Director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Black Panther, Creed) reteams with his go-to leading man Michael B. Jordan to take a big, stylish bite out of the well-worn vampire genre.
But this one’s different. Set in a gorgeously saturated 1932 Mississippi, the film oozes atmosphere, with velvet shadows and cool light. At the heart of it are twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played with swagger and subtlety by Jordan, on a mission to open the hottest juke joint the Delta’s ever seen.
The film’s centerpiece is the joint’s opening night, where a preacher’s kid turned blues guitarist named Sammie (Miles Caton), takes the stage and belts out the bluesy “I Lied to You.” What follows is a dazzling, time-bending sequence that connects 1930s blues to its roots and stretches it forward through Jimi Hendrix all the way to modern-day rap. It’s an immersive and rare movie moment that genuinely transports you.
The film’s centerpiece is the joint’s opening night, where a preacher’s kid turned blues guitarist named Sammie (Miles Caton), takes the stage and belts out the bluesy “I Lied to You.” What follows is a dazzling, time-bending sequence that connects 1930s blues to its roots and stretches it forward through Jimi Hendrix all the way to modern-day rap. It’s an immersive and rare movie moment that genuinely transports you.
There’s even a jaw-dropping shot where the camera tracks a daughter walking from one grocery store to another across the street, her movements echoed by her mother walking the opposite way—as if closing a generational loop.
And yet, under all the groove and glitter, the audience knows something’s off.
And yet, under all the groove and glitter, the audience knows something’s off.
This party’s a setup. And Coogler milks that tension beautifully like an unseen shark in Jaws—until he doesn’t. The last act leans a little too hard into familiar vampire-TV territory that could be any True Blood or Walking Dead show. Still, it’s a thrill to watch something this visually bold and unapologetically original.
But even when its back-end stumbles into the familiar, this is the freshest thing I’ve seen in a long time. I won’t spoil more, except to say: blues, rock ’n’ roll, vampires and vampire flicks—they’re not going anywhere.
But even when its back-end stumbles into the familiar, this is the freshest thing I’ve seen in a long time. I won’t spoil more, except to say: blues, rock ’n’ roll, vampires and vampire flicks—they’re not going anywhere.
Where to watch it: In theaters now. It would be a sin for movie-lovers to not see it on a big screen with a full audience.
Would it be better with Olivia Colman: Yes, I know the perfect part and she'd sing the Irish ditty well.
Award potential: One thing for sure, "I Lied to You." as sung by Miles Canton, will be nominated for Best Song. Actors BJ, Miles and supporting Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku each have Oscar-clip moments, but the basic, back third of this film makes it a tough sell to remember nine months from now.
Should Warner Brothers be wise enough to re-release it for Halloween, Coolidge could be in play for director and the picture could follow The Substance's 2025 nomination in a horror spot. Best Casting, a new award, fits perfectly here as do Cinematography, Sound, Score, Costume Design and Production Design.
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.
