Bulging from the seams with blood, music, and rhythm, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is as much a Michael B. Jordan passion project as it is a prolific genre piece. With Coogler finally unchained from Disney’s shackles, I didn’t expect much after the disaster class that was Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The marketing of this film suffered heavily, as it was unaware of what to spoil, leading me into this film with absolutely nothing. From a sales perspective that’s a terrible idea, yet for a film that relies so heavily on its twists, it works really well.
After being run out by the organized crime of Chicago, twin mob brothers Smoke and Stack return to their hometown in rural Mississippi. With dollar signs in their eyes, the brothers purchase an old bar to reopen as a nightclub. They’re in desperate need to pay off debt and take shortcuts in setting it up. Recruiting the help of young guitar prodigy Sammie Moore, as well as other people from the neighborhood, the brothers create a successful atmosphere to party, gamble, and have a good time. This excitement comes to an end when a group of vampires shows up on opening night.
From the very beginning it’s clear how important tone is to the film. Sinners moves back and forth between genres, masterfully juggling both the mob and gothic horror sub-genres. Leaving something for everyone, Coogler finds a way to fit over two hours of film without it feeling clustered or chunky.
The music is unlike anything I’ve ever heard, mixing delta blues, Creole jazz, and even Irish jig. It’s certainly a strange combination, but it all works to bring together a cohesive mix of eclectic works.
Similar to Coogler, Micheal B. Jordan’s starpower has for the longest time been grounded by poor casting. His roles in franchise projects, while powerful, didn’t speak for his true potential as his performances were expected. You expect Adonis Creed to be a fierce fighter the same way you expect Killmonger to be a cruel villain in Black Panther. With an original screenplay, Jordan is able to subvert expectations and deliver an impressive level of charisma without trying to fit any bill set by viewers. The same can be said for co-star Hailee Steinfeld, who is only now being given the chance to shine on original projects. Known for her voice acting in the Spider Man: Spider Verse and Pitch Perfect franchises, Steinfeld is only now receiving serious roles, and this is one of them. Portraying Mary, Stack’s ex-girlfriend from Chicago, Steinfeld goes off with an electric performance.
Sinners is rare in the sense that genre films in 2025 are rare. Bending traditional norms and taking risks isn’t what Hollywood strives for anymore and it’s exciting to see Coogler do it in this fashion. With a masterclass performance from Micheal B. Jordan and a plot full of twists, Sinners takes all expectations and flips them upside down.
