ArcaMax

Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" continues to be highly praised over a month after its April 18 release date. People are still flocking to theaters to see this horror thriller set in the early 1930s in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Many have seen it multiple times for its deep analysis of the cultural and historical impact of Black music -- primarily the blues -- the systemic and economic oppression of Blacks in the Jim Crow South, and its interpretation of organized religion in the Black church as stifling and tedious. I have read some recent reviews that analyze "Sinners'" critique of Christianity in terms of how religion was used to supplement White supremacy and suppress Black inventiveness. The latter is intensely examined in the character arc of Sammie, a gifted young Black blues musician who longs to break away from his father's church and make his own way.

In the conclusion of my first review of "Sinners," I touch on Sammie's inner struggle with his music and how it tugs at his soul due to the lure of worldly pleasures and gratification. Sammie's wants are fervently displayed through the exceptional acting of newcomer Miles Caton, who is, in many ways, the film's main character. When his older twin cousins, Smoke and Stack, return to Clarksdale to open a juke joint, Sammie plays on opening night. The twins, whom Michael B. Jordan shrewdly portrays, have loads of cash saved from their gangster days in Chicago to invest in this entrepreneurial pursuit. Their wayward lifestyles and ambitions perfectly illustrate the simplicity of Coogler's chosen title of "Sinners." Juke joints were definitely not places of worship and praise. Lustful and sensual passions abounded, as Sammie is shown having a fleeting sexual encounter with a married woman named Pearline. Smoke and Stack have no intentions of repenting for their violent deeds. As they and their patrons gather for a night of partying and entertainment, Sammie's outstanding performance strikes a chord in the spiritual realm, opening a portal that displays past, present and future music genres while also drawing the demonic presence of vampires. The social commentary of Coogler's horror context utilizes the vampires as representations of cultural appropriation and theft of Black creative expression. After Sammie faces and survives the terror that unfolds that night at the juke joint, he still chooses to leave his father and the church behind.

In further reflecting on the depiction of the church and religious themes of Christianity pertaining to Sammie's character in "Sinners," I thought about how many young people today would also view the church as uninspiring and restraining. This is mainly due to one central spiritual concept many churches have not thoroughly taught or glossed over: Christianity is not about religion but an intimate relationship with God. Being stuck in a church and following manmade rules and regulations is not a relationship. Jesus pointed this out in His rebuke of the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew 15:8-9 when He said, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." God looks into the heart, and for one's heart to sincerely yearn to serve Him, a transformative experience takes place that is described in 2 Corinthians 5:17, where a person becomes a "new creature" or creation, and "all things (become) new." New things equate to new desires for Godly aspirations, and this is not a one-time experience but an ongoing connection with God through the life of His Holy Spirit. The few scenes of Sammie's father's church in "Sinners" show members sitting still and emotionless, but there is no backstory of how his father established his congregation or what he was specifically preaching. However, there is an apparent disconnect between Sammie and his faith.

Some film critics maintain that this disconnect shown in "Sinners" is the result of how Christianity was used as a tool of oppression during the Jim Crow and slavery eras to subjugate the humanity of Blacks. This is undoubtedly true, but the malicious, brutal and ravenous deeds of these wicked individuals do not nullify the saving grace of God and His power to revive lives. "Sinners" is not just a story about the lack of faith, the sway of music, and systemic Southern racism. It is also a story about the spiritual path we choose. For me, it was a stark reminder to guard my heart with diligence in the choices I make.

========

Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

----

Copyright 2025 Creators Syndicate, Inc.