The Third Space

A review of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners

There’s never a dull moment in Sinners. The story spans just one day, opening with Sammie staggering into his father’s church—his face carved, a broken guitar in hand. From there, the film rewinds to reveal how he got there.

Ryan Coogler dives deep into 1930s Black American culture, weaving together themes of racial discrimination, economic hardship, and creative resistance. At the heart of the film are the Smokestack twins—played by Michael B. Jordan. Though positioned as protagonists, they are no heroes. They’re looters and murderers, equally feared and admired by their community. After returning to Mississippi from Chicago with stolen money and bootleg beer, they set out to open a juke joint—a space for Black joy, music, and rebellion. They buy an abandoned sawmill from a white landowner and gather a scrappy crew to help launch the venue.

As the night builds—booze flowing, the music swelling, and the crowd dancing—the tension underneath begins to rise. The warnings of Sammie’s father, a preacher who senses darkness in the twins, prove true when an Irish vampire and two newly turned converts arrive, throwing the revelry into chaos.

As a horror lover, I came for the vampires—but they aren’t the central draw. What captivated me was how Coogler lets the supernatural take its time. The first hour of this two-hour film is slow-burn storytelling at its finest: rich character development, textured social commentary, and an unhurried exploration of the time and place. Nothing feels like filler. Every scene adds to the plot, building towards something bigger.

Sinners gave me a newfound love for Blues. The score stayed with me long after the film ended, finding its way into my playlist. Coogler treats music as more than ambiance—it’s a living, breathing force. It connects generations, stirs emotion, and has the power to summon the undead. Music is the catalyst that drives the plot forward. It represents cultural inheritance, stolen legacies, and the freedom that comes with creating something truly your own.

I went in expecting a fast-paced vampire slasher. What I got was a genre-defying story that blends horror with history, music, and meaning. Sinners doesn’t attempt to explain itself, it charges forward trusting the viewer to keep up. And by the end, it leaves you entertained, surprised, and even a little haunted.