image quality allowing for many scenes to be shot in natural light. Every aspect mentioned up to this point melts together seamlessly to form two hours and 17 minutes of pure cinema.
Long story short, go watch “Sinners.” The film is a brilliant love child of talented people who have honed in on their craft in ways that will be remembered for. The scariest parts are in the second half, so it’s more digestible than the average horror film. Also, there are sex scenes, so maybe don’t go see it with your parents. The film is riveting, raunchy, chaotic and the kind of movie that movie-lovers will be revisiting for years to come.
