I’ve been processing the movie SINNERS since I saw it Friday (opening day), and wanted to get my thoughts down in some meaningful way.
This movie is labeled as a horror film, but I don’t think that’s what it is, though it definitely has a lot of horror elements. I’m honestly not sure this film fits into one particular genre. It’s got a little of everything, and everything is good. Even the horror parts.
I truly had no thought of going to this movie when I saw the first preview. I love Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler - I’ve seen all their movie collaborations to date, but as I’m not a fan of horror movies, I dismissed it as something that wasn’t for me. But then I started reading about it, and hearing Ryan Coogler talk about it. I started hearing Black movie reviewers talk about it after early screenings - without spoilers, thank you! I saw some of the female leads interviewed on Kelly, and then I watched a ten-minute video of Ryan Coogler breaking down why he made the film the way he did, why it was best to see it in IMAX, and honestly, I was in complete awe and knew I had to see it. I have never seen anyone break down filmmaking like this before. Even if you never see the movie, you should watch this video. I learned so much!
I’m not normally an IMAX viewer as I typically prefer the Dolby theaters, and so I booked a ticket in Dolby. But then more and more people online said how important it is to see it in IMAX. So, I thought back to the above video then cancelled the Dolby and booked the IMAX. And y’all, it was absolutely worth it. I was fully engaged and felt like I was right there at times. Now I wish we had one of those massive IMAX theaters here or that I could easily hop on a plane to one of the few places where they exist, because I can only imagine how incredible it would be in one of those.
As I sat and thought about the film yesterday, these were the words that came to me - and I’ve filled in some additional thoughts after sitting with it all day. I was honestly struggling to form complete sentences yesterday morning. It’s that powerful and that good.
The music - The music is its own character in the film. It’s bluesy and raw, and weirdly Irish in places (I won’t spoil it for you). The score and the songs are fantastic and perfect.
That scene! - If you’ve seen the movie then you know. I can’t even explain it, nor do I want to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, I’ve never seen a scene like that in any movie ever. Just, wow.
The cinematography - From the landscapes of the cotton fields to the town to the places where all the action happens, this film is gorgeous. It’s beautifully filmed with rich color and atmosphere that you truly feel when you’re sitting in the theatre.
The story - I knew a tiny bit of the story going in just from what I’d read, but it was so much deeper than I expected. It’s intricate and simple at the same time, easing message after message into the scenes, but sometimes throwing them right in your face. You feel deeply for the people you’ve met throughout the movie, both the good and the not so good.
The history - There was so much history in this film! Black history, American Indian history, Asian history, and of course, ugly white history. I’ve done some research on the various aspects of history in America, but certainly don’t know everything. I love to learn, and this was another big lesson for me.
The beauty - Not only was the cinematography beautiful, but everything conveyed a certain beauty, from the contrasts of dirt roads and white cotton, to the bright red colors of a young girl’s dress and the sign on the door (not going to give you any spoilers here!). The costumes, the art, the symbolism, the connection of cultures, and again, the music…it was truly a work of art.
The heartbreak - Oh yes, there is heartbreak, but not of what I consider a stereotypical variety. Certainly the heartbreak (and horror) of slavery and racism is there, but it’s not the focus, even though you feel it throughout. The heartbreak of family and relationships, of what it looks like to be broken down after years of hatred, what it looks like to lose (not a spoiler, I promise!); those things hit deep.
The acting - Holy cow. Every single person who acted in this movie was outstanding. From the genius of Michael B. Jordan playing twins who are very different to the always exceptional Delroy Lindo in a phenomenal role. From the glorious Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li being some of the strongest women ever on screen, to Omar Miller, Yao and Jack O’Connell playing such unique and interesting characters. And finally, the newcomer with a voice made of absolute butter, Miles Caton. Just, wow. Truly a remarkable cast.
The brilliance - Ryan Coogler has made something special here. Brilliant is one of the few words I can come up with to truly describe it. It has everything you want from a movie, plus vampires!
The light - For a movie claiming to be horror, there is love and humor, joy and friendship. It surprised me in the best way.
The dark - I mean, it is a horror movie, so yeah, there’s definitely darkness, but it wasn’t scary in the traditional sense, at least not to me. There was evil, yes, but weirdly, the evil had really good music. Still, it’s very clear who is truly evil. And, spoiler alert, it’s not just the vampires.
The culture - This movie showcases so much Black culture, some aspects of which I’m sure I didn’t even understand since I myself am not a Black person. It was beautiful to see the Black culture celebrated, along with a bit of American Indian and Asian American culture, and while Ryan Coogler has done this in all of his movies, this was something special. This showed where some of that culture came from, where it’s rooted, and why it’s so important.
The love - Ryan Coogler knows how to write love into a story. And not just romantic love, though we see a lot of that, too, but love between family members, between friends, and between members of a community.
The friendship - There were so many different friendships on display in this film - male friendships, female friendships, old/young friendships, lifelong friendships and new friendships, too - and each was unique and beautiful.
The faith - There are elements of faith running through this story, including aspects of Christianity, hoodoo - a traditional African spiritual practice (new to me), and more. Ryan Coogler shows the importance of faith in the Black community, and how sometimes it’s the only thing a person has to hang onto.
The joy - Despite the darkness, there is so much joy in this film. Music, even the blues, can evoke joy, and that’s what I saw throughout the film. Even in sadness and heartbreak, there was joy. Even when all seemed lost, there was joy.
The faces - From the definitive features of each of Michael B. Jordan’s twins to the concerned face of a young girl watching her parents leave their store, to the glowing eyes of the vampires, to the hateful eyes of the klan members, to the smiles of people enjoying themselves in a glorious dance, the faces throughout this film left a big impression on me.
The smiles - Michael B. Jordan’s natural smile is a thing of beauty, but there was something special in one of his twin’s smiles. The way he grinned and said, “Nah, we cousins,” was so similar to his cocky, “Hey, Auntie,” in Black Panther. He wasn’t Michael B. Jordan either of those time. But that smile was still perfect. And Delroy Lindo’s smile, even through the rough times, was a thing of beauty. This man has been acting forever, and it feels like he was born to play this role. Maybe that’s why he seemed so happy.
The tears - I was not expecting to have tears in my eyes and running down my face at the end of this movie, but yeah, that happened. I felt for these characters and what they went through. Their pain was so real, and I ached for what they lost.
The genius - Ryan Coogler is an absolute genius. Everything about this movie was exceptional. Every member of the cast, including a wellness coordinator - something I happened other catch in the credits - was the exact right person for the job. Coogler knows how to assemble a team, and knows how to get the best out of every person. I mean hey, he got this non-horror movie girl to not only see this on opening day, but to see it in IMAX and get a ticket to see it again on Monday. Also in IMAX.
Look, this movie was not made for people like me, but I’m glad it’s available for me to watch. I am going again so that I can better understand some of the things I’ve now read more about, so I can learn more about Black history in this country. I know this movie isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve been on the fence, jump off and go. I promise it’s not a cover-your-eyes kind of film. I had one or two jump scares, and that was it. To be fair, I’ve watched a lot of vampire movies and TV shows, so I suppose I was a little immune to some of the that. But if nothing else, go to support Black films and Black filmmakers. We need more movies like this in the world - original content, thoughtful production, well-built characters, beauty in all shapes and sizes and colors.
Oh and also, Happy Easter! Yeah, the timing of this movie’s release is super interesting…
Okay...now I'm curious. ;-)
I also saw it on Friday with my sister. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, since horror movies aren't usually my thing.