Top 10 Things You Missed In Sinners

In a mid-credits scene, Stack and Mary pay a visit to an elderly Sammie, now played by real-life blues legend Buddy Guy. Its been 60 years since that fateful night, which is apparent in the vampires new wardrobes. Stacks look, in particular, screams 1992. We get the sense that Stack is a Spike Lee fan, with a style akin to Radio Raheems. Most notably, Stack has brass knuckles that spell out his name. Its similar to the love and hate knuckle rings that Radio sports. In Do the Right Thing, Radios murder sparks a riot that results in Sals Pizzeria burning down. Similarly, Stacks death - or changing into a vampire - marks a turning point with the juke joint eventually being set ablaze.

In the film, the local grocery stores are operated by a Chinese American couple, Grace and Bo Chow. According to production designer Hannah Beachler, this set piece drew inspiration from Min Sang & Co. Grocery, a real-life business based in the Mississippi Delta region. Numerous Chinese American-owned shops arose across the South during this period. This being the Jim Crow era, Chinese immigrants found themselves in the middle of a segregated social landscape. Although an anti-Asian sentiment existed, this smaller Chinese community wasnt as easily categorized in a predominantly Black and white society. This put Chinese store owners in a unique position to accommodate Caucasian and African-American customers, hence why the Chows have two shops across the street from one another, just like Min Sang.

Before Sinners, Hannah Beachler collaborated with director Ryan Coogler on Black Panther, which won her an Academy Award. Beachler and Coogler returned for Wakanda Forever. Unfortunately, the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman loomed over the sequels production. Sinners features a tribute to Boseman in Jedidiahs church. On a wall are three crosses. The rough sawn beams holding them are separated by 33 inches, the same age Jesus was when he died. The crosses are positioned to represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Beachler also arranged the crossed beams above after the Wakanda Forever gesture. This Easter egg was for Boseman. Its fitting that TChalla would be looking down on Sammie, as both have Killmonger for a cousin.

As mentioned before, the mid-credits scene flashes forward six decades to 1992. More specifically, the scene takes place on October 16, 1992. This is an important date in horror movie history, marking the release of the original Candyman. Sinners shares a few other parallels to that classic. Both are grounded in African-American history, with the titular Candyman being a slave who was murdered over his relationship with a white woman. The two films also have the backdrop of Chicago in common. While Sinners mainly takes place in Mississippi, Smoke and Stack spent some time in Chicago working for Al Capone. The Windy City is also where Stack finds Sammie years later, and just in time to catch a midnight screening of Candyman.

Passing was a term associated with Black, often mixed-race individuals identifying as white, to be accepted in a predominantly prejudiced society. Although she appears white, Mary is multiracial. Likewise, actress Hailee Steinfeld is part African-American on her grandfathers side. Mary doesnt strive to pass for white, as shes open about her heritage and isnt afraid to associate with African-Americans. When shes turned into a vampire, though, Mary does pass herself off as a living human. Mary is also the first juke joint patron who gets turned into a vampire, emphasizing how she can effortlessly cross between the white and Black communities. In another ironic twist, Mary tells Stack early on to rot in hell, foreshadowing that both will soon be bonded in eternal damnation.

Shortly before his death, Smoke has a smoke. His hands shake as he rolls the cigarette, which makes sense given what hes been through. If you paid close attention, though, you mightve noticed that Smoke always had trouble rolling his own cigs. Thats why Stack would hand him one, but his brother isnt by his side anymore. Following his last stand, Smoke sees a vision of Annie and their daughter. Annie tells Smoke to put out the cigarette and hold his daughter, calling him by his given name, Elijah. In doing so, Smoke leaves his old life behind in more ways than one, finally able to be Elijah in death. Conversely, Stack can never be Elias, eternally walking the earth as a vampire.

Just as vampires can put up a deceitful front, another enemy was hiding in plain sight. The Moore brothers convert a sawmill into a juke joint, buying the property from Hogwood. Its later revealed that Hogwood isnt just a racist. Hes a Klan leader, planning to launch a massacre at dawn. Hogwoods intent was foreshadowed early on when the brothers arrived on the premises, noticing the blood-stained floors. Since accidents are bound to occur at sawmills, the dirty floorboards seemed innocent enough. Knowing Hogwoods evil plan, it becomes apparent that this isnt the first time the sawmill has been a kill zone. It will be the last time, as Smoke spills the Klans blood on the site.

After the bloodbath, Sammie is given a choice: the church or the blues. Sammie chooses his guitar, using it as an instrument of empowerment and unity. In his fathers eyes, though, Sammie is dancing with the devil. To an extent, Sammies journey parallels a legend linked to blues musicians Robert Johnson and Tommy Johnson (no relation). Its been said that both Johnsons met the devil at a crossroads. In each case, the devil offered to help them master the guitar in exchange for their souls. Sammie also has a demonic encounter upon reaching a crossroads in his life. Although Sammie picks his guitar over the cross, he doesnt sell his soul. Even when Stack offers him immortality years later, Sammie is led not into temptation.

The juke joint not only serves as a beacon for the Delta blues, but various music styles from the past and present rooted in Black culture. When an Irish vampire named Remmick shows up, he seeks to claim Sammies sound as his own. Those inside the joint must fight for their lives, culture, and identities. One can easily draw connections to colonization, a subject that the Indigenous vampire hunters who were initially chasing Remmick are familiar with. Theres also a clear nod to cultural appropriation, as many white artists throughout history have adopted genres trailblazed by Black musicians. Offering immortality, Remmick is reminiscent of a sleazy record producer who presents what seems like an enticing contract, but the devil is hidden in the details.

Played by Michael B. Jordan, twins Smoke and Stack Moore may appear to be one and the same. Their real names even reference a single prophet who was known as Elijah and Elias. There are a few differences. Stack is the hotheaded brother while Smoke is calmer and has a gentler side that only a select few recognize. This is reflected in their outfits, with Stack wearing heated red colors and Smoke draped in a soothing blue. Both brothers live violent lives, however. By the end, Smoke has been stripped of his blue attire, now covered in red blood. As he takes his dying breath, Smoke can finally find peace. Stack can never find such peace, his eternal existence defined by the color red.

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