While director Ryan Coogler's new film Sinners presents itself as a vampire horror story, its true brilliance lies in vividly recreating 1930s Mississippi while using blues music - historically condemned as "the devil's music" - to explore its predominantly African-American characters' lives, led by Michael B. Jordan's portrayal of twin brothers Smoke and Stack.

"Beyond the hemoglobin vampires crave, Sinners pulses with musical lifeblood, particularly through blues performances by Sammie [Miles Caton] and local legend Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) at Smoke and Stack's establishment," Eric Goldman observed in his glowing Sinners review for IGN.

"Coogler transforms this into a meditation on music's universal power to connect people across generations, even when they're unaware of cultural lineages. Vampire leader Remmick (Jack O'Connell) creates a fascinating counterpoint to the blues soundtrack, as ancestral Irish folk tunes gradually weave their way into the film's musical tapestry."

Coogler masterfully employs both blues and Irish folk traditions to illuminate the shared colonial traumas of humans and vampires alike. The film features breathtaking musical sequences that, as Goldman notes, position Sinners as "musically adjacent," demonstrating how "music transcends time while immortalizing its creators."

Speaking with Ryan Coogler about Sinners, we discussed the film's innovative use of blues and Irish music, its standout sequences, and why vampire antagonist Remmick became as personal for Coogler as Black Panther's Killmonger.

The Musical Soul of Sinners

"Blues music serves as complete human affirmation," Coogler explains. "It complements church traditions while embracing what religious institutions often suppress - celebrating bodily desires alongside spiritual longing. The blues acknowledges pain, anger, and sexuality with unflinching honesty."

"Unlike edited spiritual expressions, blues offers unfiltered humanity - admitting flaws while maintaining soulfulness. Juke joints provided sanctuary where sharecroppers could express forbidden aspects of their being."

Remmick: A Vampire Unlike Any Other

"Writing Remmick represented new creative territory," Coogler reflects. "This vampire master defies expectations - his racial perceptions subvert assumptions while his Irish heritage becomes increasingly significant."

The director emphasizes Remmick's unconventional characterization: "His surprising identification with African-American struggles creates fascinating narrative tension that excites me as a storyteller."

Signature Musical Sequences

The film's standout moments involve breathtaking musical performances:

• The virtuosic juke joint sequence unfolds as an extended tracking shot demonstrating music's timeless power
• The vampires' Irish folk performance delivers raw emotional power through cultural contrast

"These sequences embody the film's essence," Coogler states. "The Irish folk scene particularly resonates through its powerful contradictions - tragic lyrics delivered with infectious energy mirroring historical resilience."

Cinematic Storytelling Through Music

"Music became our cinematic language for expressing transcendence," Coogler explains. "Like witnessing extraordinary performances, we aimed to create visceral experiences that bypass intellectual understanding and speak directly to the soul."

The director draws parallels between African-American blues and Irish folk traditions: "Both cultures created musical forms preserving identity amidst oppression - songs with hidden meanings, dances conveying resistance. Remmick recognizes this kinship despite superficial differences."