Sinners (2025)

Score: 8 / 10
Category: Movie
Platform: HBO Max

One-line verdict

A slow-burning, ominous descent into violence and faith that disguises its supernatural horror behind mood, history, and inevitability.

What worked

• Going in blind would have been ideal. Knowing it was a vampiric movie slightly undercut the experience, because the film itself gives almost no early supernatural hints.
• The opening is immediately unsettling. A bloodied, stoned, and terrifying figure sets the tone before the film drops into a long flashback.
• I’m generally not a fan of this structure. Knowing the “end” and then watching how it happens usually removes tension for me.
• Despite that, this film still held my attention.
• Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers works extremely well. It clearly showcases his range: one controlled and noble, the other volatile and unhinged, even though both are outlaws.
• The historical setting adds weight. Seeing the story unfold during a period when Black people were still enslaved reinforces how desperate, fragile, and necessary freedom was.
• The build-up is slow but deliberate, giving time for character development across the group.
• When the escalation comes, it comes hard. The shift is sudden, brutal, and genuinely frightening.

What broke

• The flashback structure still isn’t my preferred approach. Even here, it slightly dulls the suspense.
• Once the supernatural elements fully surface, the trajectory becomes clearer.
• Some viewers may find the pacing too restrained before the final act.

What others are saying

• Strong praise for atmosphere, performances, and thematic ambition.
• Divided opinions on pacing and structure.
• Frequently noted for blending historical trauma with supernatural horror rather than relying on genre tropes.

The section below discusses plot details.

Why this earned a strong 8

This is a movie where the vibe and aftereffect matter as much as the plot mechanics.

The story feels intentionally hopeless. There’s no real sense of a “good” ending, until light quite literally arrives at the very end. The resolution feels almost biblical, which ties back neatly to the film’s early references to Christianity and faith.

The violence is heavy, bloody, and unapologetic, yet it never tipped into something I found excessive. There are even moments of dark humour buried in the horror, which I’m fairly sure was intentional.

The ending works. It closes one chapter while opening the door for a sequel in a way that feels earned rather than tacked on.

This lands at a strong 8 for me — for the buildup, the performances, the escalation, and especially the way it lingers afterward. It sits in the same class of films where the feeling stays with you longer than the details.