Sinners

Last night, I watched Sinners, the new film written and directed by Ryan Coogler, and…

I think this may be my favourite film of 2025 so far. And I watch a LOT of films. This isn’t hyperbole, and I’m not alone - Sinners has opened to rave reviews and immense hype, all of which I somehow managed to avoid before seeing the film on its opening day. Additionally, despite having seen the trailer in the cinema SO many times over the past couple of months, the trailer itself was refreshingly (and nowadays, rarely) elusive, revealing very little about the plot, or even the specific themes of the film.

All of this meant I went into it with zero idea of what to expect, which is so often the best kind of viewing experience, and one which I almost don’t want to rob you of with my review… So, while there is so much to say about Sinners, I will keep this entirely spoiler-free. But, suffice it to say, the hype is justified.

Sinners tells the story of a preacher’s son, Sammy, (singer Miles Caton in his debut acting role), who dreams of being a musician in 1930’s Mississippi, and how his life is turned upside down by the return to town of his infamous cousins, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan). Though we are just four months into the year, this is the third film released in 2025 featuring an actor playing twin brothers - first Theo James in The Monkey, and, more recently, Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17. (though arguably, the Mickeys weren’t twins exactly, but you get the point). However, this was the first time I truly forgot I was only watching one actor portray both roles, and where I felt both characters' portrayals were equally strong. Michael B. Jordan is incredible, creating two utterly real, distinct characters with their own unique relationships, not just to other characters, but to the world they find themselves in.

The casting is fantastic across the board - Wunmi Mosaku is a standout, and, as a long-time fan of her work, (if you haven’t seen His House, you MUST), it is lovely to see her in such a prominent role, and her chemistry with Michael B. Jordan is palpable. Jack O’Connell is also brilliant, and again, it is so exciting to see an actor whose career British audiences have followed since Skins be part of such an incredible film.

In terms of the film’s themes, as stated before, I am hesitant to risk spoiling anything, but I will say this - Sinners is a difficult film to define, feeling like a period drama, action blockbuster and supernatural horror all rolled into one, with a healthy serving of comedy to boot. These genres never feel at odds with one another, and instead blend together to create something that feels incredibly original. One of my favourite things about Sinners was the juxtaposition of real-life horror with supernatural threats - horror as a genre is inherently political, often reflecting and commenting on society’s fears, and Coogler makes excellent use of the tools at his disposal.

While Sinners is set in 1930’s Mississippi, and does a wonderful job of immersing us in the period, sadly the characters' struggles against cultural theft, white saviourism and unabashed racist violence are still all too relevant today. The question is raised, who is harder to defeat, demons or humans?

Another theme not revealed in the trailer was the importance of music to Sinners. Music, in various forms, is almost a character in itself. One of the most impressive sequences in the film portrays the transcendent, spiritual power of music and musicians in a scene sure to be praised for years to come. The vocal performances from Miles Caton, Jayme Lawson and Jack O’Connell are particularly powerful, and, as a musical theatre girlie, the musical sequences were a real treat, but for any musical-haters out there, fear not - this is most definitely not your classic movie musical.

The world of Sinners felt so rich and detailed that I wondered if it was perhaps based on a novel or existing IP of some sort, but no, it is that increasingly rare gem these days - a wholly original piece of work.

At 2 hours and 18 minutes, it is on the longer side, but not a moment is wasted - and make sure to stay seated for both the mid and post-credits scenes! I really can’t praise it enough, and urge you all to get to the cinema and catch it while you can. To miss this on the big screen, well, that would be downright sinful.