Award-winning director Ryan Coogler has delivered what critics are calling his best work yet with the Southern horror film “Sinners.” The movie blends real-life horrors of Jim Crow Mississippi with supernatural elements, earning widespread acclaim including praise from fellow director Spike Lee. Coogler describes the project as his “hardest movie” to make, yet it’s becoming his most critically celebrated.
Horror Meets History in Coogler’s First Original Story
“Sinners” marks a significant milestone as Coogler’s first completely original screenplay. Set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi during the 1930s, the film follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by Michael B. Jordan, who return to their hometown from Chicago.
“I love horror cinema. People didn’t know that about me,” Coogler revealed in a recent interview. “I wanted to bring that element to this story and it just made sense the more I learned about blues music and its relationship with spirituality and with the supernatural.”
Michael B. Jordan Delivers Dual Performance in Fifth Collaboration with Coogler
The film continues the remarkable partnership between Coogler and Jordan, who has starred in all five of the director’s feature films. Jordan takes on the challenging task of playing twin brothers, a performance Coogler calls “the two best performances I’ve ever seen him give.”
“He’s an incredible guy… because he’s become one of those few people that can open a movie,” Coogler said of Jordan. “But also, he’s an incredibly kind man and that sh– is saying something.” Their creative brotherhood draws comparisons to the iconic partnership between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington from the late 1980s and 1990s.
Blues Music and Cultural Appropriation at the Center of the Horror Tale
At the heart of “Sinners” is newcomer Miles Caton playing Sammie Moore, a preacher’s kid with extraordinary blues singing talent. Through this character, Coogler explores themes of cultural ownership and appropriation that remain relevant today.
“It was more like an interrogation of the concept of genre when it comes to music. I found in my research that it’s a very racist invention — two people looking different singing the same song, all of a sudden it’s a different genre,” explained Coogler. “What happens when a white person sings the same song? What happens when the Black person sings a white song?”
Personal Connection Drives Coogler’s Mississippi Horror Story
The inspiration for “Sinners” came from a deeply personal place for the Oakland-born filmmaker. Coogler credits conversations with his grandmother’s brother-in-law, a World War II veteran from the Mississippi Delta, as a key influence.
“I used to sit up under him, listen to blues records and try to get stories about Mississippi out of him,” Coogler recalled. “He passed away in 2015, so while I was working on Creed, I found myself listening to the blues records with a different ear. And that was what got me to the core question of the movie.”
Star-Studded Cast Brings Intensity to Period Horror Film
Jordan’s dual performance anchors the film alongside an impressive ensemble including Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld, and veteran actor Delroy Lindo. Most of the story unfolds within a single day, primarily set in and around a juke joint in the Delta.
The film’s confined setting and period detail create a pressure-cooker atmosphere that amplifies both the supernatural horror elements and the very real terrors of racial violence. Critics have praised the cast’s chemistry and the authentic period atmosphere that makes the horror feel both historical and frighteningly timeless.
Genre-Blending Filmmaker Continues to Break New Ground
“Sinners” represents another leap for Coogler, who has consistently demonstrated versatility across genres. From his debut with the true story “Fruitvale Station” to reviving the “Rocky” franchise with “Creed” and revolutionizing superhero films with “Black Panther,” Coogler refuses to be pigeonholed.
“I love movies of all types, and I always admired filmmakers that can deliver different types of stories while maintaining themselves,” Coogler said. He cites influences like Spike Lee, Steven Soderbergh, Stanley Kubrick, and Steven Spielberg – directors known for working successfully across multiple genres.
Timely Release Amplifies Film’s Commentary on American History
The film arrives at a particularly significant moment when discussions about teaching American history, especially regarding race, have become politically charged. Though not planned, this timing gives “Sinners” additional resonance with audiences.
Coogler’s exploration of “the uglier and more unsavory parts of American history” through the horror genre offers a powerful reminder of stories that some would prefer to forget. The familiar struggle of Black Americans wanting “a space to be Black and free” resonates strongly with contemporary conversations about inclusion and representation.
Coogler Focuses on Storytelling Over Awards and Box Office
Despite his impressive track record of critical acclaim and commercial success, Coogler maintains he doesn’t feel pressure from external expectations. His focus remains squarely on the creative process rather than awards or box office numbers.
“I acknowledge that I can’t control any of that. All of that is outside of me,” Coogler explained. “The reality is like each time I’m focusing on, man, how do I make the best thing? And that is a f—ing difficult proposition every time.”
“Sinners” opens nationwide on April 25, 2025, and is already generating early award season buzz for its innovative blend of horror, historical drama, and cultural commentary.
