Sinners: Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has something scary to show you
Glenn Cochrane
STACK Senior Editor
Ryan Coogler, the award-winning director also known for revitalising the Rocky franchise with 'Creed', now takes on horror with what he describes as a ‘genre-fluid’ rollercoaster ride.
Although Sinners doesn’t hit cinemas until April, STACK attended a media event ahead of the second trailer's premiere, offering new insights into the story and shedding light on some of Coogler’s inspirations.
“It’s such an important genre in cinema, you know? All of the great filmmakers that I looked up to have all either made their home in the genre permanently or they’ve dabbled in it. So for me, I’m working in the same space and just trying to do it in a way that feels natural to my experience and the story I’m trying to tell.”
Michael B. Jordan stars in dual roles as twin brothers Elijah and Elias in this mid-1900s tale. The story follows the brothers as they return to their hometown, seeking refuge from their criminal pasts, only to uncover a sinister evil lurking in the shadows.
The trailer teases hordes of bloodthirsty, fanged creatures, leaving it up to the brothers and a group of survivors to fight for their lives. With nods to Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and the cult '90s film Demon Knight, the film delves into vampire lore while seamlessly blending elements from various horror subgenres.
“The film is very genre fluid. It switches in and out of a lot of different genres, and yes, vampires are an element of the movie,” Coogler admits, responding to speculation before the new trailer’s release, further teasing: “But that’s not the only supernatural element”.
Coogler burst onto the Hollywood scene with his powerful indie film Fruitvale Station (2013), cementing his reputation with the critically acclaimed Rocky sequel Creed (2015), and the groundbreaking Black Panther films. Given his strong foundation in drama, it may come as a surprise to some that he is now venturing into the horror genre.
“I felt like I was at a point in my life where I did want to try something original,” he reveals. “I realised I had been working on things that were based on pre-existing things - maybe a real-life situation, or a pre-existing franchise or a pre-existing comic book franchise. So, I felt the itch to want to try."
He also reveals a key influence behind the origins of Sinners, offering eager fans a clearer sense of what to expect from the film.
“A big inspiration for the film is a novel called Salem’s Lot. It’s about what happens when a town with all of its own issues and interesting characters meet up with a mythological force of nature that starts to influence the town.
“So, that whole idea for me was a great way to explore some of the real things in this place that my grandparents and uncles came from, and also where a lot of American pop culture came from. One of the things we explore in the film is blues music and blues culture, and that became so many of the things that affect what we do today.”
Delving deeper into the roots of the culture, Coogler elaborates on the importance of the music from that era, which is embedded throughout the film.
“Literally, that music has a close relationship with the macabre and the supernatural. You hear stories about Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson selling their souls to be able to play the guitar. You know, a deal is being struck. We call it the Devil’s music, and the dichotomy of a lot of these incredible singers, even still to this day, is that they learn how to sing in the church.”
Sinners marks Coogler’s fifth film and his fifth collaboration with lead actor Michael B. Jordan, showcasing a partnership that has propelled them both to success. Their bond is clearly strong, and Coogler reflects on the undeniable brotherhood they share.
“Mike was a working actor when I met him, and he had been on some incredible television shows and basically been a professional actor since he was a school-aged kid. But he hadn’t had a feature-length role where it was the lead. So, when we worked together on Fruitvale, that was his first time in a lead role and it was my first time making a movie.
“So, in many ways, we’ve grown up together in the industry. I’ve definitely found a kindred spirit in him. He’s somebody who’s incredibly gifted - in some ways, it’s kind of God-given. He has a constant desire to push himself and increase his capacity.
“You know, we became work friends and eventually have become like family, and it’s an incredible gift to have somebody like that.”
Check out the new red band trailer below, and add Sinners to your must-see list.
Sinners is in cinemas on April 17.
The Coogler effect
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