Sinners
April 15th, 2025
MOVIE: SINNERS
STARRING: MICHAEL B. JORDAN, MILES CATON, DELROY LINDO, HAILEE STEINFELD, WUNMI MOSAKU, JACK O’CONNELL
DIRECTED BY: RYAN COOGLER
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 4 STARS (Out of 4)
Ryan Coogler is having a moment with his new film, Sinners. It’s the kind of moment every director dreams of—when an original idea, born entirely from their imagination and vision, comes together on the screen. Coogler, best known for Black Panther, pours everything into this film. He weaves together themes of morality, the enduring legacy of racism in America, the transcendent power of music, and the richness of Black culture. And then, just when you think you’ve got the film figured out, he brings in the vampires.
Sinners is a powerful theatrical experience, brimming with explosive energy. It’s a movie that grabs you by the soul and doesn’t let go.
Set in 1932, the story follows two brothers—Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan)—as they return home to the Mississippi Delta after serving in World War I and making a name for themselves working under Al Capone in Chicago. They announce their arrival with a bang—literally—by putting a bullet in an unlucky local, then spreading the word that they’re opening a juke joint. First, they secure a location and stock it with Irish beer and whiskey. Now, all that’s left is to build a community around it. Luckily, there’s a shared hunger for freedom, and in this town, freedom lives in the music.
Their mission is to rally friends and family. They connect with cousin Sammie (Miles Caton), recruit legendary bluesman Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), and bring in some muscle with their old friend Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller). Smoke rekindles an old flame with his ex-lover Annie (a powerful Wunmi Mosaku), while Stack reconnects with Mary (Hailee Steinfeld). Soon, the town is dancing, sweating, and surrendering to the infectious rhythm—a rhythm born from the blood, joy, and resilience of Black life, pulsing with both past and present.
On the surface, Sinners might sound like a party that turns sideways when vampires crash the scene. But Coogler isn’t in a rush to get to the horror. When he does, it’s spectacular—but the real magic lies in the slow burn. The film simmers in the lush, golden cinematography of Autumn Arkapaw, shot gorgeously on 70mm. Each frame expands the story’s scope, capturing the heat, the movement, the sweat of a community dancing in unity. And the score, composed by Ludwig Göransson, becomes its living, breathing character. Coogler crafts moments where time seems to stand still—where blues, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, electric guitars, and spinning DJs converge under one roof. The juke joint becomes a symbol: Black artistry as the backbone of all art.
Yes, Sinners occasionally feels overstuffed. At times, it seems like Coogler might be biting off more than he can chew. But the final product silences any doubts. It’s a film that channels the chaotic energy of From Dusk Till Dawn, the righteous fury of Django Unchained, and the unmistakable originality of Coogler’s voice. Michael B. Jordan proves—again—that he’s a bona fide movie star.
The message is both subtle and powerful. Sinners doesn’t just entertain—it testifies. We, the audience, are the congregation. And Ryan Coogler? He’s taking us all to church.
4 STARS
SINNERS WILL BE IN THEATERS THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
