Exploring Themes of Freedom in Coogler’s Acclaimed Vampire Film, Sinners

by Annika April 22, 2025

This article serves as a spoiler-packed analysis of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a highly-acclaimed vampire movie that manages to stand proudly in a well-tread genre. Beyond its success as a horror film, Sinners delves into themes of freedom, ownership, art, culture, societal structures, and the intricacies within the studio system. The film’s layered narratives explore these themes in thoughtful and impactful ways, and Coogler’s work resonates both on-screen and off, particularly in light of his unique deal with Warner Bros that allows for full rights to the film in 25 years. The cultural significance and resonance of this movie are palpable, cutting deeply into contemporary racial issues, historical exploitation and the importance of cultural and artistic ownership.

Exploring Themes of Freedom in Coogler’s Acclaimed Vampire Film, Sinners

– Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners” not only breaks ground as a great vampire movie but also illuminates issues of freedom and ownership. The movie brings together themes of horror, music, storytelling, and religion and also touches on the relevance of these issues in present-day Hollywood and Coogler’s stake in the film industry.
– The film tells the story of Black life, the struggles and the joy, in the Mississippi Delta in 1932, intertwined with music and followed through generations. It also explores how every aspect of American life is deeply tied with music, making Black Americans a vital part of the culture.
– Through the story of Sammie, a blues guitarist, and Remmick, an Irish vampire, the movie discusses the concept of stealing and homogenizing cultures. The movie reiterates that Black Americans don’t want to own anyone else’s culture but want to preserve and build upon their own, a powerful message of Black resilience and creativity.

Ryan Coogler’s film, Sinners, has had a profound effect on the movie industry. Not just another vampire flick, Sinners is a brilliant creation in its own right that holds its place well among iconic American cinema pieces.

The scattered themes found in Sinners span time and space, making commentary on everything from cultural appropriation, ownership, and liberty. Coogler utilizes the elements of horror, music, religion, and storytelling – all through the perspective of his position within Hollywood’s studio system.

Sinners doesn’t only provide a superb performance but also brought attention to Coogler’s unique contractual agreement with Warner Bros., which gives him rights to the film after 25 years. This move was regarded as a potential existential threat to movie studios, sparking debates and unfavourable speculations. However, as a creator and investor in the movie, Coogler’s claim and right to ownership become undeniable.

Sinners remarkably challenges the concept that corporations should indefinitely own legal rights to things they didn’t make themselves. Tarantino’s similar contract with Sony was embodied positively with no suggestions of imminent danger.

America stands for freedom and ownership. Yet, often freedom and possession counter each other. Freedom is frequently flaunted by our possessions and by who we think we own. Herein comes the emphasis on physical and symbolic ownership in today’s society.

Set in the Mississippi Delta in 1932, Coogler tackles the faulty concept of freedom experienced by Black residents who live as sharecroppers and face attacks from the Ku Klux Klan. Amidst the protagonist’s struggles, they still manage to thrive. This is supplemented with an excellent and balanced portrayal by Coogler.

The film follows the different paths of Smoke and Stack, two twins who after experiencing the horrors of World War I leave their homes and loved ones in search of freedom. Their journey only teaches them that true liberation cannot be achieved by denying their past and who they are, but by embracing their roots and their community.

Sinners does an excellent job at representing the vast and dynamic Black experience in America. It allows viewers to see through the lenses of a variety of characters and accurately documents the influence of Chinese immigrants in America’s construction.

In the movie, music becomes a transcendent medium that binds different narratives and cultures together, creating a sense of unity and freedom. The villain in the film, Remmick, an Irish vampire, works as a metaphor for colonization, expressing the craving to erase diversity and blend it into a homogenized dominant culture.

Sinners as a film is a powerful depiction not just of the struggles of Americans of African and Chinese descent, but every other person struggling for the basic freedom of existence. The film profoundly communicates that the real freedom comes in claiming, owning and leaving a legacy for the people. A legacy that can last, can’t be stolen, but can shake the world.

Coogler’s Sinners beautifully echoes the Blues of the South and speaks volumes about the injustice and wrongs against those who built America yet were deprived of their rights. He uses the film as a canvas to remonstrate the wrongs and demands what is due with interest.

The film ends on a strong note, establishing a clear message of the power of Black Americans in shaping the country’s cultural identity, while also highlighting the struggle for equality and justice. Sinners, in essence, celebrates the unshakable determination of Black artists and not just a display of their stories but ownership of it.