Review: ‘Sinners’ is One of This Year’s Most Daring, Ambitious Films | FirstShowing.net

Review: ‘Sinners’ is One of This Year’s Most Daring, Ambitious Films

by Manuel São Bento
April 18, 2025

The summer movie season is just around the corner, which means the arrival of this year’s most anticipated blockbusters is imminent. From Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (opening May 23rd) and From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (opening June 6th), to Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps (opening July 25th), DC’s Superman (opening July 11th), Gareth Edwards’ Jurassic World: Rebirth (opening July 2nd), and the live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon (opening June 13th), 2025 has saved its biggest box office bets for the hottest months. Amidst this landscape dominated by franchises and familiar IPs, it’s a true breath of fresh air to see Sinners hitting theaters this week in April – a wholly original film of this caliber unquestionably deserves the spotlight. Written and directed by Ryan Coogler (director of Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Sinners is a bold cinematic venture that blends genres with a level of confidence rarely seen in today’s Hollywood.

Coogler’s Sinners transports viewers to the 1930s, into the heart of an African-American community scarred by deep historical and spiritual wounds. The story follows twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), who return to their dusty hometown to face the ghosts of their past. A vampiric threat begins to disrupt the fragile balance of the community, forcing everyone to confront not only the monsters lurking outside but the demons within.

Having already made a name for himself as a successful director with his previous movies, Ryan Coogler demonstrates with this a level of creative freedom that feels truly inspired. Blending visual spectacle with grounded human storytelling, the filmmaker delivers a story, at its core, examines racial oppression – using vampirism as a potent, incisive metaphor for systemic racism and inter-generational exploitation. The most violent scenes – with vampires literally draining the life out of their victims – transcend their shock value, becoming symbolic representations of how the system feeds off of the culture, art, and vitality of the Black community. Setting the narrative decades ago in the 1930s – the height of legalized “Jim Crow” segregation in the US – isn’t just historical context, but an ideological choice that enriches the movie’s thematic weight.

Within this culturally rich context, music plays a central role as well. Oscar-winner Ludwig Göransson, Coogler’s longtime collaborator since Creed, composes a breathtaking score that far exceeds its traditional function. Pulsating rhythms, stomps, claps, and meaningful lyrics create an almost ritualistic, hypnotic atmosphere. The music doesn’t just heighten emotions – it guides the story, amplifies tension, and elevates the most cathartic moments. It’s undoubtedly the movie’s most immersive element and a key reason that audiences will be glued to the screen from beginning to end.

When it comes to genre fusion, Sinners is one of the most ambitious experiences of the last decade. It’s at once a historical drama, supernatural thriller, and a loving homage to ’80s horror – all wrapped up with gangsters, vampires, stylized shootouts, vibrant musical numbers, buckets of blood, grotesque deaths, and even dashes of dark humor that never tip into absurdity. For me personally, the influence of classic horror in this is especially evident, both in the practical effects and the staging of the more graphic kills. Coogler doesn’t shy away from intense visuals, yet never loses sight of their emotional impact. The build-up to the explosive third act is masterfully executed – a slow-boiling pot that erupts into a chaotic, unforgettable climax. Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s camera follows this crescendo with elegance and energy, plunging the viewer into the madness without ever sacrificing visual clarity.

In addition, all of the performances are consistently strong, with the entire cast operating as a cohesive unit. Michael B. Jordan delivers another emotionally rich, intense performance, while co-star Hailee Steinfeld radiates charisma and screen presence. English actor Jack O’Connell plays the vampiric antagonist with unsettling restraint. But it’s newcomer Miles Canton who emerges as the breakout revelation starring as Sammie. His deep, soulful, blues-inflected voice is magnetic, but it’s his dramatic performance – subtle, authentic, deeply moving – that cements him as a talent to keep an eye on.

Thematically, Sinners also delves into spirituality and cultural identity, exploring ancestral practices and beliefs with care and complexity. The link between a spiritual past and a traumatic present is handled with rare sensitivity, offering a powerful reflection on how cultural and spiritual legacies shape the current reality of oppressed communities. Redemption is another core theme, embodied in the arc of the twin brothers as they seek reconciliation and personal transformation – an attempt to break cycles and right past sins.

Returning to Arkapaw’s cinematography, it’s worth highlighting the many long takes that glide through sets with grace and tension, following characters in both intimate moments and scenes of utter disarray. That said, not everything works perfectly: Sinners takes a while to find its footing, with the first half-hour spent introducing characters and dynamics that don’t always hold equal interest. Still, Coogler adjusts the pacing before it becomes a real issue. There are, however, a couple of narrative choices that feel rather frustrating. Opening the movie with what turns out to be one of the final scenes is a creative decision that rarely works – and unfortunately, that’s still the case here. Instead of building mystery, it undercuts the tension in key moments later on, particularly when it comes to the fate of one central character. The ending itself also struggles with some indecision, featuring multiple false stops that dilute the final impact.

Finally, the movie includes two post-credit scenes as well. The first is essential, addressing a couple of narrative gaps left by the climax. The second is a lighter moment – a small treat for fans of the film’s music and Canton’s mesmerizing voice.

Final Thoughts

Sinners is living proof that major studios can still produce artistic, provocative, and emotionally resonant movies. With Ryan Coogler’s confident and creatively daring direction, another unforgettable, award-worthy score, a strong ensemble cast, and a thematically rich exploration of racial oppression, cultural identity, and spirituality, this is undoubtedly one of the most impactful films of the year so far. An intense, memorable spectacle with a sharp social commentary – and one that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

Manuel’s Rating: A-
Follow Manuel on Twitter – @msbreviews / Or Letterboxd – @msbreviews

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