With every modern vampire screen entertainment, there’s a sad expectation for me: impractical decision making, inconsistent rules of vampirism, and the ironic romanticization of the murderous vampires, who aren’t quite the villains. “Sinners” exceeded these expectations, capturing realism and fantasy in a historically based timeline like I have never seen before.

The film, set in 1932, is prompted when a pair of twins, both played by Michael B. Jordan, return from Chicago to their Southern hometown to establish a juke joint (a historic, unofficial night club for African Americans). Except on this night, they encounter vampires. Through the director Ryan Coogler’s history of films, including “Fruitvale Station,” “Black Panther,” and “Creed,” I entered the theater with high expectations and little knowledge of the plot. A piece commenting on race, the representation of Black culture, incredible cinematography, and iconic lines did not shock me, coming from this director. Yet, a historical fantasy piece was a surprise.

Now that I’ve mentioned “history” and “historic” a couple of times, don’t put this film in a box with another tragic piece of the ‘30s. Although the supernatural content of the movie is prefaced with references to the Ku Klux Klan, Jim Crow laws, and lynching within the build-up, the movie shows a clear intent of empowerment, representation, and admiration for primarily Black culture. It brought vibrant color, music, and light to a time of despair. Even then, I was able to notice the representation of Native American, Asian, and Irish cultures. Coogler’s mixing of both fantasy and truth brought unique value to the movie in terms of entertainment and take away–a strong reason for my admiration. 

With major themes of music and Christianity/spirituality emphasized in the roots of Black history, Coogler manages to show the evolution of Black music and the strength of spirituality in unison.

In the world of fantasy, characters stay true to original vampire ideals: burning in the sun, needing invitations to enter homes, immortality, death by wooden stakes to the heart, with weakness to garlic and holy water. This consistency aligns with other supernatural movies. On the other hand, the vampire plot stood out to me as a modern depiction that doesn’t heroize vampires or create a plot fixated on a love story. I also found an interesting indirect adaptation of witches with Hoodoo Practitioners. With slight research, I found a deep connection to Black culture and strong symbolism with Hoodoo being a force against vampires. Again, adding another layer of realism as Hoodoo is still practiced and is scattered throughout history.

Walking into the theater with strong expectations, I walked out satisfied. Only one complaint comes to mind: the movie’s lengthy opening. I’m not a fan of two-plus-hour movies, and originally felt the climax and conclusion could’ve been done without some information from the beginning. Yet even then, so intrigued by the movie, I’ve done more and more research, and the movie’s beginning symbolism is still unfolding for me, so the need is now understood. You may feel the same if not perceptive to detail or intrigued by symbolism.

Ultimately, “Sinners” isn’t just another devastating historical piece, nor any other vampire depiction. See this movie and all it brings to the table. See the color, see the symbols, and see the message.

4.7/5 Paws