Sinners — A Review.

13th June, 2025: Sinners.

The Introduction.

What with one thing and another … ?

There’s things I’ve not done for some time.

Made mad passionate love, for example.

Climbed a mountainous hill in search of washing powder, as another.

Or even … had a shower.

No, I tell a lie: I had one of those, this morning!

But I’m burbling, aren’t I … ?

There’s a few things I haven’t done.

One of those?

Is watch a movie.

The last one I saw was Snow White.

So, having a little time on my hands?

I felt something different could be good.

The trailer that caught my eye?

Was for a film called Sinners.

I’m hoping two things, right now.

One?

That Sinners will hold my attention.

And two?

If it does, I’ll have this review finished by tomorrow night … 

~≈🧛🏻‍♂️≈~

14th June, 2025.

Part One: The Summary.

Sinners opens with the usual studio ident clips: over the sound of a slide guitar slowing being tuned.

Then shifts: to an animation that tells us how some are so musically gifted that they can bring spirits — good and bad — into the world.

And how this gifted musicians were given different names by medieval Irish, the Choctaw and by the peoples of West Africa.

The scene shifts again: to show us twins, Smoke and Stack Moore (Michael B. Jordan) moving back to the family home in Clarksdale, after many years working for the Chicago Mob.

Their plan … ?

Is to open a juke joint with the money they’ve earned, along the way.

And, once they’ve bought a ramshackle old sawmill from a white farmer who swears the Klan’s long since gone … ?

Recruit some help: starting with their cousin, ‘Preacher Boy’ Sammie Moore (Miles Caton), who’s a gifted guitarist.

And, along side various others inductees?

They manage to open the bar: to a riot of music, cheap beer, dubious wine, illicit sex … and a roulette wheel tucked away in a back room.

That opening … ?

Sees Preacher Boy Sammie perform: and summoning the spirits of the past and the future.

Little realising, as he does, that his guitar playing has summoned something far nastier …

~≈🧛🏻‍♂️≈~

Part Two: Thoughts.

So … what did I make of Sinners?

What did I make of a gothic vampire flick set in the Deep South of the 1930s … ?

A movie that smelt of magnolias and saw bodies hanging from the poplars?

Out side of any pretensions?

What I saw last night was a very good film.

The cast — Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton and Wunmi Mosaku in particular — were excellent.

As was Jack O’Connell, as Remmick, the vampire leader.

The design of the vampires?   Human-seeming, but with points of light in their eyes?

Was novel: that, and the group being presented as a cult-like group, innovative.

And very different to the animalistic pack we see in 30 Days of Night.

The singing … ?   And music … ?

Is unique: and adds to the atmosphere.

Especially an early scene, where Preacher Boy performance summons past and future ghosts: and a later one where Remmick leads his clan in the most menacing folk song I’ve heard.

My one complaint … ?

Is the pacing of Sinners.

I’m getting older: and less patient and less tolerant of long movies, as I age.

The fact I’ve had a provisional diagnosis of ADHD, of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Probably doesn’t help.

So, for whatever reason?

I found the slow pace of Sinners added to the film’s atmosphere … but also unhelpful.

It left me looking at my clock, wondering when a scene I found slow would be over, and when we’d get to some action.

And sorely tempted, at points, to hit the Fast Forward button.

That possibly means a lot …

~≈🧛🏻‍♂️≈~

Part Three: Final Thoughts.

So … what DID I make of Sinners?

Of a movie I found slow paced?

I have to say: yes, Sinners is something I found slow, at times.

But … ?

Despite the pace, Sinners is something I found moodily atmospheric, musical … and very watchable.

Whether I’d watch Sinners again?

I don’t know.

Is Sinners going to win Oscars?

Again, I don’t know: that’s not for me to decide.

All I can say?

Is that Sinners is moody, atmospheric, not necessarily for everyone …

But still very enjoyable.

Sinners.

★★☆☆