After spending most of his career on the Creed and Black Panther franchises, filmmaker Ryan Coogler delivers his most original work yet with the vampire flick Sinners. According to the first reviews of the movie, it’s not only his best, but one of the best releases of the year so far. The highlights are Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance as twin brothers, the ambitious mix of genres and ideas, and the inventive use of music in the film.

Here’s what critics are saying about Sinners:

Is it one of the best movies of the year so far?

Sinners is a masterclass in filmmaking.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

It’s one of the best films of the year.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture

The best movie I’ve seen in 2025 so far.
— Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

One of the most devilishly entertaining movies of the year.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

Sinners is a bloody, brilliant motion picture.
— William Bibbiani, The Wrap

I’m already prepared to hail Sinners as the movie of the year from this point onwards.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm

I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun, nor felt so reinvigorated by, a major studio genre movie.
— Alistair Ryder, The Film Stage

What makes it a must-see movie?

Sinners perfectly blends multiple genres to create a movie like you have never seen before.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

It works surprisingly well… due to Coogler’s very specific vision and his ability to deliver on it.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

The most impressive feat director-writer Ryan Coogler achieves is finding a balance between genre and meaning—and one begets the other.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

What sets Sinners apart is its thematic depth. The film’s exploration of duality is masterfully layered.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

Everything about Sinners is excellent, but where it fully shines is in its story, expertly brought to life by Coogler.
— Britany Murphy, Muses of Media

Sinners is the rare film that possesses you body and soul.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse

We simply don’t get original blockbusters with this level of passion and on this scale anymore, at least outside of a Christopher Nolan or M. Night Shyamalan production.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm

Is it reminiscent of any other films?

In some ways, this is a black version of Robert Rodriguez’s ’90s head trip From Dusk Till Dawn.
— Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

Sinners gives Coogler an opportunity to delve further into genre along the lines of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, but more films like Desperado, Machete, and their Grindhouse entries, than their vampire collab, From Dusk Till Dawn.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

Obvious comparisons will likely be drawn to From Dusk Till Dawn. But unlike that 1996 Robert Rodriguez-Quentin Tarantino joint, Sinners isn’t winking at the audience from behind grotesque violence and droll B-movie tropes.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

Sinners has films like John Carpenter’s The Thing in mind as well.
— Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment

I won’t be surprised if the first wave of critical reactions are similar to those which greeted Us, aiming to interpret the film as chasing a singular metaphor when it’s a messier beast with far more on its mind.
— Alistair Ryder, The Film Stage

How does it compare to Ryan Coogler’s other movies?

Ryan Coogler may have just given us his magnum opus… perhaps his masterpiece.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

This could be one of Ryan Coogler’s best films to date.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

His new work, Sinners, feels like a filmmaker liberated.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies

Sinners is Coogler utterly unleashed… He’s unshackled from the comfort of IP or franchise fare.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse

It’s his most impassioned, spiritually resonant work to date.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture

Coogler solidifies himself as one of the best working today.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

With Sinners, he ascends to the next level.
— Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

How is the action?

Sinners leads to a number of incredibly satisfying action set pieces, one that could garner audience reactions akin to Hitler’s assassination in Inglourious Basterds.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

[It has] tight action sequences that keep you emotionally and physically engaged.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

Its action is explosive.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Polygon

It’s a rip-roaring thrill ride.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm

How does it look?

Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography lends the carnage a strange elegance.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent

The movie is exquisitely shot, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography immersing us in the sunlit splendor and leafy ominousness of back-country Mississippi.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Once again, Arkapaw ignites the screen with her beautiful shots, giving viewers more than just the performances and music to get lost in.
— Britany Murphy, Muses of Media

From an aesthetic standpoint, the film is incredibly self-assured — much of which is owed to cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw and her use of celluloid contrast. It has the deepest shadows you’ve ever seen during daylight, injecting each scene with a sense of mystery.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Polygon

The cinematography is exceptional, filled with bold compositions.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

Does it do a good job of immersing the audience in its setting?

Coogler takes his time building out the world of Clarksdale, Mississippi, poring over the sights and sounds of the Jim Crow South… It crucially clues us in to who the Smokestack twins are, where they come from, and what they’re fighting for.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse

The world-building, while a slow burn, is immersive and detailed in a way that is so enjoyable to explore.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

How is Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance?

To no one’s surprise, Michael B. Jordan is incredible in this movie. He does a wonderful job of creating two very different characters for the twins.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

Michael B. Jordan’s performance in Sinners, particularly his portrayal of the enigmatic SmokeStack twins, is a standout in his career.
— Britany Murphy, Muses of Media

A career-best performance.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture

It’s smart, intuitive work.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent

It’s wonderfully nuanced work.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence

Stellar work.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews

I will freely admit that Jordan playing both twins did get a little confusing.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

Are there any other standouts in the cast?

