By Xa’riyah Mitchell ’25
Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is the perfect mix of horror and supernatural activity. But this movie is not your typical horror movie; it’s way more than creepy, unsettling scenes and vampires. It’s a story that sits with you after the movie and makes you want to go on an hour-long loophole on everything you could have missed. Set in the 1930s in the American South, “Sinners” mixes old-school horror with real history, music, and a powerful message about race, faith, and identity. Watching feels like peeling back years and layers of a story that’s about way more than supernatural monsters.
“Sinners” follows twin brothers Stack and Smoke, played by Michael B. Jordan, and their cousin Sammy, played by Miles Caton, who return to their hometown in Mississippi. They’re trying to move forward with their lives and their past sins, hoping to bring Black people together with their juke joint where Sammy plays his music. But when strange things start happening and a darkness in the community is rising, the night takes an unexpected turn. They end up having to face their past and what’s haunting them. But what’s powerful is that the evil isn’t just the vampires who came to the town. It’s deeper. It’s connected to history, religion, and racism.
One of the best parts of “Sinners” is its symbolism. For example, when Sammy plays his songs, it doesn’t just sound good, it brings spirits to life. That’s because in African American culture, music is more than just sound. It’s spiritual. A scene that stood out to me the most in this movie was when Sammy introduces himself to the people in the juke joint and sings them a song. As he goes along, you can see how more powerful and complex the scene gets the more he gets into the soul of his history. You see years and years and generations of black people and their culture dancing with Sammy and the rest of the people in the juke joint that night. It connects you with the ancestors and something bigger than just yourself; you see how impactful music is in the black culture. When Sammy plays it’s like he’s opening the door to another world. It’s beautiful and powerful at the same time.
Micheal B Jordan plays both brothers and he does it so well you forget that they are played by the same actor. One brother is more grounded and spiritual, while the other is angry and wants revenge. You can feel their pain through the movie and it makes it way more emotional than I overall expected. Another standout character is Annie, a woman who knows the old ways and guides them. Annie also is a love interest of Smoke. She’s like the heart of the story.
The music of “Sinners” is next level and so catchy. There’s gospel, jazz, and hip-hop all explored in this movie, but what’s amazing is how the music tells a part of the story. It’s not just background noise, it’s how the characters express their souls. It’s like they are communicating without even speaking.
“Sinners” is a reminder on why people still love film. It’s bold, emotional, beautiful and packed with a lot of heart. Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan has teamed up before (Creed, Fruitvale Station, Black Panther) but this might be the most powerful work yet. Their creative chemistry is unreal and you can feel they care about telling this story right. This movie isn’t just a scary movie, it’s a powerful story about what it means to be Black in America, how history still affects us, and how we can reconnect with our roots. Yes, there’s blood and monsters but the real from forgetting who we are and where we come from. I left the movie theater thinking about my own roots, my culture, and the power of belief.
If you’re into movies that make you feel and think something deeper, “Sinners” is for you. It’s not just about surviving the night, it’s about waking up to the truth.
The Raider Press 