Spoiler Warning: This piece discusses major plot points from ‘Sinners’
Plunging straight into the sweltering heat of 1932 Mississippi, ‘Sinners’ delivers a bold and unforgettable film that exposes the horrors of the supernatural alongside the brutal realities of history. Vampires may lurk in the shadows, but this is far from your typical bloodsucking tale – it’s a fearless exploration of identity, survival, and the relentless grip of Jim Crow.
Reuniting director Ryan Coogler with Michael B. Jordan (in a mesmerising dual role), ‘Sinners’ weaves horror, gritty drama, and cultural allegory into a powerful narrative that isn’t afraid to get bloody.
Now streaming on HBO Max, we went ahead and watched it – and trust us, it doesn’t hold back.
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Jim Crow South Weaves A Dark Thread Through ‘Sinners’
In the shadow of tangled family ties, unyielding obligations, and the ever-looming threat of the KKK, formidable twins Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) return home to open their own juke joint after an extended stint in Chicago – enlisting the help of their musically gifted cousin, ‘Preacher Boy’ Sammie (Miles Caton), and the support of their local community. Their fragile world is upended when a sinister presence creeps into the night, forcing them to confront not only literal bloodsuckers but also the figurative ones – as systemic racism and exploitation threaten to drain their culture dry.
At the heart of this darkness is Remmick (Jack O’Connell), an ancient Irish vampire with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp claws. His old-world charm barely conceals the terrifying predator beneath. Even his twangy, haunting rendition of a folk tune can’t mask the hypnotic menace he exudes – an aura that erupts into chaos after the twins deny him entry to their club. Remmick’s dark offer of immortality is a twisted bargain: freedom from the brutal persecution of a racist world, at the cost of their souls.
What sets ‘Sinner’ apart isn’t just the fangs or the fog – it’s the way it digs into history without flinching. Through confident cinematic language, the film speaks volumes about the complex truths of race and the Southern diaspora, conveyed through rich, layered visual storytelling. The setting of 1930s Mississippi pulses like a living character itself: cotton fields stretched wide, the juke joint alive with blues and jazz, the humid air thick with both menace and magic. ‘Sinners’ doesn’t shy away from the raw realities of the Jim Crow South – it breathes them to life, as palpable and inescapable as the supernatural threats closing in on every character.
Soul & Sound Reach Perfect Harmony
Pulling double duty as the Smoke/Stack twins, Michael B. Jordan delivers two fully realised characters without a hint of gimmick – performances so compelling you forget there’s only one of him. Pragmatic and protective, Smoke is the steady yin to Stack’s charismatic yang. By giving each brother a distinct rhythm, temperament, and emotional edge, Jordan’s work becomes more than just a showcase of acting chops (and muscles) – it forms the emotional core that anchors ‘Sinners’ as it plunges into the supernatural.
The supporting cast shines just as brightly – not only through performance but in the rich cultural fabric they weave into the world of ‘Sinners.’ Wunmi Mosaku’s Annie is a standout, layered with vulnerability, strength, and agency – transforming what could’ve been a sidelined role into one of the film’s emotional pillars. Hailee Steinfeld’s Mary brings crucial nuance to the story’s exploration of race and identity, her white-passing mixed-race experience adding dimension to the Jim Crow South’s already fraught landscape. Miles Caton makes a soulful feature debut as ‘Preacher Boy,’ his quiet presence grounding the narrative while his music electrifies the spectacle and stakes. Meanwhile, the Mississippi Delta Chinese family – Grace, Bo, and Lisa – adds depth to the kinship shared among marginalised communities and highlights the complex realities of systemic racism during the era.
With the music of ‘Sinners’ driving Remmick’s vampiric siege, each note takes on a life of its own. The juke joint scenes crackle with energy, Caton’s crooning guiding you through hypnotic sequences where generations converge in a vivid visual symphony. Paired with immersive cinematography that pulls you into a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly, you begin to believe in the power of Preacher Boy’s reality-bending musical gift – and understand why Remmick seeks to harness it for his own dark designs.
Music, Legacy, & The Price Of Liberation
Remmick’s hunger runs deeper than bloodlust. His true desire is Preacher Boy’s music, which he believes holds the power to summon the spirits of his long-lost community. His Irish identity resonates deeply with the film’s themes, drawing historical parallels between Irish immigrants and Black Americans – two groups scarred by oppression and exclusion, though with sharply diverging outcomes.
Implied to be a victim of centuries-old English colonialism in Ireland, Remmick’s motivations twist beyond a simple thirst for power. He sees vampirism as salvation, presenting his bite as a perverse form of liberation from persecution. Yet with each new vampire violently absorbed into his hive mind – chillingly illustrated by a blood-soaked Irish jig – they become trapped in the same cycle of dehumanisation.
More than a conventional vampire tale, ‘Sinners’ wields the supernatural as a potent metaphor for legacy, identity, and the fight to reclaim one’s soul in a world that constantly tries to steal it. As Smoke, Annie, and their allies battle for survival, the vampires transcend their folkloric roles – becoming vessels for exploitation, cultural appropriation, and systemic racism. ‘Sinners’ delivers this sharp, biting allegory without sacrificing the full spectacle of horror and the grotesque.
And in the end? It’s not the vampires that take centre stage in the final reckoning – it’s the mortal men of the KKK, wielding hatred as deadly as any fang.
Sinners Opens A Deep Well Beyond The Credits
In today’s media landscape of spinoffs and sequels, ‘Sinners’ offers a deep well of potential for further storytelling. From the brief yet thrilling appearance of Choctaw vampire hunters to the untold origins of Smoke and Stack in Mississippi, Coogler and Jordan have already been flooded with questions about what comes next.
For now, just remember to stay through both the mid-and end-credit scenes. And while you’re there, take a moment to appreciate the extensive team of cultural consultants who helped shape ‘Sinners’ into a supernatural thriller with true soul.
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
