Release Date: 18 April 2025
Directed By: Ryan Coogler
Runtime: 138 min
REVIEW
Filmed on location in Louisiana, SINNERS is a genre-bending, feast for the senses period piece set in Depression-era America.
Directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Creed) and starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as the Smoke/Stack twins, the film is a wonderfully original story, perfect if you’ve been waiting to sink your teeth into something a bit different instead of yet another remake or sequel.
If this describes you, then you’re not alone. With the sun just having set on SINNERS’ opening weekend, the film can boast it is the most successful original movie since Jordan Peele’s 2019 horror, Us. It’s such a great thing to see, and I hope the success of movies like this influences filmmakers to stretch their creative wings.
So, is SINNERS as good as the internet will have you believe? In short, definitely yes.
Blurring the lines between drama and horror, SINNERS devotes itself to developing all of its characters, even minor ones, and we’re granted fun little sneak peeks into all their lives.
By focusing on a specific 24-hour period, this deep dive draws us into their world, giving us time to care about the people on the screen. It’s sometimes funny, sometimes sexy, and sometimes a bit sad, but it’s all necessary to get you to the end result. This is storytelling done right, not just ‘wham, bam, thank you, ma’am horror.
Another unique feature setting SINNERS apart is the music. Right from the opening lines, it’s clear that music plays a huge role in the film. What I found surprising was how expertly the music was woven into the story, presented to us as if it were another character, not just a score.
Blues music is the obvious heavy hitter here, but there are so many intricate components and influences that it’s impossible to say one is more important than the other.
About midway through the film, we’re treated to an absolutely stunning piece of cinematography: the juke joint dancefloor. This scene transcends musical boundaries, seamlessly blending nearly every genre of music into a beautifully flowing sequence. This scene alone is worth the price of admission.
Many of the film’s songs were performed live on set, with newcomer Miles Caton (‘Sammie’) singing his heart out, along with the film’s big bad ‘Remmick’ getting a chance to stretch his chops. Even the legendary blues musician Buddy Guy makes an appearance in the film, serving as a wonderful homage to the genre.
I can sing a lot of praises about SINNERS, but there are a couple of issues that prevent me from giving 5 stars. One of its fatal flaws is the runtime. While I loved the character development and realism of the film, another pass through the editing line could have made things run a bit smoother. Lengthy scenes full of repetitive exposition simply don’t need to be there, and the time could have been better spent focusing on the film’s villains.
That brings me to the second flaw. After all the fantastic character development, the horror elements and lore felt rushed and a bit sloppy. It doesn’t really attain any originality in this area, feeling more like a cut-and-paste monster, and, honestly, it fell a bit flat for me here. I would have loved to see more time devoted to the villains, and in doing so, it would have elevated the film to something truly amazing.
But all in all, SINNERS is a great watch and deserves to be seen on the big screen. And seriously, that dancefloor scene has to be one of the best sequences in moviedom.
New Zealand Horror Fans 