April 22, 2025 – Ordinarily, I don't bother watching horror films, because they are mostly small budget exploitative films made by inexperienced directors and actors. This one attracted me to the theater because it features top stars and a top Hollywood writer and director with real talent, Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther” and the “Creed” movies). It does not disappoint.

Coogler here spins a deep south period vampire yarn filled with mysticism, racial injustice, and the power of music. Set in 1932 in Mississippi, this movie has a killer soundtrack, a celebration of the Delta Blues, with flavorings of bluegrass and Irish folk music as well. Michael B. Jordan stars in twin brother roles as Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore.

Smoke and Stack cruise into their home town in the Mississippi Delta with a truckload of bootleg beer, a trunk full of high-powered military weapons, and pocketfuls of Chicago mobster cash, intent on setting up their own juke joint, a kind of bar and grill and dance hall. A series of tragic events follow, most of which happens in a little over 24 hours.

The brothers buy an old sawmill to house their new business from a white businessman who belongs to the Klu Klux Klan. The brothers warn him that they will kill him if he ever sets foot on their property. Their juke joint is a blacks-only business. They get to work gathering employees, as well as supplies from local businesses for their grand opening.

A cousin, Sammie (played by musician Miles Caton) is recruited to provide music for the juke joint, along with local musician Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo of “Da 5 Bloods”) and singer Pearline (Jayme Lawson of “The Batman”). Smoke and Stack also recruit local shopkeepers as suppliers and field worker Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller of “8 Mile”) as a bouncer. Smoke also recruits his estranged wife, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku of “Deadpool & Wolverine”) a practitioner of folk medicine and white magic, as a cook.

The story begins with a flash forward to a scene which occurs near the end of the movie. There is also another related scene near the beginning of the film concerning Remmick (Jack O'Connell of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”) a vampire from Ireland fleeing from Chocktaw vampire hunters and recruiting his minions from local KKK members. Remmick is attracted to the blues music, particularly Sammie's otherworldly talent, emanating from the juke joint and he tries to get inside, but vampires cannot enter unless they are invited. Remmick and his fellow vampires, who claim to be friendly musicians, are not invited in.

The vampires gather outside the juke joint and begin attacking those who venture outside, creating more vampires. Eventually, one of the newly recruited vampires is accidentally invited inside and chaos ensues. Remmick is very anxious to recruit Sammie to his vampire cult because Sammie's supernatural musical talent can summon the spirits of the dead. The musical number that attracts the vampires is a dazzling one with fantastic imagery, including some anachronistic elements.

Even before the arrival of vampires, there is plenty of drama and sex in this story involving Sammy and the very sexy Pearline, as well as between Smoke and Annie and between Stack and his old flame Mary (Hailee Steinfeld of “Pitch Perfect 3”). There is also the matter of the KKK, who are not scared off by the threat issued by Smoke and Stack.

True to the name of this movie, there are plenty of sinners in it, and not just the vampires. The vampires offer not just eternal life, but relief from racism as well. The vampires all have shared memories, making them truly united as one. In some ways, they have a shared humanity that mere mortals lack.

As with some recent films, including Coogler's “Black Panther,” it doesn't end when the credits roll. There is a mid-credits scene, featuring famed Bluesman Buddy Guy, and a post-credits scene, too. In this way, the story extends well into the modern era. This is an imaginative vampire movie heavy on music and mysticism. It addresses a number of issues from religion to racism. It has memorable characters and an engrossing story. This movie rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff (no extra charges apply). I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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