Sinners,Saints, and Aints: My Last Horror Film

The hit movie Sinners, directed by the young phenom Ryan Coogler,has sparked heated discussions about religion, spirituality, mysticism, and ancestral practices like voodoo and hoodoo— and that might be a good thing.

Not to get too preachy—which really means I’m about to get preachy—as a Christian, I wonder if some of Sinners’ depictions of sorcery will lead to a spike in curiosity and exploration into the occult. I hope instead that it leads doubters to ask questions and seek answers about their own spiritual walk, and that we’ll be prepared to give them the answers they need.

I didn’t love Sinners but I agree whole heartedly that it’s original, well-written and well-acted. Since it relied heavily on how the past influences culture throughout the generations, I decided to borrow some tried and true colloquiums to describe where I went wrong by seeing it in the first place.

I shoulda followed my first mind

I have a clear— and admittedly—shallow way of choosing the of movies I’ll see. No horror, no animation, no fantasy…dystopian? Forget about it. Many of my favorite films are contemporary comedies or dramas shot in L.A., New York, Chicago, or maybe even Seattle. (I warned you I was shallow.)

I also love biopics like The Social Network and Respect. Other film favorites on my list are Cooley High, Do the Right Thing, Broadcast News, If Beale Street Could Talk, Gravity and Judas and the Black Messiah. Granted I’m all over the place, but I like what I like.

It be your own people

Some of my closest friends, adult children of friends, and family, said to me, “you will really appreciate Sinners because the message outweighs all the things that will make you uncomfortable.”

It didn’t.

Shouts out to my daughter who said, “Mom, Sinners, is not for you.”

You don’t believe fat meat is greasy

I know better. I’m a seasonal vegetarian! I don’t have to try something to know it’s not for me. Yet, there I was.

Me watching Sinners at theater.

You’re a saint or you ain’t

A movie—no matter what the subject matter—should not be able to shake your faith and send you to the dark side. But just in case, Sinners will be my last horror film.

In all honesty, as the days go by, I look back and realize it wasn’t as scary as I thought in the moment, and in full disclosure, the photo I posted was a selfie, so how frightened could I really have been?

No shame in my game

I never saw the mother of all evil films, The Exorcist but I read some of the book and it almost scared the life out of me. Sinners wasn’t that but it did deprive me of one peaceful night’s sleep— something the movie “One of Them Days,” starring KeKe Palmer and SZA. would never do! Hey, like I said, we like what we like!