Viola Davis Made A Powerful Statement About The Cultural Impact Of Sinners By Comparing It To The Exorcist: ‘It Woke Me Up’

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It feels like we’re still caught up in celebrating last year’s films, even though it’s already a new year! Everyone’s been talking about Ryan Coogler’s Sinners – it was a huge hit and is getting a ton of attention during awards season. I was really struck by what Viola Davis said recently about why it’s such an important movie, especially when she compared it to a classic like The Exorcist. It really makes you think about the film’s impact.

Viola Davis recently led a conversation with Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, and casting director Francine Maisler in Los Angeles. The discussion focused on their film, Sinners, which is currently receiving attention during awards season. Here’s what Davis shared about the movie:

We’ve become so used to seeing the world through a white perspective that we often tell stories designed to appeal to that viewpoint, silencing our own authentic voices. Seeing the film Sinners was a real awakening for me.

I was really blown away by Sinners last year – it’s not just a scary movie, it actually got me thinking a lot about how it portrays different communities, especially Black people and other minorities. It really resonated with me and felt meaningful. Someone was explaining it, and they drew a parallel to a scene in The Exorcist to help illustrate their point.

When Ellen Burnsten’s husband, Chris, arrives home, their assistant urgently leads him and Ellen inside. The house is shockingly cold. Ellen grabs a coat and flashlight, and they rush upstairs to Regan’s room. Regan is chained to the bed because she’s possessed. Ellen pulls back the blanket and lifts Regan’s nightgown, then shines the flashlight on her daughter’s stomach. Slowly, they see the words ‘Help me’ scratched into her skin in blood.

Davis referenced a well-known moment from the 1973 horror film to explain the feeling she had while watching Sinners. She went on to say:

This really resonated with me. It feels like a cry for help, a story where the personal struggles of the characters were more impactful than any grand themes. As Black people and people of color, we’re constantly fighting for the simple right to exist and express ourselves. It often feels like something is being taken from us – our creativity, our emotions, our identity, our very selves – like we’re being held back from fully living and loving.

Davis’s experience with the book Sinners is powerfully conveyed through recent TikTok posts by Smith Woods, who shared her own reactions. The book tells a compelling story about preserving culture in the face of appropriation, and how white supremacy and colonialism have historically exploited minority communities – a dynamic the author cleverly compares to vampirism. The line, ‘I want your stories and I want your songs,’ has particularly stuck with me since I first read it.

Viola Davis compared the powerful message of Sinners to a chilling scene in The Exorcist – when the words “Help Me” appear on the possessed Regan – to illustrate the strong emotions the film stirred in her. Davis believes Sinners has the potential to become a truly unforgettable movie, and credits director Coogler’s meticulous work with creating a film that reveals new layers with each viewing.

I’m so excited about Sinners! It’s really gaining momentum, especially with Davis talking it up everywhere. We just found out it won four awards at the Critics Choice Awards, and it’s nominated for seven Golden Globes! I’m really hoping it gets some Oscar nominations too. If you want to see the Globes ceremony, it’s on CBS this Sunday.

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2026-01-07 16:39