Ticketworthy! - Sinners

You have to hand it to director Ryan Coogler, he’s not afraid to swing for the fences. Creed was a huge risk when it came out, replacing Rocky as the lead in his own franchise. Black Panther had mountains of expectations piled onto it, both good and bad, as did its sequel. Each time, Coogler delivered a standout film that proved just how talented a filmmaker he is. His first dip into the horror genre, Sinners, continues this trend. It’s witty, twisted, fun, and cool. It is very, very cool.

Coogler’s longtime collaborator Michael B. Jordan is back once again, this time as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, World War 1 veterans and gangsters that have returned home to Mississippi to open a juke joint. They enlist their cousin Sammie (Miles Caton), the son a preacher and a gifted blues musician, to play at their grand opening. Little do they know that their party is going to be crashed by a group of bloodthirsty vampires that are drawn to Sammie’s otherworldly talents. 

Coogler infuses every scene with style and atmosphere. There’s no shortage of iconic moments, including a brilliant scene where Sammie performs at the juke joint. I won’t spoil it, but it’s safe to say that it’s a scene that’s going to be discussed a lot. It helps that the song, like all of the songs in the movie, is absolutely fantastic.

In fact, you could say that the music is the central character of the movie. It’s just short of being a musical. Every major event, every character arc, all of it is set to a blues soundtrack that will stick with you long after the credits roll. The soundtrack is as much if not more of an accomplishment than the rest of the movie.

Of the actual characters in the film, all of the main cast is great. Each character feels real and unique, the writing is superb, and none of them are meaningless or wasted. All of the actors are in top form here, with special praise going to Jordan and Caton. Jordan is a bona fide movie star who brings all his skill to not one but two performances, both of them nuanced and fascinating. Caton, on the other hand, is a complete newcomer thrust into a difficult, complex role that demands he match the talents of several veteran actors while also delivering a top-notch vocal performance. He succeeds thoroughly. It’s a treat to watch and listen to.

For all the praise the movie rightfully earns, it’s not perfect. In truth, it feels half finished, like almost every idea had much more planned that they just couldn’t get around to. The vampires seem to have a deep lore, but we barely get into any of it. As a result, it’s unclear how the monsters work. Are they the same people they were when they died, just immortal and bloodthirsty? Or are they demons just wearing their victims’ faces? The movie doesn’t take much of a stance either way.  

The problem comes from just how much time the movie spends building up to the vampire’s attack, fleshing out the world of 1930’s Mississippi and the characters, as well as their relationships. By the time it finally gets to the monsters and murders, there’s just no time left to do or say much. It’s a shame, I’d have liked a more satisfying finale. Yet, I wouldn’t change anything about the buildup. Every second of it sets the stage perfectly for what’s coming, nothing is wasted. If anything, this movie could have simply added another 30 minutes to its runtime. Sure, it would have been nearly three hours long, but it would have been worth it.

As is, all of the issues that the film has are only evident after you’ve left the theater. While it’s playing, Coogler and company do such a masterful job of engaging the audience in the sights, the story, and especially the sounds, that it’s hard to notice that it isn’t perfect. Even once you do start to see the cracks in the story and characters, you’ll probably still have had a really great time. There’s more than enough in Sinners to sink your teeth into.