Sinners trailer: Ryan Coogler reveals personal and horror influences behind Michael B. Jordan movie

Ryan Coogler dropped the second trailer for his upcoming horror film, Sinners, as well as some hints as to what the movie, which stars Michael B. Jordan as twins, is actually about.

For months, fans have been speculating about what the threat might be and Coogler, in a virtual press conference, revealed it does involve vampires.

“Yes, vampires are an element of the movie, but that’t not the only element. It’s not the only supernature element. This film is about more than just that, and I think it’s going to surprise folks in a good way.”

Sinners, due to be released on April 17, is set in the 1930s in America’s deep south. Jordan plays the dual roles of Elijah and Elias Smoke who return to their home where evil forces are waiting.

The trailer revealed a music-fuelled, sweaty party which is crashed by characters played by Hailee Steinfeld and Jack O’Connell, who are both later seen with maniacal smiles and covered in blood.

Music is key to the film as Coogler, the director of Black Panther, Creed and Fruitvale Station, explained his family’s history in his inspiration for Sinners.

“Each time I’ve made a film, it’s become more and more personal,” he said.

Coogler said there were two members of his family who came from Mississippi – his grandfather who died before he was born, and an uncle, James, who died while he was working on the post-production for Creed.

“He wouldn’t really talk about Mississippi unless he was listening to the blues and he was having a sip of whiskey. Then he would reminisce. I miss him profoundly.”

He added, “This film is about the music that was so special to my uncle.”

Coogler shot Sinners on IMAX film and consulted with Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, who have worked extensively in the format. His goal was for Sinners to be as immersive as possible.

“We wanted to let folks experience this world, and it’s the world that my grandparents were a part of, it’s a world they came up in, and it’s a time that’s often overlooked in American history, specifically for Black folks because it was a time associated with Jim Crow.

“A lot of things that maybe we were ashamed to talk about. I got to have conversations with my grandmother who’s nearly 100 years old, and do some really heavy research. It was exciting.”

“To bring that time period to life with the celluloid format that was around then, but with the technological advancements that IMAX can provide is the perfect marriage.”

He said that world is the heart of American culture, and linked blues music with the macabre (it had been called “the Devil’s music”, which made it a springboard for horror.

Coogler paid tribute to all the horror masters of the genre and said a direct influence was Stephen King novel Salem’s Lot, which is the story of a writer returning to his hometown and discovers the townspeople are turning into vampires.

“It’s what happens when the town has a lot of issues, a lot of interesting characters, and meets a mythological force of nature, and it starts to influence the town.

“So that idea for me was a great way for me to explore some of the real things in this place that my grandparents, who influenced my life, came from.”

Coogler said that when he’s making a movie, he has nightmares, but when he made this horror film, he didn’t.

“I think it was because some of the scenes we were doing were so crazy that I didn’t have them as much, I was getting out whatever subconscious terror I had during the work day and I was able to sleep like a baby.”

Sounds ominous for an audience.

Sinners is in cinemas on April 17