Ask anyone what their favorite horror film of 2025 is so far, and I’d bet at least half the replies will be Sinners. Ryan Coogler’s vampire film left many audiences with their jaws all the way open. It has drawn rave reviews from critics, broken records at the box office, and staked its claim among the very best of the bloodsucker genre.
So, it should come as no surprise that the film has continued to be mentioned throughout the year with a staying power befitting of the undead creatures that populate its narrative. Even some of the most iconic members of the horror genre have praised Coogler’s feature, including the mistress of the macabre herself, Elvira (aka, Cassandra Peterson).
But First, What’s Sinners About?
Set in the 1930s, Twin brothers Smoke and Stack (each played by Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown in Mississippi. Following a seven-year stint with the infamous Al Capone, they’ve decided to leave a life of crime behind and open their own juke joint. A place where the community can come together for music, drinks, and a good time away from the troubles of the world. But when a trio of vampires arrive at the front door, the brothers and their patrons find themselves in the fight of their lives against an ancient evil intent on sucking dry every last bit of who they are.
The Undying Power of Music
While speaking with Dread’s own Josh Korngut, Elvira was asked what music she’d play at an Elvira-hosted dinner party. Her answer came as a bit of a surprise. “Speaking of music, the movie that just knocked my socks off was Sinners. Now that wouldn’t necessarily be the music I’d play at a dinner party, but the way they incorporated music into that film, man, it just made it! I loved it. It was very emotional.”
Many would likely agree that Sinners’ incorporation of music has a lot to do with what makes the film special. On its own, composer Ludwig Göransson’s score would be worthy of an Academy award (I’ll be shocked if it isn’t nominated). But it’s not just the moving quality of his music that makes it memorable. Coogler’s film uses vampires to explore themes of cultural appropriation and the theft of community…including their music. As a result, the score of Sinners isn’t just a feature of the film; It is the film. It’s a tale that expresses the importance of music, the relevance of it, the community. And the tragedy of having that all taken away. There’s a scene in which Coogler seamlessly transitions between various cultures and the music that defines them that will go down as one of the most stunning film moments of the year.
Take Elvira’s word for it and sink your fangs into Sinners now that it’s streaming on HBO Max. Something tells me she knows a thing or two about what makes a good horror film.
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