The devil went down to Georgia, lookin’ for a soul to steal and willin’ to make a deal. Instead, the devil went down to Mississippi, fallin’ from the sky as a bright hot ball of flames, and leaving a scar.
“Sinners” premiered April 18 and has become an international hit, earning more than $367 million worldwide. The film was directed by Ryan Coogler and stars Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld as one of the main couples, Stack and Mary. “Sinners” follows two brothers, Smoke and Stack, mobsters in Chicago who return to their hometown in Mississippi to open a juke joint.
What sets “Sinners” apart from other horror movies is the depth and complexity of the movie. I could spend a hundred years watching and analyzing this movie; that’s how much symbolism there is. It covers themes of colonization, Black culture, love, and more. Not only does it cover colonization of Black culture, but it also nods at colonization of the Irish by the British. And it does this through vampirism!
Remmick, the antagonist, is an Irish vampire who talks of wanting to see his people again, and sings the popular song “Rocky Road to Dublin.” His character is an example of a person using racism to his benefit, and shows how widespread colonialism is.
Beyond this theme, music also plays a huge part. Most of the songs are blues and Black gospel themed, such as “Mound Bayou/Proper Black Folks” and “Pale, Pale Moon.” The music adds incredible depth and complexity to an already symbolic film.
“Sinners” has rewired my brain in the best way possible and it has become one of my favorite movies. It is so worth your time, even if you aren’t the biggest fan of horror movies. It is a 5 out of 5 Big Oles.
