Ryan Coogler is on quite the streak. The filmmaker went from Fruitvale Station, to Creed, to Black Panther and Wakanda Forever – and for his next move, he’s taking a break from franchise fare and using all that cache to craft a big, blockbuster genre film that’s all his own. For the first time, he’s heading overtly into horror territory with Sinners – re-teaming with his on-screen muse Michael B. Jordan for a tale of brotherhood and bad guys. The first trailer has arrived, teasing a tense and terrifying ride.
That’s a tantalising glimpse – one that barely gives anything away. But we know we’re heading back into the past, that evil is on the march, and that those dark forces are encroaching on a small town ready to fight back. Reports for this one have long had it down as a vampire movie – though there’s no explicit reference to bloodsuckers in this teaser. There is, though, a promise of “a new vision of terror”, the pleasing sight of Jordan firing a machine gun, and an ominous quote: “You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.” Beyond Jordan, the film also stars Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson, and Omar Benson Miller.
Here’s the brief official synopsis: “Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.” The film also sees Jordan re-team with the likes of composer Ludwig Grandson, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, and production designer Hannah Beachler. All of which is reason to be very excited.
Can Sinners live up to Jordan’s past work? Is it definitely a vampire movie? And will we be there opening night? To the last one, a definitive yes. Sinners comes to cinemas in March 2025.