Why Ryan Coogler thinks Sinners is a story about love

Ryan Coogler's Sinners is one of the most talked about films of the year. Set in 1932, the film is a gothic horror, where one fateful night changes the lives of two twin brothers. Debuting with a strong presence, the film has initiated much talk, especially about Michael B. Jordan's enigmatic twin portrayals and Coogler's creative genius.

Although the film is labelled as a gothic horror film, it unfolds in nuanced ways, making space for several genres and moods throughout it. At it's core, the film alludes to themes that are larger than just horror, and according to Jordan, director Coogler would probably call it a film about love.

In an interview with VIBE, the cast sat down to discuss the underlying themes in the movie and how it all comes together to become a story about love. Talking about what Coogler would say the movie is about, Jordan quipped,

“Yeah, this movie is about love. The love of music, the love of blues, the love of your culture, the love of family, the love for your freedom. There’s so many characters that have a love for something in this movie, and it’s all intertwined, and they all end up together, you know what I’m saying, in one place. And love is the thing that gets them through.”

In another interview with CBS, Coogler explained how his uncle served as an inspiration for the film and it's charismatic inclusion of the blues as he said,

"It's a love letter to my uncle, who was born and raised in Mississippi, who loved the blues. When he passed away in 2015, around the time we were finishing 'Creed,' I found myself playing those blues records to think about him."

Why Sinners Defies Genre Boundaries

Ryan Coogler and most of his cast would agree that Sinners is genre-fluid as a movie. Although it's been marketed as a horror film with gothic elements, it has deep roots in themes of music, passion and the ever-evolving love in the movie between various forces.

In the CBS interview, Coogler talks of the film's genre and adds,

"I describe the film as genre-fluid. It's a lot of genres at different times, and hopefully they sync up,"

Speaking to VIBE, Jordan added,

“The fact that it has so many elements to it. It wasn’t just one thing, you know what I mean? People [are] calling it a horror, but it’s like, no, it’s so many different genres mixed up into one."

Miles Caton, who is marking his debut with the project also chipped in that Sinners “is definitely based on love and community.”