Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther) delivers a compelling dual performance in Sinners as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, World War I veterans returning to their Jim Crow-era Mississippi hometown after years in Al Capone’s Chicago underworld. Bearing the scars of war and crime, they seek to turn a new leaf by purchasing an abandoned mill, envisioning it as a vibrant music hall for the area. But if you’re expecting just another gangster tale, brace yourself—this one takes a turn you won’t see coming.
Ryan Coogler skillfully blends period drama, gore and action, creating a film that is both grand in scope and intensely gripping. When the horror elements take hold, the film erupts into some of the most striking sequences in recent memory. Coogler brilliantly interweaves the supernatural horror with stark realities, making the former a potent reflection of profound historical race issues.
.Jordan is captivating in his dual roles, seamlessly transitioning between the hardened, calculating Stack and the more soulful, hopeful Smoke. In another standout performance, Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) electrifies as Mary, Stack’s love interest, portraying a racially ambiguous young white woman caught between two worlds. Elsewhere, there are some outstanding performances from Jack O’Connell (Amy), Wunmi Mosaku, and Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods, The Harder They Fall). A true standout, however, is newcomer Miles Caton who delivers an outstanding turn as talented young blues musician Sammie Moore. As the night’s horrors unfold, he emerges as a significant presence, ensuring “Sinners” leaves a powerful mark.
Visually, the film is stunning. Shot on 65mm film by cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the film’s rich textures, moody lighting, and meticulous period detail forge a world that feels both hauntingly authentic and dreamlike.
Enhancing the film’s immersive quality is Ludwig Göransson’s genre-bending score, a seamless fusion of blues, gospel and horror motifs. The integration of music into the film’s very fabric—at times almost as a character itself—is masterful. Certain sequences unfold as haunting musical set pieces, making Sinners into something truly extraordinary.
With Sinners, Ryan Coogler delivers a bold, genre-defying masterpiece that refuses to be confined to a single box. It’s a Southern Gothic gangster epic, a bone-chilling horror film, and a powerful meditation on history, resilience, and the fight for survival—all seamlessly woven into one breathtaking experience. Brace yourself for a film of breathtaking audacity, where Coogler’s singular vision manifests through his incisive writing, assured direction, and inspiring vision.
