Aaron Ploof
The American novelist Mary Flannery O’Connor was known for her Southern Gothic morality tales. They mixed Christian Spirituality, moral values, and racial issues. From Dusk Till Dawn also explores faith. It is heavily more focused on the vampiric bloodshed in the latter half of the film, though. Take these two art pieces, throw some sweat, blues, and sex in, and you’ll have Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s latest film. This bloody mixture is damn fine!
The SmokeStack Twins
The film stars Michael B. Jordan as twins Stack and Smoke, two brothers who have returned from Chicago after trying their hand as gang members in the windy city. They’ve stolen from Al Capone’s crew and plan to purchase a saw mill to hold a few raucous parties. They round up a few of their former acquaintances to perform at the shindig: “Preacher Boy” guitar player, Sammie (Miles Caton), and harmonica player Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo). They don’t, however, prepare for a band of ragtag music-playing vampires demanding entry.
The first half of Coogler’s film largely focuses on character development, just like Rodriguez’s and Tarantino’s aforementioned classic. The opening sequence sets the mood by foreshadowing what will eventually occur and establishing its themes. A church features in the opening, setting up the exploration of faith and the consequences of sin. Sammie receives his nickname from his father’s profession in the Priesthood. Also, he finds conflict in whether he should follow in his footsteps of faith.
He is at risk of being influenced negatively by Stack and Smoke, who are not exactly reputable characters. Not only are they fleeing from a life of sin, but they’ve also left behind its after-effects as well, especially Stack. His relationship with ex-girlfriend Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) and the emotional damage she incurred by breaking his promise to return for her doesn’t paint the best picture. Smoke also has his past demons, his wife, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), frets for his and Stack’s safety, and they both grieve the passing of their infant daughter. But despite the brothers’ past, they know the negative influence they could have on Sammie. One scene in particular between Jordan and Caton demonstrates this brilliantly.
That’s something I can say about all the drama in the first half of Sinners. Although there were times when I felt a desire for action to begin, the character dynamics drew me in. Stack and Smoke are questionable in their ethics, yet they’re still sympathetic. The style captured me as well. Indeed, this film bleeds style. It’s especially good at setting a mood and sticking with it, bolstered by the sweet Southern blues.
When Sammie yanks out his enchanted guitar and plays for the entire clubhouse, you’ll find yourself entranced by his music. It’s powerful enough, as explained by the prologue of the film, to conjure the spirits of those who have passed and those who have yet to live. This sequence is both inventive and beautiful in its celebration of Black rap, blues, and hip-hop culture. Of course, the music also summons the villains of the film: the vampires.
Vampire Culture
In a time when racism ran even more rampant than today, the vampires stand for the symbolic allure of a culture and social group that is accepting of you no matter what your skin color is. The leader of the vampires, Remmick (Jack O’Connell), declares that their group has surpassed racism and the social ills that plague society. “Love” and “acceptance” drive them. The Ku Klux Klan is not a danger to their way of living. There are times throughout the film when viewers will wonder if our anti-heroes aren’t better off as vampires. Our heroes meet the same temptation. The vampires indeed share a hive mind. What one of them knows, they all know. And they all celebrate the same way, dancing and singing underneath the large, looming moon. Their movements are strange and hypnotic. They’re both frightening and entrancing.
Eventually, the characters do battle with the vampires. Wooden stakes, garlic, and silver bullets are, of course, in their arsenal. The resultant battle is full of intense moments, bolstered once again by an intense soundtrack. The shots are well placed, the special effects were well done, and it was easy to see what was happening in each frame. The blood and gore are what you would expect from a vampire flick, and they suit the mood just fine.
What comes after the vampire battle is especially interesting, specifically for where the film lands regarding faith, spirituality, and redemption. The film returns to where it jumped back from in the beginning during the church sequence, and a decision made by Sammie indicates a specific trait about his character and the film’s stance on religion. Yet, if you wait until the closing credits of the film, two codas are added that may change that view. I appreciated where this film ended up in its resulting conclusion, which rests in the middle between faith and secularism.
Sing The Blues
Sinners is a sweaty, sexy, violent film that also has a lot to say about how living a life of sin and greed can come back to haunt you. In exploring its themes, it also manages to tell a very tight and entertaining horror film. It weaves its story with complex, flawed characters who face the temptation to live life bereft of the social ills that plague society. Especially in its villains, it creates an allure to the dark side, to give up one’s own culture, and assimilate into what can seem, at first glance, to be a much better world.
I am white, and because of this, I assume the film does not speak to me as much as it would to someone of Black culture. If you’re Black, I would love to hear about how this film spoke to you.
There is frank sexuality found within this film. If you’re comfortable with that, as well as its violence, Sinners is a must-see.
Sinners is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
