The Sinners trailer is boatloads of vampiric action, passion, and fun, giving audiences a glimpse of the personalities in this supernatural world. A period film set in Mississippi, it follows a pair of twin brothers, both played by Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther), who return to their hometown. Unfortunately, old friendships and flames are not the only folks awaiting them. Also among the cast are Wunmi Mosaku (His House, Loki), Delroy Lindo (The Harder They Fall, Da 5 Bloods), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, The Edge of Seventeen), and more.
Ryan Coogler writes and directs the movie, making his horror debut. He’s already shown his skill in crafting a film that’s a fictionalized story of the last day of someone’s life, like Fruitvale Station, and demonstrated his talent for leading a blockbuster superhero film with Black Panther. All his movies focus on Black people and culture; now, that skill turns to horror.
The Sinners trailer ties in stories of talented performers with music so soulful that it taps into something otherworldly, calling spirits from the past or future, and can even disintegrate the veil between life and death. So enter the white vampires, looking for a good time and victims to feast on. To share his thoughts about films, inspirations, and more, Ryan Coogler sat down at a press event to discuss.
Sinners Trailer Shows the Importance of Community
On working with Michael B. Jordan for their fifth film together, Coogler stressed Jordan’s talent and constant striving to improve his talent, calling him a craftsman. “So, it’s been very unique to find that in somebody. We’ve become friends and continue to challenge each other,” Coogler said. Coogler also emphasized the importance of having someone so “it doesn’t feel like work all the time.” For him, Michael B. Jordan is that someone.
Certainly, it’s reciprocal, as Coogler gave Jordan his leading man start in Fruitvale Station. The Sinners trailer certainly shines with that comfort and ease that comes with working with someone you know and respect. It feels fresh but is not a mere vampire flick as Ryan Coogler considers the film “genre-fluid.” More of a deeper film with vampires.
A Personal Connection
On a personal level, in the Ryan Coogler interview, he states how he connects with the film. Both his maternal grandfather and Uncle James are from Mississippi. But Coogler had never been as they lived in the home his grandfather built in Oakland, California. Although his grandfather passed before Coogler was born, he had a close relationship with his Uncle James.
“He would listen to blues music all the time. He would only talk about Mississippi when he was listening to that music,” Coogler explained the profound effect it had on his life. “And I got a chance to dig into my own, you know, my own ancestral history with this film. And it’s been extremely rewarding.” Composer Ludwig Göransson, who’s worked with Coogler on several previous films and is fresh off his Oscar win for his original score for Oppenheimer, is crafting the score for Sinners.
Horror Inspiration Clear in Sinners Trailer
Regarding inspiration and influences, Ryan Coogler draws on various horror films, citing John Carpenter (The Thing, The Fog) and the Coen brothers’ films like Inside Llewyn Davis. However, the “biggest influencers” come from literature from Stephen King and The Twilight Zone. It’s clear Coogler’s a fan of the series, as a true fan can name their favorite episodes. For Ryan Coogler, it’s “The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank,” where a young man climbs out of his coffin at his funeral, and the townsfolk begin wondering if he’s the devil in disguise.
Unique Cinematography
Ryan Coogler captured the film in “large format.” So, the movie alternates between Ultra Panavision and IMAX film, making it “old and fresh at the same time.” Thus, it allows the work of production designer Hannah Beachler and costume designer Ruth E. Carter—who’ve also worked on previous films with Coogler, to stand out. It also aids Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s (The Last Showgirl, Loki) cinematography, capturing this supernatural world and time. Coogler said, “It’s phenomenal to see their work shine.”
With many of the same collaborators in previous hits, there’s much to be hopeful about, and the Sinners trailer only increases that optimism. Look for it when it releases in a few months.
What do you think of the trailer?
Sinners releases in theaters on April 18.
