We Need to Talk About the Irish-Dancing Vampires in Sinners

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This post contains mild spoilers for Sinners.

The movie “Sinners” fearlessly embraces its quirky side, as director Ryan Coogler steps out of his long-term Marvel commitments with this project, which seems to be a personal creative venture for him. The film doesn’t shy away from bold and sometimes humorous elements such as multiple instances or allusions to oral intimacy, Hailee Steinfeld and Michael B. Jordan’s intimate scene reminiscent of “Disobedience”, or the scene already being acclaimed as one of the film’s highlights. The movie begins with a narrative about musicians so gifted that they can pierce the boundary between life and death. In this story, when the character Sammie (Miles Caton) performs at the Depression-era juke joint, his powerful blues music summons a spiritual legacy of Black music – West African dancers, hip-hop DJs, a Jimi Hendrix lookalike playing the guitar. As Angelica Jade Bastién puts it, “for a brief moment, this blend of past, present, and future touches on transcendence.” This imaginative and unabashedly funny scene might not be possible if one is concerned about receiving skeptical looks.

This post isn’t focused on the previously mentioned scene. Instead, it delves into another scene that might seem even more absurd. You might have expected Coogler to draw the line at ghostly breakdancers interacting with ancestors, but he has a more daring plan in mind – an idea so audacious that it challenges the viewer not to lose their seriousness throughout the movie. I’m referring to the scene featuring Riverdance-like vampires.

In essence, only one vampire character in the movie does an Irish step dance, specifically Remmick, who is portrayed by Jack O’Connell and has vague Celtic roots. The film humorously suggests that after turning a KKK member and his wife at the beginning, the white vampires communicate using the language of unity. The movie, Sinners , strictly follows vampire mythology, which means Remmick and his gang can’t enter the heroes’ nightclub unless explicitly invited. Consequently, they spend a significant amount of time loitering outside, preying on unsuspecting victims and tempting innocents with soothing folk tunes. As a result, Sinners stands out as the most distinctive film of the 2020s to include characters singing “Wild Mountain Thyme.

As a cinephile immersed in the world of films, I can say that the narrative unfolds consistently until the climax, where Remmick, having fed on enough humans, has amassed his very own vampire clan. In celebration, he decides to host an unforgettable event – a vibrant Irish hoedown! Remmick serenades us with a convincing rendition of “The Rocky Road to Dublin,” and his offspring echoes with cheers and laughter. To top it all off, he even performs some impressive step dancing! Coogler meticulously crafts this scene, investing the same level of passion and detail as he did in the earlier blues sequence. One can’t help but ponder if he might just pull a surprise again, conjuring the spirits of Bono and Enya in an ode to Irish greatness.

It appears that Sammie is the unique character who can penetrate the barrier, which is why Remmick is pursuing him specifically. Despite the long journey to Tipperary, the ancient vampire yearns to meet his fellow Irishmen again. Interestingly, Irish step dancing, often portrayed as a joke in American films, is presented here with great respect. Both the vampire audience and Coogler are captivated by it. The hop jig, a dance with a 9/8 time signature, gives Irish music its “diddly-dee” feel. Coogler skillfully edits and moves his camera in harmony with this unique rhythm, subtly linking this music to the African music at the heart of the film. Both musical styles are rooted in folk traditions, driven by strong rhythms, and often overlooked by those in power.

A unique aspect of the movie “Sinners” lies in its ability to let you enjoy everything while finding humor in the seemingly ridiculous scene of vampires step-dancing. This film skillfully blends gravity and levity. As I chuckled, there was a moment when I was surprisingly touched by the potency of the diddly-dee.

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2025-04-19 02:55