Sinners (2025) Dir: Ryan Coogler
- Ridley Coote
- May 13
- 3 min read
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This Ryan Coogler directed action horror very quickly became one of my most anticipated films of the year, thanks to some tantalising teasers and an extremely positive critical and commercial reception following its release. It's rare for a horror film to achieve such universal praise and popularity, which surprised and intrigued me greatly. It seemed like I was in for a great cinematic experience.
A film that builds so much of itself around the power of music needs a soundtrack to match, and the composition of Ludwig Göransson did just that. It was diverse, memorable and highly unique. I really do have to commend Göransson for his work on this film's soundtrack, because he did a genuinely epic job. He has fast become one of the best film composers working today, and with good reason.
The film's aesthetic was interesting, if a little messy at times. There were all sorts of details to endulge ones eyes in. The main dance sequence was particularly exquisite. It was expressive, emotive, culturally rich, vibrant, vivid, imaginative, creative - everything you could possibly hope for in one scene. The strings of culture intertwined in absolutely stunning fashion to create a magnificent visual.
The film did have some fairly substantial issues, at least as far as I was concerned, however. There was a lot going on, which was both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, the film felt rich in depth and detail, but, on the other, it became messy here and there, and sometimes lost a little focus. These issues were only exacerbated by my main problem, in that, the film was too long. I think it just took a little too long to get to the juicy part of the plot, but, once it got there, I enjoyed it.
The characters were all likable, although, some of the decisions made were, quite frankly, dumb. One character in particular makes a decision that was so baffling I just had to laugh, and not because it was entertaining - it was such poor writing. I did, in contrast, really enjoy the writing of the film's main antagonist, who provided an unusual foe for the main characters.
Michael B. Jordan pulled double duty in the film, but, if I'm being completely honest, I didn't really enjoy his performances all that much. It just felt a little artificial, like he was doing too much. This doesn't go for all of his acting, but it was very much evident in the scenes where his two characters were interacting. On a more positive note, his action sequences looked great, he had charisma for days, and one can never deny his irresistible charm and screen presence.
Miles Caton was the real breakout star of the film. I thought he was really quite impressive. He held his own and showed all sorts of growth and potential throughout the film, and did not look at all out of place amongst the bigger stars around him. The future should be bright for the young man, provided he can perform to the level he did here. I was particularly fond of his acting in the first half of the film, where there was a lot more depth on display character-wise.
Jack O'Connell's portrayal of a unique creature of the night was rather interesting, and extremely enjoyable. He showed the charisma and swagger that he's always had in spades, but with a villainous little twist that was tantalisingly good. I actually would've liked it if the audience got to learn a little more about his persona, because O'Connell gave the role so much more character than it might have otherwise.
Hailee Steinfeld was the most noteworthy of the supporting cast members, but, in my opinion, was criminally underutilised, especially in the second half of the film, where her character became entirely insignificant, unfortunately. The other actors who deserved at least a mention were Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Omar Benson Miller, and Li Jun Li.
Overall, I'm almost disappointed to say that this one just didn't do it for me, at least compared to the vast majority of viewers so far. Maybe a rewatch will do me some good, in that sense. I want to stress that this film did have a lot of great qualities, but that I cannot help but feel as though it has been a little overhyped. It's a good film, it really is, but it's not a great one. Not in my personal view anyway.
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