Southern Horror: Sinners Brings a New Flavor to Black Horror Films

It's a cultural moment that shakes up what we expect from these genres.

• Vampires
• Hoodoo
• Southern Black culture
• Religion
• Blues
• Blood

All packed into this film.

If you haven't seen it yet, it's back in theaters until Thursday. Perfect timing to end Spooky Season with a bang!

Growing up in a small town, media was an escape.

• Books
• Music
• Dance
• Theater
• Film

All these things took me to different worlds without leaving my hometown.

• Horror
• History
• Black films

Quickly became favorites.

The Southern Gothic subgenre, with its flawed characters and eerie settings, has always inspired.

• "Eve's Bayou"
• "Beloved"
• "Daughters of the Dust"

Now, "Sinners" joins this list.

Ryan Coogler, known for his work with Michael B. Jordan, brings a unique twist to the vampire story.

• Harsh reality of the racist South
• Religion
• Music
• Lust
• Sin

Every detail in "Sinners" feels intentional.

• Guitar and banjo score
• Use of red and blue colors

This film gives a voice to those who feel unseen.

That's the power of Southern Gothic and Black filmmaking.

As a filmmaker, having creative control is crucial.

Coogler secured a deal with Warner Bros. that gives him full ownership after 25 years.

• Big deal, especially for a Black filmmaker.
• Production companies usually keep creative control and profits.
• Coogler's deal ensures he benefits from his work forever.

"Sinners" is also the first film shot simultaneously on Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX.

• Nod to the past, as films were once made on analog formats like Super 8 and Super 16.
• Larger imaging surface = higher resolution and shallower depth of field.
• Technical achievement that adds to the film's uniqueness.