By Steve Crum

The year is 1932. Returning to their Mississippi hometown of Clarksdale after seven years of working for Al Capone in Chicago are twin brothers Elijah and Elias Moore (aka the “Smokestack Twins”), terrifically played by Michael B. Jordan. Both “Smoke” and “Stack” have big plans. So begins Director/Writer/Producer Ryan Coogler’s horror film, Sinners. It could also be labeled a musical horror film, since the story includes fine sequences of dance, blues, folk and gospel. Specifically, the brothers plan to open a juke joint on the outskirts of town.

The first half of the film follows their quest of securing food, booze, staff and musicians for opening night. After they discover the talented guitarist and singer Sammie Moore (their cousin) and bring him onboard, they convince a local blues legend/harmonica player Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) to join.

Sammie, a mainstay of the story, is brilliantly played by Miles Caton.

Along the way, however, things take violent turns via white racists and local thieves. Factor in Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), a local who is also Smoke’s estranged wife. It so happens she is also an evil spirit practitioner. Is Sinners a horror movie or not? 

Make no mistake, it is. Without divulging too much more, consider these teasers: Native American police search for a dangerous madman; a trio of white folksingers wants to be part of the nightclub’s entertainment; and then there is that mysterious grave. 

But the focus of the second half of the movie is on an outbreak of bloodthirsty souls—really lack of souls—on the attack. Shades of Night of the Living Dead and From Dusk till Dawn!

Sinners succeeds big time on a visceral level. Gross plus. 

Fans of TV’s The Walking Dead should particularly enjoy it. After all, it seems vampires and zombies are blood brothers and sisters in their cravings. 2010’s Let Me In was the first time I heard of vampires having to be invited into a domicile to wreak their toothy rage. (In 1931, Bela Lugosi’s Dracula just walked or flew in.) 

Ryan Coogler’s major influence seems to be the great work of Jordan Peele, whose horror films (Get Out; Nope; more) are more nuanced and suspenseful than Sinners. But Coogler has a sharp eye for cinematography (via the talented Autumn Durald Arkapaw) and music (Ludwig Göransson). 

Be assured that the film’s 138-minutes concludes with a simple resolution. I lie. Just stay with the happenings until the credit roll…and through the credits to the very end. Surprise. 

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GRADE on an A-F Scale: B+