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In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a genre-bending vampire period drama set in 1930s Jim Crow Mississippi. Joined by special guest Makeda Pennycooke, life and anti-racism coach, we unpack a film that is as gorgeous as it is unsettling, layering horror, history, and music. We break down vampire lore, our favorite characters, standout performances (Michael B. Jordan playing twins), the transcendent musical moments, and the symbolism woven throughout, from religion and ancestral knowledge to systems of white supremacy, power, and assimilation.

Content & Spoiler Warning

This episode contains full spoilers for Sinners and our discussion includes reference to violence, gore, and body horror (it’s a vampire movie). Some of the deeper horrors include racism, white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, lynching, and child loss. There’s also a snake that gets killed and drool. Really really gross drool.

Palate Cleanser

After all that intensity, Caroline and Makeda’s cure? TikTok’s National Parks content (also dubbed “Only Parks”)

Passages with Amanda Jacobson from Wine & Crime (Twilight season recap)

Recommendations

Films & TV:

• Eight Mile for more from Omar Miller (Cornbread).
• Friday Night Lights and The Wire for early Michael B. Jordan and Raising Dion - lighter Michael B. Jordan content for the kids.
• What We Do in the Shadows - always WWDITS
• Blade, Interview with the Vampire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), Let the Right One In, Abigail, Dracula, Midnight Mass for more vampire picks
• The Haunting of Hill House, Fall of the House of Usher for layered horror storytelling with a director who likes actors and sticks with them.
• Get Out for themes of appropriation and identity.
• Lovecraft Country for horror grounded in racial history.
• Across the Spider-Verse for Hailee Steinfeld fans

Books & Reading:

• The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
• A History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter
• Passing by Nella Larsen
• The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
• A Discovery of Witches (book series) by Deborah Harkness
• Ted Chiang’s Story of your Life and Others for the melding of time.

Podcasts & Other:

• Reel Conversations with Britt and Bree for black women’s perspectives on Sinners
• The Next Best Picture Podcast Sinners episode for lots of background info.
• Horror Joy podcast episode on Sinners and The Reformatory
• Time Bandits for questioning who writes history

Documentary/True Crime:

• Lost Women of Alaska - produced by Octavia Spencer

Homework:

Goodfellas - a lighter pick with a Chicago Mafia connection

And Start reading The Devil in the White City - another Chicago-based story blending crime and history

And remember, if someone asks to be invited in, say no!

We’ll see you next time—only on Drawn to Darkness.

Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).