Four movies in, Ryan Coogler has proven himself to be one of the most talented directors in Hollywood today, with critically acclaimed movies from Fruitvale Station and Creed to his two Black Panther installments, and having a unique storytelling flair that makes his voice stand out among the crowd. With Sinners, Coogler finally gets to do something he hasn’t had the chance to so far: tell a story that’s entirely written by him. Whereas Fruitvale Station is based on a true story and Creed and the Black Panther movies are attached to pre-existing franchises, Sinners is 100% a Ryan Coogler original.
In October 1932, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) are twin brothers who are hoping to turn over a new leaf in their lives as they have returned to their hometown in Mississippi. Intending to leave their darker, scarred pasts behind, they reconcile with others living in Clarksdale to bring in others and make something for themselves that can be loved and respected. Unfortunately for them, however, evil exists everywhere, and sometimes not entirely in human form, as their plans are threatened by the emergence of vampires at night.
If Sinners is any indication, audiences have only seen an iota of what Coogler can do as a storyteller left to his own devices. At every turn, he takes concepts and tropes explored in other horror movies featuring supernatural elements and subverts the audience’s expectations in terms of how they are placed within the narrative. Almost every frame and sequence throughout the film is bursting with a vivid sense of imagination and creativity, all leading to the year’s finest movie so far, and will no doubt be featured as one of 2025’s best. As effective it is as a horror/thriller, it is also a poignant look into a world where people are just looking for some form of liberation, as everyone tells them to tuck into a corner.
Sinners is front-loaded with fantastic performances, particularly the dual roles of Smoke and Stack played seamlessly by Jordan. Two very distinct personalities who have their own quirks and approaches to the world around them, he is exceptional in every moment he is on screen, and incredibly charismatic when interacting with other characters. Hailee Steinfeld gives one of her best performances to date as Mary, a girl who has history with the twins, and Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li provide stellar supporting work to the proceedings. However, the real standout of the film is Miles Caton as Sammie Moore, the twins’ cousin, a preacher’s son and someone who has an affinity for music, often wanting to play for people in town and carrying around his guitar to sing a tune whenever he can.
It is that musical aspect of Sammie that leads into the movie’s music, which is a character in itself. As a language in itself, music can help transcend the boundaries of space and time, and connect us all to history and family, as well as act as a liberating tool against oppression and tyranny. It is this notion that Annie (Mosaku) discusses in the film as well, and Sammie’s gifts are effective in making that connection happen. It leads to a unique soundtrack filled with beautifully sung and performed songs, as well as another monumental score from Ludwig Göransson, who continues to cement himself as one of the finest composers of the 21st century.
Shot in IMAX 15/70mm and Ultra Panavision, Coogler and cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw reunite after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to present a gorgeous, visually sublime experience made for the largest canvas, with shots that will remain with audiences long after the credits roll, all while pushing the limits of the IMAX format and what the camera can capture. A standout moment takes place during a musical sequence which goes around the room, a feat that is almost impossible to fathom with how massive IMAX cameras are.
For all its blockbuster makings, Sinners makes it comments on the world and the place of people of color in a time when racism and segregation was rampant known. Images of cotton picking and harsh conditions of prisoners outline the activities Smoke and Stack conduct around town, directly highlighting exactly where its headier allegories lie. Once the film gets into more supernatural territory, it is a spectacle to behold, making spectacular use of its isolated settings and nighttime lighting to create an eerie, terrifying atmosphere that our heroes may not live to see, while also tying in those themes seamlessly to the events unfolding.
By the end, Sinners is a well-rounded cinematic achievement that may be Ryan Coogler’s finest effort to date and a future classic in the making. Sinning has never been so good.
P.S. stay all the way until the end of the credits.
Score: 100/100
*still courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures*
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