Sinners - A Review

“You better pick poor robin clean

Pick poor robin clean

I picked his head, I picked his feet

(Would have) I picked his body, but it wasn’t fit to eat

You’d better pick poor robin clean

Pick poor robin clean

But I’ll be satisfied having your family.”

Luke Jordan ‘Pick Poor Robin Clean’ - Recorded 18 August 1927

Just returned from a Saturday matinee of Ryan Coogler’s new film, Sinners, and I’ve got some feelings. Firstly, I have to admit there wasn’t much anticipation for Sinners, because it runs almost 2 ½ hours, and aside from Black Panther (2018), I’m not very familiar with Coogler’s work, nor that of lead actor Michael B. Jordan. Nor is my favorite thing sitting in a packed theater full of random strangers, especially for 2 ½ hours.

However, thankfully, I’m glad I witnessed Sinners on the big screen, if for no other reason than a really excellent soundtrack. Don’t get me wrong, Sinners has a lot of good things going for it, not the least of which being a great performance by Jordan, who inexplicably takes on the duel roles of a pair of twin brothers (Smoke & Stack). Yet, it was the soundtrack that was front and center, and on point for this film, elevating it to an almost spiritual level of cinema (particularly around the halfway point).

Despite the long run time, the film is filled with enough charm, humor, horror, action and gore, to keep it at a brisk pace, culminating in a blood soaked finale. Once again, the soundtrack serves as a cohesive focal point here, and really makes it a theater worthy experience. I can’t stress enough how important the music is for this movie!

Taking place in 1932 Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, the film finds WWI veterans “The Smokestack Brothers”, returning from Chicago after seven years of wheeling, dealing, and questionable business practices. They decide to open a juke joint, and run into old romances that help provide background narrative, while enlisting their young cousin, Sammie, to play the blues on opening night of the new venue.

Race relations in the south during the 1930’s play a huge role throughout this entire film, however it doesn’t give the impression of so-called forced “wokeness”, but only goes to highlight certain realities of this time period in American history. If that’s a deal breaker for you, you probably won’t want to watch Sinners. There isn’t a single white person in this movie that isn’t an irredeemable piece of dogsh*t, Klansman, or (spoiler alert)… A Vampire!

And that ladies and gentlemen, was the entire reason I wanted to see this film in the first place. It’s being dubbed as “one of the best horror films of the year!”, and features vampires and the supernatural. It definitely delivers on being the odd love child of Oh, Brother Were Art Thou? (2000), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), with a pinch of Near Dark (1987). If that bizarre chimera of influences sounds appealing, then I’d recommend checking Sinners out in a theater (or, at least checking it out at some point).

Coogler also stated in a recent interview that the original Twilight Zone is his favorite television series, and the episode The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank (1962) was an influence on how the script came about.

It has heart, soul, features and excellent soundtrack, has some cool mid (and after) credit scenes, and I had absolutely no idea Hailee Steinfeld featured in a main role for this. Solid performances, decent horror and gore, interesting concept and execution. But, maybe next time have at least 1 white person that isn’t an absolute piece of flaming garbage?

Of course, I’m sure there is some social commentary to be had here in the fact that Sinners was released on Easter weekend, but I’ll let viewers decide on those connections for themselves. This April 20^th also serves as the 113^th anniversary of Bram Stoker’s death, so that’s fitting as well. For more on the subject of Vampires, please be sure to check out our HORROR TO CULTURE podcast, episode #19, dedicated to the subject HERE.

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Michael A. Dyer is the host of the HORROR TO CULTURE podcast, vidcast, and website.