«Sinners,» in theaters April 18, is an inventive new take on vampires incorporating music and history, from writer/director Ryan Coogler.
10 Sinners, in theaters April 18, reinvigorates the vampire genre with writer-director Ryan Coogler’s distinct vision. The film includes the staples of the genre with fun twists, and gives the movie a literal heartbeat via authentic and anachronistic music.
Michael B. Jordan plays the dual roles of Smoke and Stack, twin brothers who buy a farmhouse space in Clarksdale, Miss., in 1932 and open a juke joint for the community. The pair recruit local musicians like Slim (Delroy Lindo) to perform, and to reconnect with their former lovers Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) and Annie (Wunmi Mosaku).
Meanwhile, the sinister Remmick (Jack O’Connell) shows up at Bert (Peter Dreimanis) and Joan’s (Lola Kirke) ranch and is recovering from burns he claims are from an attack. Visiting Navajos warn Joan about the stranger, but when the trio show up to Club Juke on opening night it is clear Remmick has turned the ranchers into vampires.
Remmick, Bert and Joan offer to play music for Smoke and Stack, who refuse for artistic and social reasons. Pretty soon, however, they and their guests are fending off the trio and a growing horde of vampires.
Coogler’s story has parallels with vampire classic From Dusk Till Dawn, though his unique touches make Sinners as distinct as Dusk was in 1996. Dusk advertised the vampires but made viewers wait until halfway through a crime caper to reveal them.
The vampires attack at the midway point of Sinners too, though it is not quite as abrupt a turn. The scenes between Remmick and Bert and Joan set up their impending arrival at Club Juke.
The music gives Sinners an original take on vampires. Not only do blues and hip hop score the films but the vampires even do an Irish jig, with their now undead victims joining the chorus.
