Sinners (2025)

 Writer/director Ryan Coogler, best known for Black Panther and Creed, finally got big bucks for a wholly original project, and so far it's 2025's biggest hit not based on any existing IP. 'Sinners' takes structural que from Hitchcock's The Birds as its one kind of movie that is crashed into by another kind of movie mid way through. Set in the deep south of the 1930's the film starts as an ensemble melodrama in which Coogler muse Micheal B. Jordan plays twin brothers returning from working for Al Capon in the north to start a rural speakeasy for a black clientele. Various storylines are set up for roughly a dozen characters, then on opening night the club is besieged by vampires. And this works. Creatively reshuffling the story deck and used as means of commenting on the black experience in America. Nor is it particularly preachy in doing so. This is the kind of movie that raises hope that American films can still do unique and meaningful work in a crowed pleasing and money making manner. ***1/2