Sinners: A Deep and Spectacular Horror

This article contains little to no spoilers for Sinners by Ryan Coogler (2025)

Credit: All credits to Warner Bros

Sinners, the latest horror film by director Ryan Coogler, has taken the film industry by storm. Released in cinemas this April, the film has greatly exceeded box office expectations and is hailed as one of the highest-rated and most successful horror films of all time.

Starring Michael B. Jordan, the film is set in 1932 and follows a pair of twins returning to their hometown in Mississippi, USA, after several years away. The pair returns to start a business in their hometown, only to be faced with monsters alike, both human and non-human, as their antagonists.

Being heavily influenced by the blues era and genre, the film's score includes a multitude of songs and musicians, including the legendary Buddy Guy and newcomer Miles Caton, who makes his professional film and musical debut in the film at only 20-years-old.

Sinners combines the horror genre with masterful storytelling, including classic horror tropes such as jump scares and the supernatural, alongside eye-opening perspectives on the racial segregation and discrimination that many black communities faced in the early 1900s during the Jim Crow era. There is also exploration of family history, folklore, and the rich tapestry of music created by black communities across generations.

Although not a direct adaptation of a true event, Sinners is influenced by real life and Coogler’s own family history — it is believed that Coogler drew inspiration from his family history in the North American South and stories from his uncle about growing up in Mississippi. It is also rumored that the film may be inspired by Robert Johnson, another legendary blues musician, and his alleged pact with the devil in exchange for musical talent. However, these contentions have not been confirmed by Coogler.

Being the first horror film ever to receive an A grading from CinemaScore, and with both critic and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes being over 96%, it is clear that Sinners is already a standout that is shaping the horror genre, setting up the tone for future horror and original films to come.

Sinners is still showing in select theatres worldwide and should be coming out on digital format very soon. Be sure to give it a watch and don’t miss out on what some are calling it, “the film of the year.”

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