At first glance, the poster for Sinners immediately caught my attention as it showcased a stellar lineup of actors. My excitement grew even more when I noticed the name of its director — Ryan Coogler — best known for Black Panther and Creed.
Both of those films have earned their place among Hollywood’s most celebrated releases, so naturally, I walked into Sinners with high hopes. Still, I deliberately avoided reading anything about the film beforehand, wanting to experience it with no major expectations. My only real assumption was simple: with a director of Coogler’s caliber at the helm, the film surely wouldn’t disappoint.
Sinners opens with a voiceover explaining the power of music — and how, in ancient Irish, Native American, and West African cultures, it was believed to be able to summon evil spirits and paranormal forces. This backdrop is introduced through animated visuals, offering an early glimpse of the film’s premise.
However, for much of the movie (up to about halfway through), horror elements take a backseat. Instead, the story focuses on the personal struggles of the two main characters: twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Michael B. Jordan, a frequent favourite of Coogler’s.
Set in 1930s America, Sinners tells the story of Elijah and Elias — nicknamed Smoke and Stack — African-American twins who return to their hometown to chase a long-held dream of opening a nightclub. After serving in the army and amassing wealth through the criminal underworld of Chicago, they plan to invest their ill-gotten gains into building a legitimate business.
To help realize their dream, they turn to their younger cousin, Sammy — a preacher’s son who plays guitar and sings the blues, a genre thriving during that era. Sammy’s father constantly warns him that nightclub music leads to sin and vice — gateways to unseen evil — but Sammy, passionate about his craft, chooses to follow his musical dreams and joins his cousins.
From there, the film details the process of establishing the nightclub, from hiring musicians and staff to rallying the community. Smoke and Stack are determined to prove that African-Americans, too, can succeed as entrepreneurs.
It’s around this point that the horror elements finally emerge — albeit quite late into the story. Against the backdrop of 1930s America, racial tensions run high, and the Ku Klux Klan’s presence is introduced, representing the brutal threat faced by the Black community.
At first, it seemed like racial violence was going to be the main climax of the story. But then Sinners takes an unexpected turn: when one of the members of the Klan is revealed to be a vampire, bent on transforming society by turning everyone into immortal bloodsuckers.
In the film’s final act, chaos erupts as the newly-opened nightclub patrons are attacked and turned, leading to bloody battles between humans and vampires. The action is intense and visceral, but the sudden plot twist or genre shift from historical drama to full-blown supernatural horror can feel jarring — even, at times, unintentionally funny.
It may leave some viewers (like this writer) a tad confused, wondering what was the movie’s true anchor. Is it horrror, historical drama or maybe even light-comedy? Whatever the main genre is, the film is equipped with a witty script to fit the story.
That said, the performances displayed by the cast are outstanding across the board, helping ground the film even as its story veers into unexpected territory.
Ultimately, Sinners offers something different — a unique genre blend that might divide audiences. Some will appreciate the boldness of its storytelling; others might be left scratching their heads. Either way, it’s a film that invites strong reactions and personal interpretation.
Sinners is now playing in cinemas across Malaysia as of April 17, 2025.