Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ is the number one movie in America for the second week in a row, and we reviewed it! Raking in 45 million dollars its second week, just shy of 3 million dollars ($48 million) from its opening weekend, makes “Sinners” a historic, and rare hit horror film. Ryan Coogler not only directed this historic period piece, he wrote it. If you haven’t seen the film, do not read further, as there will be some spoilers, however, nothing too major that would hinder you from wanting to see it.
“Sinners” is a rare treat for movie goers, it’s history, comedy, drama, thrill, horror and action… a must see film.
‘Sinners’ Film Review: 5/5
Now-a-days it’s rare to purchase a movie ticket without knowing anything about the characters, the world, or the ending beforehand. Hollywood has made billions from repeating the stories we all have come to love. Even Ryan Coogler, with his interpretation of ‘Black Panther’, has given us a story many of us knew beforehand, but ‘Sinners’ is in a league of its own.
‘Sinners’ is unlike any other horror, and as a super-fan of horror films, I can honestly say, neither Wes Craven, John Carpenter, nor Quentin Tarantino, has what Coogler has… depth, and connection.
As ‘Sinners’ began, you are instantly pulled into the nature of the film with a southern banjo strumming poignantly in your ear. As we are introduced to Miles Caton (Preacher Boy), within the first few seconds of the film the viewer knows, something is about to go down, has gone down, and is about to…and then bam! Multiple jump-scares right off the bat! Brilliant!
The foreshadow helped to calm the viewer as it let us know very quickly, at least one survived. However, with the twists and turns to come, honestly, up until the very ending, you don’t know in what way did they survive. A perfect way to keep us hanging.
Miles Caton: “Preacher Boy”
Miles Caton, 20 years old, making his acting debut, took two months to learn Blues Guitar. Miles was known for being a baritone singer having gone viral several times for his voice. Miles played, Sammie ‘Preacher Boy’ Moore, and delivered a smashing performance that you couldn’t peel your eyes away from. Miles was perfectly southern, kind, manly, but innocent, physically strong, but full of faith. Miles Caton, ladies and gentlemen, is an actor.
Francine Maisler did an exceptional job casting ‘Sinners’, as each and every last actor did an award winning job. Usually when you watch films now-a-days, thanks in part to social media, you often see the actor acting, vs seeing the character first and allowing yourself to forget this person doesn’t exist, but with ‘Sinners’, you saw characters only!
Michael B. Jordan: “Smoke” & “Stack”
Michael B. Jordan crossed over to one of the greatest actors of our generation with his portrayal as “Smoke”, and “Stack” in ‘Sinners’. Playing twins is no easy feat, and Michael did so well that after a while you forget it’s the same person playing each character! Michael used every fiber of his acting muscles to level up and become, not only a twin, not only a criminal, a solider, a vampire, and of course, a heart throb.
Throughout the film you start to see that “Smoke” and “Stack” aren’t just thugs, or criminals, but products of trauma that lead to a life of mischief. At first, you feel very little for the twins, but by the middle of the film, you start to see they have hearts of gold, and truly want what’s best for each other, and the ones they love.
Wunmi Mosaku: “Annie”
Wunmi Mosaku captured our hearts in the HBO award winning, unnecessarily canceled, hit show, “Lovecraft Country”. Wunmi is a star who lights up the screen with every piece of her soul. It’s in her facial expression, her eyes, her body language, her idiosyncrasies, and her spirit! Casted perfectly as the wife of Smoke, a witch who, through southern roots, used herbs and medicines to heal her community…all but one. It was “Annie” who was the saving grace and the glue for the survival of everyone.
Michael and Wunmi played off of each other like lightening and rain. They were perfect. The energy of the two leaped off the screen as they shared intimate moments so much so, they brought tears to the eyes of the viewers.
Ryan Coogler: Writer/Director
Ryan made sure we knew he used analog film to shoot this movie. It was clear throughout that the use of film added a realism that you simply wouldn’t get using modern digital technology. Although several times you can, with a trained eye, catch moments of digital clarity in the face of Stack or Smoke when digitally dubbing and splicing, it was so quick that you could barely see it. The writing of the film was superb.
Ryan created a horror film whose foundation of horror wasn’t necessarily the vampires, but the idea that racist White people could also be vampires and colonize an undead army. There was layers of horror throughout the film, before you even get to the actual horror, which in returned made vampires seem like the least of the worry.
The symbolism in the film was incredible. Linking the power of Black Music to a sort of magic that transcends time, which in modern days we call a “classic”, with the idea that it can reach beyond, or in the future to find and gather power, was a brilliant nod to our greatness as Black people. The community feel of the plantation, the comedy, and the very realistic approach to “Stack” and “Smoke” being prodigal sons who return to save the day is all very familiar in the ways in which Black people tell our aural stories, but not so for us by us that other viewers wouldn’t understand.
Let’s be clear, ‘Sinners’, is a global film, not a Black film, and according to those international numbers…it’s clear.
While the film is truly a perfect 5 out of 5, there were a few things I wish were more apparent. I wish the clarity on how the White Vampire came to be was added. During the film we have no idea of where, or why he came. I also wish the Choctaw Vampire Hunters, native to the land, were more involved. I remember watching the film hoping they showed up to help, but they never did. I also wish the music that Miles possessed manifested as a power beyond just playing, that could potentially help them survive. Much like the silver or the root Annie gave to Smoke saved him from being bitten.
Sinners Part II:
Ryan Coogler told Ebony in regards to a possible sequel that he; ‘…wanted the [Sinners] to feel like a full meal: your appetizers, starters, entrees and desserts, [he] wanted all of it there… [he] wanted it to be a holistic and finished thing.” And while those are his thoughts about it, the fact remains, the film was left wide open for spin-offs, a 1930’s universe of sorts, and with the projected $300 million dollar return, the finances to go forth with… something!
Possible angles of a part II could be the origins of how the main vampire came to be, and how he landed in Mississippi. Considering the Choctaw Vampire Hunters are the ones who knew about, and held in captivity this vampire, Ryan could also explore the origins of the Choctaw hunters and how it all connects.
With actor Miles Caton being so young, and with an understanding that he survived well into old age, a story could be told about how he continues life knowing what he knows about vampires, and possibly manifests his magic as a Blues player with a gift. During the film Annie, played by Wunmi, mentioned multiple times about Hates. This opens this universe up to more creatures and brings to life a world living amongst the normals that Ryan can dive into to develop, what could even be a series, or a franchise of sorts.
Either way the material is there Ryan…take your time…we’ll wait…