Let’s explore the brilliance behind the movie Sinners.
Upon initial inspection, Ryan Coogler’s latest sensation seems to be a supernatural thriller featuring a character named Preacher Boy who stands against a vampire. However, beneath the surface, Sinners unfolds as a richly intricate tale steeped in myth, history, and cultural lore. The deeper your investigation, the more you reveal—and there’s a much grander narrative at work that many viewers might overlook.
The narrative revolves around Sammie Moore (portrayed by Miles Caton), a talented musician embroiled in a confrontation with Remmick (Jack O’Connell), a malevolent vampire set on creating a hive-mind coven. Yet the story’s origins extend well beyond this primary conflict.
In the film’s opening speech, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) shares a legend that traverses ancient Ireland, Choctaw land, and West Africa:
“There are legends of individuals born with the ability to create music so authentic it can breach the divide between life and death. This ability can heal their communities, but it also draws in malevolence.”
This malevolence is personified by Remmick. And the ability? It’s Sammie’s music—so potent it genuinely calls forth spirits from ages past to dance at the juke joint.
Some enthusiasts have speculated that Remmick may be one of these legendary music creators. His eerie Irish tunes and captivating jig certainly suggest a deeper linkage. However, unlike Sammie’s song, Remmick’s melodies do not connect the worlds of the living and the deceased.
Nonetheless, there are hints that Remmick possesses more knowledge than he reveals. His gold coins, his accent, and his exact understanding of his pursuit all imply he originates from a culture that understands the legend. Perhaps he’s not merely preying on the living—maybe he’s in search of a way back to his roots. And Sammie’s voice could be the key.
The film alludes to an even broader mythology. Early on, Remmick is chased by a group of Choctaw men. Were they tracking him because he once targeted their own version of Sammie—a fire keeper with the same potent, perilous gift?
All of this raises an intriguing question: Is Ryan Coogler establishing the foundation for a larger cinematic universe?
Could a prequel revealing Remmick’s enigmatic history be on the horizon? A sequel centered on the Choctaw vampire hunters? A complete trilogy that’s been subtly hidden?
Coogler has informed Ebony that he crafted Sinners as a “finished piece.” Yet let’s be truthful—tales this rich seldom conclude so neatly.
Sinners is currently showing in theaters.