Member-only story
31 for 31
Sinners: A New Spin on the Vampire Film
Earlier this year, Ryan Coogler directed the film Sinners. It's a unique take on the vampire mythos and adds some undertones about race and discrimination. It also explores the power of music, a significant theme in the film.
Michael B. Jordan played twin brothers Elijah "Smoke" and Elias "Stack" Moore. Set in 1930s Mississippi, the brothers plan to open their own juke joint and begin recruiting musicians and liquor for the grand opening. They recruit their cousin and aspiring blues musician Sammie (Miles Caton) to play at the show. We also meet Stack's ex-lover, Mary (Hailee Steinfeld). Fieldworker Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller) joins on as a bouncer, and Smoke's wife, and Hoodoo practitioner, Annie (Wunmi Musaku), agrees to cook.
Meanwhile, Irish immigrant vampire Remmick (Jack O'Connell) is being chased by Choctaw vampire hunters. Remmick is an ancient vampire who lived in the pre-Christian era in Ireland. He takes shelter with a married Klansman couple, whom he then turns into vampires.
As the party gets going at the juke joint, Sammie begins his guitar playing. His music is so transcendent that it summons the spirits of musicians from the past and future. The music also attracts the vampires, as Remmick is a musician himself and recognizes the power in Sammie's playing.