If sinning is wrong, we’re going to need to rewrite that rulebook. The community has spoken, and loving Sinners is the only option: Ryan Coogler’s musical vampire epic officially takes the top spot in the narrative feature charts at the halfway point of the year. It was a surprisingly tight horse race, with Coogler’s first original movie in twelve years since Fruitvale Station and his hardball first-dollar-gross business tactic paying off in spades.
Reliable rewatcher Mac is one of countless members who can’t stop thinking about the film’s IMAX glory: “the real sin is there’s not a 70mm IMAX theater near me to see this in.” Our own Mia also spoke to the breath of fresh air that came with Sinners’ arrival in theaters back in April: “horny vampire musical in 70mm IMAX … *said as if it’s just rained for the first time in months* we needed this”. La La Land producer and prolific logger Jordan Horowitz was also possessed by something mystical, writing, “I don’t rate movies anymore but what the fuck, you only live once, or forever,” in his five-star review. It’s alive!
The devil is in the detail, and Coogler’s design: a Black-led horror film engaging with vampire folklore, deep-south history and music is connecting with members around the world hungry for something new. “Black people, horror movies, and Black people that act the way we should in horror movies. [Three] of my favorite things,” writes Makaila, with Stacey positing that Sinners “will be as influential to Black cinema and Black horror as Get Out, if not more.” Because this is a film for everyone, erotic thriller fans are, well, also eating good: “I hereby reject any Hollywood blockbuster that doesn’t have this much cunnilingus and/or cunnilingus discussion,” threatens Nick.
