'Sinners' Analysis

Okay, so I have so many thoughts about this movie, and I’m just gonna dive right in.

Let's start with with Mary and Stack’s love story. Honestly? I feel like they got the happy ending they deserved. They actually got to stay together and live on in a world that might finally be more accepting of them — instead of Stack just leaving her like he originally did. Out of everybody, they honestly felt like the winners of the whole story.

And then there’s Smoke. His reunion with his child at the end? Beautiful. It was the kind of emotional gut punch you don’t see coming until you're already crying in your popcorn. There was something so simple and powerful about it, like a full-circle moment that was just... right.

One thing I really liked throughout the movie was all the little nods to different cultures of the time. You had southern Chinese Americans, Native Americans, Irish immigrants — it just felt real. Like, no, I wasn’t there (obviously — wasn’t born yet and my last history class was a while ago), but it really gave the sense of how people from all over were trying to build a life back then, even if the odds were stacked against them.

Also, the lore around Remmick? I’m dying to know more. (pun intended.) When he said he wanted to be "reunited with his people," it felt like there was this whole layer of meaning under the surface — themes of freedom, identity, belonging — that I wish the movie had time to explore even deeper. Like, Remmick wasn’t just the bad guy, he was tapping into something real about loss and isolation. I need a spin-off honestly.

And as the movie built up to the final battle with the vampires, it really showed you what each character valued deep down. Grace? She was all about protecting her family, even if it meant throwing herself into the fire. Annie? Her faith was everything — she literally asked Smoke to set her free before she turned, because she cared more about her soul than her body. And Smoke? His whole story was protecting his brother at all costs, even when it hurt. I thought that was one of the strongest parts of the movie — when it all went to hell, you saw who everyone really was.

Okay, now I have to talk about the audience reaction a little bit. When I saw it the second time, the crowd seemed a little...shook by all the sexual stuff. But in my opinion, vampires are inherently sexual. The whole act of turning someone into a vampire is super intimate — exposing yourself to another person, literally letting them in (and not exactly by choice). It’s messy and primal and honestly, it makes sense for it to feel uncomfortable. It’s supposed to.

Also, I loved the religious undertones running through everything. Like, the theme of sin was everywhere. Sammy’s dad talked about how the music they were playing was summoning something evil, and honestly? That whole idea of “the devil’s music” has been around forever. Rock and roll in the ‘50s, metal in the ‘80s, rap music now — every generation has some type of music the older folks think is summoning Satan himself. It’s honestly kind of hilarious how predictable it is when you think about it.

Speaking of the music — the blending of the music and the choreography, especially during the scene that summoned Remmick, was gorgeous. Like, visually and sonically stunning. It gave the movie this dreamy, nightmarish energy that stuck with me long after it ended. Some of those shots? Could’ve been paintings.

Also, I have a theory (and tell me if I’m crazy, but I really think I’m onto something): The Seven Deadly Sins were all over this movie.

Here’s how I saw it break down:

• Lust – Obviously. There were multiple scenes where characters were rather intimate or referring to lustful thoughts.

• Greed – Smoke and Stack chasing after the money, and also everyone who made deals with the twins.

• Pride – Stack thinking he could just open the juke joint and everything would work out perfectly, no consequences.

• Gluttony – Everyone getting drunk and overindulging at the juke.

• Wrath – Smoke’s rage, especially in the final act where he basically said “Screw it” and went on a killing spree (honestly, so valid).

• Envy – Remmick being jealous of Sammy’s talent and influence.

• Sloth – Delta Slim just...existing, mostly doing nothing for half the movie until he finally stepped up.

The sins were woven into the characters without it feeling like they were just checking boxes. It was layered, it felt human, and it made the whole thing hit harder.

Final Thoughts: This wasn’t just a vampire movie. It was a story about survival, about fighting for what matters, about sin and redemption and community. It was about the music that moves us and the monsters that hide inside us. It was messy, it was beautiful, and it wasn’t afraid to be both at the same time.