Sinners (2025) Review
Panel’s Chamber of Chills #4
Today’s review covers Ryan Coogler’s surprise 2025 hit, Sinners. I did something I rarely do these days, I went to the theater to see it in IMAX. It takes a pretty convincing marketing campaign to get me to spend money at the movies, so my expectations were sky high going in.
Sinners is an interesting hybrid—part western, part pulp, part horror, part blaxploitation. It’s rare to see a film blend so many genres this confidently. Horror fans don’t get many genuinely good movies anymore (though that seems to be improving), and we definitely don’t get many strong vampire flicks. Sinners feels like a throwback to an older era of horror filmmaking. If you’re a music lover (unlike me) you’ll especially appreciate the film’s blues-heavy soundtrack.
Behind the Camera
Coogler wrote and directed Sinners himself, sparking a bidding war between Universal and Warner Bros., with Warner ultimately taking the project. It sounds like he was given full creative control and after multiple hits, he’s earned that.
Set in the Depression-era South, Sinners leans heavily into racial themes, for better or worse. It’s certainly ambitious, and Coogler deserves credit for making something that doesn’t feel like anything else in theaters right now. With a nearly $100 million budget, that’s rare for an R-rated horror film. Usually, I like my horror cheap and dirty, but I’ll give Coogler this: he swung big.
Sights & Sounds
Visually, the film is stunning. Coogler might be hitting his stride here. If you told me Sinners was directed by David Lean or John Ford, I’d believe you. The cinematography is breathtaking, and the production design sets, costumes, vintage cars makes it a fully immersive experience.
The movie almost plays like two separate films: the first half a dusty western, the second half a full-blown horror descent. The tonal shift is bold, but it works more often than not. The blues soundtrack is excellent, and there’s one standout scene that pays homage to centuries of Black music that’s visually impressive, though a bit jarring. Still, it’s something I’ve never quite seen in a horror movie before.
The Cast
Coogler once again teams up with his go-to star, Michael B. Jordan (no, not that Michael Jordan), who plays dual roles as twin brothers. He’s terrific in both parts. Hailee Steinfeld plays one brother’s love interest and pretty much steals every scene she’s in.
Jack O’Connell is an Irish actor I wasn’t familiar with but plays the main vampire, and he’s excellent. The supporting cast is loaded with great character actors who bring a lot of life to the world. Between the cast and the music, these are the film’s strongest elements.
The Story
Okay, here’s where Sinners loses me a little and I know I’m in the minority on this. Despite the glowing reviews, I found the story to be a high-budget remake of From Dusk Till Dawn.
Now, Coogler has admitted Tarantino’s influence, but I was hoping for something more original. It’s not that Sinners is bad, it’s just familiar. The parallels are hard to miss:
- Two brothers drifting into town
- First half crime drama, second half horror film
- A hard left turn into vampires halfway through
There’s more, but I’ll stop before I spoil anything.
Final Thoughts
In general, I enjoyed Sinners, but the derivative story dulled my excitement. The visuals, acting, and direction are all top-notch, but it never shakes that feeling of déjà vu. Think From Dusk Till Dawn with a prestige polish.
It’s still worth watching especially now that it’s streaming on HBO Max. And look; I get why audiences and critics loved it. But for me, it didn’t live up to the hype.
Final Verdict: 2.5 out of 5 tombstones.
Image Credits: © Warner Bros. Pictures. Promotional stills used under fair use for review and commentary.