Delroy Lindo has a standout moment in a deeply emotional monologue that quietly steals the spotlight.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

Lindo steals the show as Slim — but Caton’s Sammie is the true one to watch.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse

The real star of the film is 20-year-old Miles Caton.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence

The real standout is Miles Caton, who is shockingly delivering his debut performance here as Sammie.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture

Viewers are sure to be drawn in by newcomer Miles Caton as well. I was shocked to learn that this is his first feature film, as he holds his own in scenes with powerhouse actors.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

The real standout is Nigerian British actress Mosaku.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

The entire ensemble assembled goes above and beyond to prove Coogler to very much be an actor’s director, getting top-notch performances.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

Is this heavier than the usual horror film?

It’s the rare studio production that engages your intellect while it scares you senseless.
— Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

Sinners is the rare mainstream horror film that’s about something weighty and soulful: the wages of sin in Black America.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Yes, it’s a vampire film, but it’s also got a lot more on its mind. Coogler uses the conceits of the genre to craft a haunting allegory about the virtues we inherit and the vices that fester in the dark.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse

The result is a horror film that feels deeply cultural, resonant, and original, using the lens of music and ancestral trauma to reframe the vampire mythos into something hauntingly personal.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

It boasts a powerful message about society and how people can drag others down while offering up a terrifying vampire story.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

While Sinners never makes light of the history of the South, it’s not at the cost of the fun that can be had with this crossover between blues players, drinkers, and vampires.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies

Coogler doesn’t reinvent the vampire movie with Sinners, but in a current era of American cinema where messages are force-fed, a thoughtful social satire which gives viewers time to dissect––and never lets its loftier thematic aims get in the way of its junky thrills––is a breath of fresh air.
— Alistair Ryder, The Film Stage

How is its take on vampires?

Ryan Coogler has made a sexy and sweaty vampire flick unlike any other.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

The vampire design? Subtle, creepy, and just different enough to give Sinners its own unique place in the genre.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

It’s remarkable that Coogler has found a fresh angle on the tropes here. There’s a little bit of “the same but different” when it comes to the creature design.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence

Coogler shows as much interest in the metaphorical potential of the vampire as Robert Eggers did with Nosferatu earlier this year.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent

The film’s visual idea of the vampire is simple but fun, mostly normal in appearance other than an uncanny glint of light in their dark eyes – using this subtlety to stoke paranoia in the increasingly confined sawmill.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies

Is there too much going on?

There’s a lot going on here… As much arthouse as grindhouse, it’s a blood-drenched mix tape that shouldn’t work. But it does.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

The two halves sound strikingly different, but it never feels like a completely bifurcated film: you can’t have one without the other.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies

The film is inevitably too much at times, and not always in full command of its many competing flavors, but that too muchness is also the greatest strength of a visionary studio product that sticks its fangs deep into an eternal struggle: how to assimilate without losing your soul.
— David Ehrlich, IndieWire

How is the music?

The eventual turn to its riotous second half is underlined by a typically inventive soundtrack from Ludwig Göransson.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies

Composer Ludwig Göransson provides a sonic backdrop unlike any other.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse

An even more important aspect of Sinners than vampires is its music… I expect this to be another hot and popular soundtrack.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

Music is as integral to Sinners as its bloodsuckers… It’s blues music that is the film’s lifeblood.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent

The music in Sinners is not just a background element, but a character in its own right, shaping the narrative and the characters’ experiences.
— Britany Murphy, Muses of Media

The film celebrates the power of music — its ability to transcend time, connect generations, and carry the weight of grief and joy alike, making it almost its own character in the film. Academy Award-winner Ludwig Göransson’s score is one of his best.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture

Are there any problems with the movie?

For many, the movie could as well do without the supernatural element, and I admit I’m one of them.
— Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

The movie does feel like it goes on for a little too long, even with a pretty satisfying ending that appropriately ties up a few loose ends.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

If Sinners had one flaw, it could be in its pacing.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse

The only real drawback is the pacing.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog

There are some oddities in a bold swing like Sinners, such as not one but two post-credit scenes that feel unnecessary, and the aforementioned pacing of the first half may lose some viewers before Coogler sinks his fangs deeper into the material.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture

If the ending drags on somewhat indulgently (including both a mid- and post-credits scene, amazingly), well, Coogler more than earns the right.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm

Sinners opens in theaters on April 18, 2025.

Thumbnail image by ©Warner Bros.

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Most films on serial killers often take the dark route. But in ‘Maranamass’, directed by debutant Shivaprasad and headlined by Basil Joseph, there is no space for such fear even when an entire village knows that a serial killer is out on the loose. Instead, the makers weave in trunk loads of confusion and chaos, giving you a story that has plenty to laugh about. 

The film introduces you to the serial killer but the mood shifts as soon as the other characters arrive in the scene. The bus Veena Poovu driven by Jikku (Suuesh Krishna) also serves as a character in the movie and plays an integral role in driving the narrative. 

Basil Joseph’s recent outings, like ‘Ponman’ and ‘Praavinkoodu Shaapu’, delighted audiences with his grounded approach to men battered by reality. In ‘Maranamass’, he comes out of his comfort zone and plays the Sigma male, who is unafraid of society and holds his own, thus making him a clear suspect whenever things go wrong.

