SINNERS

SINNERS

Directed by Ryan Coogler

The pride and joy of Oakland, our very own Ryan Coogler, is back back back again with another slamdunk. Cashing in on his incredible success with Marvel's Black Panther series, here we are at the intersection of high art and massive popcorn blockbuster. A story about black culture in America, specifically 1932 Mississippi Delta. About family, returning home and facing the trauma trying to avoid. It's about the deep seated power of music and how it connects us to our ancestors and to the future. There are also lots of vampires.

Coogler muse and mainstay Michael B. Jordan stars in dual roles as Smoke and Stack, twin brothers returning home from Chicago where they may or may not be in some hot water. The heavy hand of racism, especially the KKK, permeates the entire town but the community is resilient and stick together. Smoke/Stack buy up an old property and quickly turn it into a juke joint with fried catfish, lots of liquor and the blues being played for a horny sweaty crowd. 

The role music plays in the film cannot be overstated enough, and in fact is the next real star after Michael B. Jordan. Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, Oppenheimer) once again provides a sumptuous multicultural feast of sounds and instruments. You can feel it in your soul. 

There's a lengthy setup, which I appreciated, getting comfortable in this world and meeting new characters. But eventually things do turn vampiric, and it kind of reminded me of 1996's "From Dusk Till Dawn" (compliment). It's very sexy, very gorey and tons of fun. With Coogler though you're gunna get something deeper, weightier and much more thematically potent. 

All the traditional vampire lore tropes are alive and well here. Garlic, wooden stakes, holy water and the particularly important rule of them having to be invited in. There's a terrific ending and epilogue that pushes SINNERS into masterpiece territory. 

Using real IMAX cameras and 70mm film, it looks and sounds unlike anything that's come out recently. A welcome reprieve from the superhero slop. Now here's something you can really sink your teeth into!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 4