“Sinners” follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Over an hour into the runtime, “Sinners” functions solely as a drama. Focusing on music, prejudice, culture and religious themes, the film explores them through a well-rounded cast of characters. The flick abruptly swings in a different direction in its second half. By the time it reached its end, I found “Sinners” to be an incredibly unique approach to filmmaking.
A Strong Dramatic Foundation
If “Sinners” had remained a Southern period drama-thriller, it would’ve worked just as well. Virtually the entire first half of the film is absent of any horror elements. Despite this, I was wildly entertained. The first hour of “Sinners” works because of its commitment to the characters.
Michael B. Jordan as the twin brothers, Miles Caton as Sammy, Hailee Steinfeld as Mary and Wunmi Mosaku as Annie all get their time to shine. These five characters are the driving force of the movie’s emotional heart, and it doesn’t shy away from them. Because they are so well explored, the film is all the more impactful as it shifts gears into horror.
In a list of the best performances of 2025, Jordan has to be near the top. He goes all-in on the two roles, with dynamic acting all-around. His mannerisms, dialogue and physicality are all on full display in “Sinners.”
A Slow Burn With Wild Payoff
If you’re going into “Sinners” expecting pure horror mayhem… be patient. The slow burn approach pays off in a wildly chaotic and bloody conclusion.
Music is at the heart of “Sinners.” Outside of the blues that make you tap your feet, the score from Ludwig Göransson carries weight. The movie is able to transform the blues to fit into its climactic moments while also occasionally featuring bombastic sounds that bring a jolt of intensity.
The direction from Ryan Coogler is what makes “Sinners” the movie that it is. Specifically in the editing, “Sinners” could’ve been a drastically different film. With the variety of themes touched upon, this could’ve fallen apart in the editing room. Instead, a tonally inconsistent story feels anything but that. This creative approach to storytelling makes the film stand out.
Flawed But Fearless
At 137 minutes long, “Sinners” is overindulgent. Especially in the middle act, there are several sequences that dragged out or felt unnecessary. This briefly made me question the film’s widespread acclaim before it got me back on board.
While the genre-defying approach does make “Sinners” unique, it also makes it a frustrating watch at times. With the horror elements initially being so suppressed, it does feel slightly out of place when it moves in that direction. More buildup in the moment would’ve made the initial watch more enjoyable. While the end product fits together, there are bumps to get there.
“Sinners” is a great film because it is so many things in one. It explores the drama, horror and thriller genres – but never at the same time. It almost feels like two distinctly different movies, yet as a whole, it somehow works so well. With an array of phenomenal performances and a creatively told story, “Sinners” lives up to the hype. It’s not a masterpiece, but it is deservedly in the spotlight as a bold piece of cinema in 2025.
Rating: 4 out of 5