The film, despite its quirkiness, does not forget the basic emotions of love and attachment that are weaved in at the most unexpected moments. This delivers the film a balance, though it tends to slow down the pace of the film. Even when ‘Maranamass’ tends to go overboard at times with absurdity in the situations, the makers ensure it never lets the reins go, as these scenes are integral to carrying the story forward.

There are certain risks involved in developing the humour, which may sound good on paper, to the big screen, but the writers ensure the jokes don’t fall apart. This is partly possible because of the chemistry between the actors.

Rajesh Madhavan, who made his presence felt in ‘Nna Thaan Case Kodu’ is remarkable in the film. His character is a far cry from his previous slapstick roles and he pulls off his character with conviction. Romancham-fame Siju Sunny, who wrote the film along with Shivaprasad, also plays a pivotal role in the movie along with Anishma Anilkumar, Suresh Krishna and Puliyanam Poulose, who are equally good at driving the narrative forward.

The music by JK elevates the emotional moments in the movie. Overall, ‘Maranamass’ stays true to what it promised through its trailer – a quirky, chaotic film that can keep you engaged till the end.

Why The Amateur Movie Review Deserves Your Click

If you’ve ever wanted to see Rami Malek throw hands while solving cryptography in a hoodie, congratulations! The Amateur is your movie. This globe-trotting, grief-driven espionage thriller from director James Hawes (Slow Horses, Black Mirror) flips the usual spy flick formula on its head. Forget tuxedos and martinis—this time, your hero is rocking trauma, brainpower, and barely enough social skills to order a coffee.

Plot: The Amateur Movie Review Breakdown

In this The Amateur Movie Review, we explore the story of Charlie Heller, a brilliant CIA codebreaker played by Rami Malek, whose wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), is killed during a terrorist attack in London. The Agency, in classic bureaucratic fashion, decides to move on. Charlie doesn’t. What follows is part revenge tale, part hacker fantasy, and part emotional excavation. “What begins as a quest for vengeance becomes something deeper.”

A New Kind of Hero in Spy Thrillers

What really sets The Amateur apart isn’t the action—though there’s plenty of that, including a nerve-wracking sequence involving a collapsing glass pool. It’s the character work. Heller isn’t suddenly Jason Bourne. He doesn’t pull off one-arm pull-ups or magically turn into James Bond. Instead, we watch him get in over his head and survive on sheer intellect, stubbornness, and Google Translate. “A refreshingly unexpected protagonist” might sound like a press line, but it’s dead accurate.

This is Malek doing what Malek does best—making awkward feel dangerous. His Heller is a mix of repressed rage, genius calculation, and social discomfort. Think Mr. Robot if Elliot was fueled by grief and working for the CIA. The actor’s performance is all tension, with no wasted motion. “Rami Malek brings quiet determination and emotional honesty to the role.”

Supporting Cast Makes It Stronger

Supporting performances shine, too. Caitríona Balfe is electric as Inquiline, the rogue hacker who becomes Charlie’s online guide and occasional conscience. Their relationship evolves from encrypted messages to real-world connection, offering some of the film’s most heartfelt (and awkward) moments. Laurence Fishburne brings depth as Henderson, a skeptical retired CIA trainer, while Jon Bernthal plays The Bear, a field agent with quiet respect for Charlie’s skills.

Direction, Locations, and the Look

Director James Hawes leans into grounded realism, using international locations like Istanbul, Paris, and Marseille as more than just wallpaper. The camera lingers on faces as much as it does on gun barrels. And the action, when it comes, feels earned. Charlie doesn’t become a superspy—he becomes resourceful. “A grounded thriller with global stakes” sums it up.

The 120-minute runtime feels brisk despite a few pacing dips, thanks to tight editing and mood-driven cinematography. The score from Volker Bertelmann (of All Quiet on the Western Front) adds tension without drowning the emotion.

What This The Amateur Movie Review Found Lacking

But let’s be real—The Amateur isn’t perfect. The second act drags a bit, and Charlie’s world-hopping journey might make you wonder how easy it is to fly internationally while on the CIA’s no-no list. The final showdown with Michael Stuhlbarg’s villain feels a little too clean given the buildup. Still, the emotional payoff lands with weight.

Final Verdict: Is The Amateur Worth Your Time?

At its core, The Amateur is a story about a man who loses everything and decides to matter anyway. It’s not just about revenge; it’s about grief, identity, and clawing your way back to meaning when the system shrugs at your pain.

In this The Amateur movie review, we’re giving the film high marks for its grounded character development, smart storytelling, and a fresh take on the spy genre. Don’t expect Rami Malek to run-and-gun like he’s in Call of Duty. He’ll outthink you, outcode you, and make you feel seen in the process.

Check out The Amateur on IMDb for more details, including its loaded cast: Rachel Brosnahan, Laurence Fishburne, Caitríona Balfe, and Jon Bernthal.

The Amateur proves that sometimes brains beat brawn—especially when the guy behind the keyboard has nothing left to lose.