The Conclusion of the Award Season Series: A Revisit of “Sinners”
- Matt Palmer
- Mar 12
- 2 min read
Since the beginning of January, I have been checking out several films that either have won numerous awards or have been nominated. For the last edition, I took a look at the bizarre film “Bugonia,” which is one of this year’s Oscar Best Picture nominees (and I highly suggest you check it out at least once). Now, for the final review of this award season series, I revisited last year’s “Sinners,” which earned a record 16 Oscar nominations.
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
When I first checked out the Ryan Coogler-directed film “Sinners” for the Examiner last year, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and honestly had no idea that this would be one of the big award contenders. This 2025 film is an incredibly, visually stunning experience that blends Southern gothic horror with a very powerful, music-driven story.
Even though “Sinners” features a few decently scary moments in the second half of the film, it’s not a traditional horror film. It’s a really great mix of thriller, drama and folklore that can easily pack on the emotion and can be rather thought-provoking at times.
The film’s strongest element is the film’s soundtrack. While it’s a standout element, the score is an immersive, narrative-driven experience that also acts as a character itself in a way.
The “time-binding” sequence, where we see music bridging generations, featuring African drummers, hip-hop and 90s elements in one long shot, is still one of the best sequences in the film. And, of course, the “Rocky Road to Dublin” performance by Jack O’Connell is also another memorable highlight.
A good amount of the vampire action is also rather gripping. There’s also a pretty intense final act that will really appease fans of the vampire sub-genre for sure.
“Sinners” is a critically praised, high-stakes horror-thriller set in the 1930s South. It mixes intense supernatural vampire action with deep social commentary on racism, memory, and cultural heritage, anchored by a strong, soul-stirring musical backdrop.
Like I previously stated, “Sinners” set a record with 16 Academy Award nominations this year. The film has been nominated for several awards and won quite a few as well, such as the NAACP Image Awards, the BAFTA Film Awards (the British equivalent of the Oscars), the Actor Awards (SAG), Critics Choice Awards and was also recognized by the AFI (American Film Institute) and National Board of Review.
MPA: Rated R for strong bloody violence, sexual content and language (runtime 137 minutes)
Streaming services: HBO Max/Amazon Prime
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