Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Miles Caton and Micheal B. Jordan, is currently the most nominated film this awards season, due to its cinematography, casting, and score.

Sinners is a horror film by Ryan Coogler set in 1930s Mississippi, featuring Michael B. Jordan as twins drawing on Black history, blues music, Irish folklore, and Choctaw folklore. It includes deep symbolism in its colors which explores trauma through vampirism as they fight numerous evils, both real and supernatural.

The film holds the most nominations this year, with 17 Critics’ Choice nominations, 7 Golden Globe nominations, and 5 nominations from the National Society of Film Critics. Currently, Sinners holds four of those Critic’s Choice Awards, two Golden Globes, and one National Society of Film Critics award. It won awards such as Best Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler), Best Young Actor (Miles Caton), Best Score (Ludwig Goransson) and Best Casting (Francine Maisler) at the Critics’ Choice, along with accolades for cinematography and box office achievement at other awards shows.

Much of Sinners’ remarkable success can be traced back to its bold artistic vision, which film experts say blends distinct cultural music, striking acts of cinematography, and storytelling all into a singular experience for the viewer. Sinners is accredited for Coogler’s  ability to use style not just as decoration, but as narrative techniques as well.

For Film Club member Kayal Vinoth, the film’s music, especially in times of expressing character identity, was what stood out immediately.

“The scene where Sammy sings in the juke really stuck with me.” Vinoth said. “The camera moves through different moments of black musical culture, and it even brings in Chinese music to reflect Chinese immigrants in Mississippi at the time.”

That sequence, which stood out to Vinoth and many critics, is said to function as a time capsule: layering classic guitar, synths, and traditional African rhythm to mirror how Black identity has evolved in America. 

The film’s cinematography plays an equally important role. Shot by Autumn Durald, the film has been widely praised for its color symbolism: blue for spirituality, and red for danger. Vinoth described the visuals as virtually inseparable from the music.

“The cinematography and the way they paired it with the music was the most striking part for me,” Vinoth noted. “The dancer, instruments, the camera movement, it all worked together.” 

While the score and cinematography brought in awards, the story itself brought in many fans, such as junior Michelle Kio-Michael, who has watched the film multiple times. 

“It was really unique because they made it known that the characters would’ve died anyways due to the KKK ambush, signalling that there was no true ‘happy ending’ for black people who lived in that era,” Kio-Michael explained. “I think it highlights a really important part of our American history, and how hard the circumstances were during that time.” 

Sinners’ attention to detail extends to its stellar performance from its star actors. Jordan, playing the twins “Smoke” and “Stack,” delivers what Vinoth and other fans call his “most versatile role yet.”

By fusing a historically accurate story with groundbreaking sound and visual design, Sinners transforms horror into cultural reflection, a task that no other film of the year has been able to do, helping explain why it has a special place in the hearts of many fans and critics alike.