*In the new Ryan Coogler-directed horror epic “Sinners,“ vampires take center stage—but not the way you think. Set in the haunting swamps and segregated shadows of 1930s Mississippi, the film blends southern Black culture, terror, psychological suspense, and social commentary into a gripping cinematic experience.
EURweb’s Jill Munroe caught up with stars Jayme Lawson, Jack O’Connell, and Miles Caton to discuss the film’s chilling layers, the physical demands of horror, and what it was like working under Coogler’s genre-bending direction.
For Miles Caton, the film’s supernatural elements were a slow burn that hit hard once the full story was revealed.
“When I first got the script, I got a couple sides—maybe a scene of him just playing the guitar,” Caton recalled. “So I was like, yeah, this is really interesting. Once I got the whole script, I was like, wow. Ryan’s really a genius for bringing all of these elements together and making one piece.”
The film follows a group of complex characters navigating both literal and figurative monsters in a pre-Civil Rights South. That setting alone created a real sense of psychological tension.
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When asked what moment during filming truly got under their skin, Lawson and O’Connell didn’t hesitate—literally.
“Deep Louisiana (where the film shot),” they said in unison.
“Yeah, the mud, the delegation, the heat,” Lawson added. “The bug bites—waking up the next day and seeing your legs tore up.”
Sinners relies on both psychological horror and practical scares, something that shocked even the cast. Lawson shared a jump scare that caught her off guard:
“I had a legit jump scare the first time I saw (Jack) in full makeup… those fingers are something serious.”
She added that another chilling moment came early in production:
“When you’re doing the scene with Lola and Peter in their house, and you just see all the blood… and that smile—I said, I’m gone. It’s the end of the day for me.”
Caton laughed, adding:
“Then you just catch him on the side, fingers out, smoking a cigarette.”
With all the blood, fangs, and fear, what does Sinners leave behind? According to the cast, it’s more than screams—it’s soul: “Beware of the ones around you,” said Caton, “and be protective over your family.”
But don’t get it twisted—Sinners is still a ride.
“I want people to have a good time,” said Lawson. “Come with your peoples, and just go on the ride. You’re going to feel a lot of things, back to back. We don’t always get movies that let us feel that.”
O’Connell added:
“It’s so genre-defying… It’s a hard one to encapsulate. But one major takeaway? Ryan Coogler is a genius.”
Sinners drops into theaters April 18.
Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-bred entertainment journalist, producer, and host. Follow her socials @StilettoJill or visit JillMunroe.com. Catch her live M-F on KBLA Talk 1580 from 6PM to 7PM.
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