Sinners is the horror movie everyone is talking about

I usually skip horror films, but for ‘Sinners’ I even made an exception. With an almost perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is already being called one of the best of the year. It's more than just a story about vampires, and that's mainly due to the cast and the soundtrack. We tell you everything about this must-see box office hit.

What you need to know about the storyline of Sinners

‘Sinners’ tells the story of the twin brothers Stack and Smoke; both played by Michael B. Jordan, but more on that later. They try to leave their tumultuous life in the gangs of Chicago behind and return to their hometown, the Mississippi Delta. There, racism makes life hard for the black community, but their church and the rising blues music keep them going. The brothers want to open a juke joint, a kind of bar. They enlist the help of their younger nephew Sammie (Miles Caton), a talented musician who will have to entertain the customers. Together, they manage to get the bar ready in time, and the opening night seems to be a great success. That changes when the mysterious Remmick (Jack O’Connell) wants to enter the bar. Remmick is looking for blood and has his sights set mainly on Sammie; although no one in the bar is safe, and danger seems to come from all sides.

Michael B. Jordan shines in two roles in Sinners

Director Ryan Coogler had already collaborated with Michael B. Jordan four times before starting ‘Sinners’. That must have gone well, because for this film he even cast him twice. Jordan plays both the role of Stack and that of Smoke. And yes, that also means he has quite a few scenes with himself. To prepare as well as possible, the actor spoke with real twins to learn about their childhood and their close bond. The scenes in which both characters are seen at the same time were filmed many times. For one take, Jordan played Stack, and for the other, Smoke. For the character he wasn't at that moment, a stand-in was used. To make it look like the actor was talking to himself, special recordings of his face were made that could later be placed over that of the stand-in in editing. There's quite a bit of complicated technique behind it; but believe me, during the film it really feels like you're watching a twin you've created.

The breakthrough of Miles Caton: why you want to remember this name

Besides Michael B. Jordan, there is another actor who leaves a big impression. The role of Sammie is played by Miles Caton, a name you probably haven't heard before; ‘Sinners’ is actually his first acting job ever. Caton has been active in music since he was young. At the age of 12, he made his TV debut in the American talent show ‘Little Big Shots’. After his successful performance, Caton continued with music, and in 2022 he was invited to go on tour with singer H.E.R.. When this tour was almost over, the singer advised him to audition for a film role. The description of the character at that time was still ‘a young boy playing guitar’; and although he couldn't do that, Caton decided to send in an audition tape anyway. Director Coogler was so impressed by his voice that he had to cast him. In just two months, Caton learned to play blues guitar, although it seems in the film as if he has never done anything else. Where it was initially his dream to become a musician, acting now also tastes like more. There's a good chance this won't be the last time we see Caton on the big screen.

Everything about the soundtrack of Sinners

Perhaps just as important as the characters and the story, is the music from the film. The blues songs hold great value for all the characters; and, without giving too much away, also play a role in why it ultimately all goes wrong. For the soundtrack, the director collaborated again with an old acquaintance. Composer Ludwig Göransson was brought in and was also an executive producer. The two had previously worked together on ‘Creed’, ‘Black Panther’, and ‘Fruitvale Station’. With 29 songs, the music is a big part of the film, yet it never feels like you're watching a musical. Thanks to the musical cast, several songs were sung by the actors themselves, especially by Miles Caton. Hailee Steinfeld, who plays the role of Mary, also wrote and sang a song for the film; a special experience for her. “As an actor and as a musician, given the large presence of music in this film, it was a dream to have the chance to contribute musically to this project.” The soundtrack is already available on Spotify and will later be released on vinyl due to its great success.

Will there be a sequel to Sinners?

After having worked on various film series, director Coogler wanted to try something different. ‘Sinners’ was meant to be a complete story that wouldn't need a sequel. Despite the rumors, it doesn't seem that a second part will come. However, the success of the film keeps fans hopeful that Coogler will change his mind. So it remains exciting for a while.

For those curious about this first and perhaps only part, ‘Sinners’ is now showing in theaters.

Source: Warner Bros