Sinners (2025) is an engrossing mix of Southern gothic horror, wonderful music, and incredible cinematography. Directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Creed) and starring Miles Caton and Michael B. Jordan, it evolves the formula from From Dusk Till Dawn into a captivating and surprising fever dream.
🎞️ Movie Details
Title: Sinners
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Miles Caton, Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld
Genre: Southern Gothic / Horror / Drama
Runtime: 2h 17m
Rating: R
A Review in Brief
On its face, Sinners is a simple film about a preacher boy, Sammie (Miles Caton) trying to make his way out of the plantation life to play music. He’s got a beautiful voice, plays a mean steel guitar, and has two sketchy twin cousins (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who are going to help. The first half of the film is about these cousins getting ready to open a juke joint (music, dancing, gambling, drinking). Halfway through, the film takes a hard turn and becomes something else entirely. The movie’s core brilliance is in the buildup to that moment.
I can’t pinpoint what it is about the way Coogler shot this film, but every scene feels cramped and just on the edge of tension despite the wide-open vistas and broad daylight. Even when characters are simply moving through town, there is an inherent tension and kinetic energy in everything they do. Gunshots and footsteps are on the beat, doors open quickly, and the camera acts like a weapon. It masterfully builds tension for the film’s first half, hinting that something is coming, but never letting on what exactly that something is.
Every performance is a standout, but Michael B. Jordan steals the show as twins, Smoke and Stack. Each twin is unique, and watching them on screen together, it’s easy to forget they’re played by the same person. Early on, there’s a scene of the brothers simply smoking a cigarette and passing it back and forth. It’s small asides like this that are so impressive in the way they were shot and the amount of characterization conveyed in simple actions.
The film is also driven by an incredible soundtrack that is central to the film’s plot. Sammie’s guitar takes us on a journey that shows his character growth as much as any piece of dialogue. There is a moment where he plays at the juke joint and his music transcends the past and future of his people, and it might be one of the best shots I have seen in a long time. It’s a long shot full of anachronistic music, incredible choreography, and an encompassing vibe that sucks you straight in.
In short, Sinners is much more than a horror film. Its characters are developed through action, but are so distinct and memorable that I’ll be thinking about them for a long time. It’s not often that I want to rush back to a theater to see a movie again, but Sinners may be about to join that club. I can’t remember the last time a horror film cultivated a vibe this strong. For those afraid that Sinners might be too frightening, the jump scares are few and the film mostly relies on menace and action for its horror. If you can stomach some vampire violence, I highly recommend it. I also recommend seeing it in theaters, as the encompassing sound and bright vistas on the big screen are something else.
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Have you seen Sinners? Let me know what you think in the comments.
Ashton Macaulay 