Ryan Coogler reveals an inspiration for Sinners that no one expected

Ryan Coogler's Sinners has been a beautiful blend of several themes as the gothic horror film has continued to be one of the year's most popular films, thanks to Coogler's Stephen King-inspired script and a gripping dual performance from Michael B Jordan and a captivating debut from Miles Caton. Hailee Steinfeld's boldest portrayal yet as Mary is also just as enthralling, and all the inspirations behind the film make it even more special to watch.

Although Coogler has previously stated that Stephen King's Salem's Lot served as a loose inspiration for Sinners, the director is also opening up on another film that inspired him, and this one is quite unexpected.

In a recent episode of Get Rec'd with Straw Hat Goofy on YouTube, the filmmaker revealed that an unexpected film was his inspiration for Sinners' villain Remmick. Remmick is the main white vampire in the film who visits the town and creates havoc with a bloodbath throughout some of the most intense scenes of the film. That inspiration was DreamWorks Animation's Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Talking to the interviewer, Coogler revealed how Puss in Boots gave him an idea of the villain he wanted in the film, as he said,

"Think about the villain Death, think about his defining features [the eyes], think about his demeanor."

Coogler was drawn to the threatening white wolf who reveals himself as Death, as his idea of fear in Sinners. He described how he was able to make the vampires in Sinners come to life by taking the villain as inspiration from the animated film. He also gave credit for storyboarding the gory moments to Louis Gonzales, one of the illustrators on Sinners, who had previously worked for Pixar for almost 20 years.

What is Sinners about?

Sinners is about two twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who return to their small hometown to open a juke club that will serve as a hangout place for the Black townsfolk. What starts as an exciting night soon becomes all the more dreadful as the jolly blues in the club attract the attention of a vampire coven that has Remmick.

It soon becomes a bloodbath as Remmick and his coven try to convince the people to join them, enticing them with ideas of immortality. Their main prize, however, is Smoke and Stack's cousin Sammie a gifted blues singer, who Remmick wants forhis coven.

Sinners has its genre rooted in gothic horror, but it's also a story about love, community and and the joy of music. It ends on a sweeter note with a post-credits scene that helps ease the audience's mind while also being able to captivate the audience throughout the two hours in all its glory.