Ryan Coogler’s epic film lives up to the buzz. It grabs and holds you with two Michael B. Jordans, amazing Blues, blatant racism, love stories, gory violence and vampires in a spiritual social commentary. Referred to as a horror movie, it is so much more.
Writer/Director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Black Panther films, Creed) always puts some of himself in his art and claims this is his most personal, paying homage to his uncle and the grandfather he never knew who was passionate about The Blues. Coogler’s uncle was a huge fan of Buddy Guy and Coogler weaves both Guy’s musical genius and his ties to Chicago directly into the plot.
When the director met with Guy to ask him to act in the movie, it was a revelation. Coogler was emotionally moved by Guy’s telling of his own journey from the Jim Crow South to Chicago, which in many ways mirrored his uncle’s journey, played here by Sammie Moore (Miles Caton) as an incredibly talented Blues musician. Caton plays and sings the tunes in this film. And he adds the exceptional score from Coogler’s former USC Film School buddy and music collaborator on past films, Black Panther Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson to enhance the narrative.
The script revolves around twins Smoke and Stack, Michael B. Jordan in a dual role, as bad boys on the lam from Al Capone’s mob in Chicago. They arrive in their home town in Mississippi in 1932 to open a juke joint so they can call their own shots. When they find out their cousin Sammie with his flashy guitar and the talent to wail The Blues they love, they let it be known to gather their old friends and family. Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) is the local musical legend. A good guy, but now he drinks too much. He’s ok with Sammie getting some spotlight. Old relationships bring friends and lovers back together. Stack’s former gal Mary, (Hailey Steinfeld) and Smoke’s Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) are reluctantly drawn back to their old beaus, but the sparks are still there.
The Problem? Evil influences outside of this world and beyond that are eager to take over Smoke and Stack’s business, and much more. When the juke joint gets rollin’, the music and dancing is hotter than hot. Singer Pearline (Jayme Lawson), practically goes apoplectic in a frantic musical number, to Sammie’s singing and plucking away. The juke joint is jumpin’. Coogler creates a stunning montage of musicians and dancing through the ages. All on the dance floor go crazy to 1930’s music and dancing interspersed with scenes of wild times from other decades.
The focus turns when a trio of White Irish musicians try to force an invite inside to join the party. Remmick (Jack O’Connell) and his band are hot to trot, but Smoke and Stack smell trouble and refuse to open the door which isn’t received well.
It all gets violently out-of-hand from here on out as one horrific scene occurs after another turning into supernatural horror, drooling vampires, bloody murder and mayhem to the max. Coogler presents some of the well-known tropes of how to fight those sharp toothed bloodsuckers in these scenes before it turns into absolute mayhem. Coogler has said he doesn’t like horror himself, and admits that he still can’t finish watching Candyman which scared him as a 5-year-old. Interesting how he was able to put so much in this film without any problem.
Coogler keeps the tension going telegraphing the stakes the characters are facing, and it’s hard to turn away. Every time there’s a bit of calm, you take a breath, but look out, there’s more coming. Kudos to Ruth E. Carter for Costume Design and to Hannah Beachler for incredibly detailed Production Design. The huge makeup department definitely had to work overtime on this creating some grisly visuals and creating the dental work for Smoke and Stack’s look to tell them apart. Coogler shot in Imax and Panavision which give the gory scenes even more punch. Coupled with the cinematography of Autumn Durald Arkapaw the viewing experience is sharp and crisp even in dark scenes and those most messy and gross.
There are two post credits scenes that are so worth delaying that trip to the rest room. They are all about The Blues and specifically about Sammie in later years featuring Chicago Blues legend Buddy Guy. Stay to the very, very end for these special treats.
Michael B. Jordan plays both roles with smoldering intensity. Hailey Steinfeld embodies brassy Mary with conviction. Wunmi Mosaku’s Annie is classy and beautiful. Coogler defines his characters in a film packed with engrossing visuals and spiritual narratives. Coogler and his imagination have done it again.
Warner Bros. 2 hours 17 minutes R
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