A Quick Guide to the Blues of Sinners

Spoiler free!

Critics are calling Sinners “an instant classic” and “a masterpiece” and having seen it, I can’t really argue. Whatever you’re looking for in a movie, Sinners probably has it and with greater beauty, significance, splendor and fun than most others—Oh, and it has vampires!

More than anything else, however, Sinners is about the history, culture and expression of The Blues. So, if you’ve seen it or not, here’s a quick and spoiler-free guide to The Blues of Sinners!

The Smoke/Stack Twins

In Sinners, Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers nicknamed Smoke and Stack. Trains are the subject and symbolism of countless American folk songs, but especially Blues songs. Perhaps the most popular Delta train song is “Smokestack Lightnin” by Howlin’ Wolf, whose mother was from Clarksdale, Mississippi, where Sinners is set.

The name of the wilder twin, Stack, refers to a man named “Stack” Lee Shelton, whose story became the legend of Stackolee (or Stack-a-Lee, or Staggerlee…). You’ve probably heard at least one of the nearly 500 versions of the folksong, which usually depicts Stackolee as a classic Bad Man character appearing in Black folktales throughout our American history.

Delta Slim

Played by the unstoppable Delroy Lindo, Delta Slim resembles Delta Bluesmaster Son House—but not just in appearance. Slim’s, let’s say over-appreciation of alcohol and honest wisdom also mirror House.

Pearline

Jayme Lawson plays Pearline, a reluctant and show-stopping singer with a particular connection to Sinners’ lead character Samuel. “Pearline” is also the name of one of Son House’s most famous songs.

Mary

Hailee Steinfeld plays Mary, a woman with a few too many secrets and a shared history with Stack. Lightnin’ Hopkins’ “That Woman Named Mary” is believed by many to be the greatest solo Blues performance ever recorded and could easily describe the Sinners character.

Annie

Wunmi Mosaku plays Annie, a Hoodoo Lady who shares a past with Smoke. There are a few Annies in the Blues, like Lightnin’ Hopkins’ “Annie’s Boogie” and blues singer Annie Laurie. And, of course, there are countless songs referencing Hoodoo, like Lightnin’s “Mojo Hand” and most famously, Muddy Waters’ “I’m Your Hoochie Choochi Man”.

The Devil

Finally, something that Sinners explores in surprising ways is Blues’ association with the Devil. Most people know the legend of Robert Johnson’s deal at the crossroads, a claim that was actually made by an earlier and entirely different bluesman named Tommy Johnson.

Some bluesmen used the reputation of The Devil’s Music for marketing purposes. Peetie Wheatstraw, for example, embraced a demonic stage persona, calling himself the Devil’s Son-in-Law and the High Sheriff from Hell.

Now, is it possible that the originators of this beautiful music and culture did so as a response to living in the actual Hell of the Jim Crow South? Sinners may have the answer…

https://samuelj.substack.com/p/a-song-a-hat-and-a-christmas-murder

https://statehornet.com/2025/04/sac-state-alumni-sinners-movie-review-ryan-coogler/