Is Ryan Coogler's 'SINNERS' Too Black for Hollywood?
'Sinners' might just be the new blueprint for Black original storytelling in Hollywood.
This week on ‘Brown & Black,’ we deconstruct Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS.
We explore its layered cultural symbolism, audience reactions, Variety’s biased box office framing, and the troubling decision not to release the film in Asian markets, raising questions about anti-Black bias.
Episode Summary
(1:38) – White audiences, Black movies: The paradox
(19:13) – Variety’s bias box office framing
(24:36) – Why Asia skipped Sinners release
(28:02) – Coogler, Peele and Black horror
(32:01) – What lessons ‘Sinners’ offers Brown and Black filmmakers
Retro Quote of the Week ❞
"Horror has traditionally captured the zeitgeist of the time more than any other genre. George Romero was asked what was Night of the Living Dead about and he simply said it was about the MAN... the intrusion of government overstepping." —Latino horror expert Edwin Pagan on horror reflecting the times.
3 Questions with Director Little Marvin 🎙️
Before Sinners, there was THEM. Director Little Marvin shared his insights on Black horror, trauma, and storytelling with Brown & Black that feel more relevant than ever.
Spotlight: Little Marvin (Writer, Producer, Actor, Director)
How did making the Amazon’s terror anthology series THEM change you creatively?
The short answer is a lot. Let's talk about just the Jim Crow South. That was a domestic terror regime. My personal experience… going back over a history of terror is navigating this country and Black skin. It's time we call it out.
What’s your take on the Black trauma storytelling debate?
Horror has always trafficked in transgressive imagery and has always had trauma at the heart of it. I could name so many movies where trauma is at the heart of horror, and so that there would be trauma at the heart of a horror story to me is not unique.
Why is horror ideal for social commentary?
What I love about horror is it has this tremendous ability to take super complex social issues and package them in a way to make it palatable.
The Playlist 🎧
This week we celebrate Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS blues-drenched soundtrack.👇🏿
The Screening Room 🎬
Andor: Season 2 (Disney+) - Diego Luna returns as Cassian Andor in the Emmy-nominated series, chronicling his journey from rogue to rebel.
Number One on the Call Sheet (Apple TV+): Hollywood’s top Black talent reflect on the roles that defined their careers.
The Four Seasons (Netflix): Colman Domingo joins an all-star ensemble in a breakup dramedy that turns one couple’s divorce into a friend group reckoning.
Links We’re Digging 🔗
The Grio: Audra McDonald makes Tonys history
WeAreMitu: This Is What Latin Experimental Electronic Sounds Like in 2025
CannabisNow - Snoop Dogg Talks Weed, Life And Business
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