Sinners’ Circle: How the Cast of Sinners Channeled Music, Myth, and Meaning

In Sinners, one of the year’s most compelling and culturally layered films, blues is the soul of the story. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the horror-drama blends the sacred and the sensual, the spiritual and the sinister, using music as a vessel for legacy, lust, and liberation. The film follows a gifted blues singer, Sammy (Miles Canton), whose voice becomes a beacon for everything from love to bloodthirst—literally.

I sat down with the powerhouse cast—Delroy Lindo, Omar Benson Miller, Jayme Lawson, Miles Canton, Li Jun Li, and Jack O’Connell—to discuss music’s influence, an unforgettable juke joint scene that will leave viewers in awe, and what makes Sinners more than just a vampire flick.

Music as Memory, Identity, and Power

The first thing I wanted to know was how the film’s musical dimension impacted the cast. Cast members sing in the movie, and music carries a kind of generational memory.

Miles Canton, who plays Sammy, reflected, “This film gave me a real opportunity to study the legacy of music and how it’s evolved. Blues birthed so many genres we listen to today.”

Jack O’Connell added, “You’ve got to get your education. I’m proud this film did that; it honors the roots of this music—its etymology.” O’Connell plays Remmick, the film’s enigmatic antagonist, a vampire leader drawn to Sammy’s gift as a way to lure crowds and expand his following.

Jayme Lawson, who plays the love interest of Sammy, Pearline, said the musical journey was personal. “It helped me discover where my voice sits. I grew up on gospel, but blues gave me a new connection. I was like, ‘Oh, this sits well.’ It felt like a bridge.”

Lust, Love, and the Gift That Draws

In Sinners, Sammy’s voice isn’t just admired; it’s hypnotizing. It draws lovers and vampires alike. I asked: What makes his voice so intoxicating?

Canton said, “People are drawn to your gift, and you have to manage who you let in. That’s what Sammy’s navigating—who wants him, and who wants what he can do.”

Lawson leaned into the nuance. “There’s a lot of lust in this film. But I always asked Ryan, ‘Why does Pearline stay?’ There’s something about his gift that makes her believe there’s still something in that room worth fighting for.”

The Juke Joint That Took Us Back—and Forward

One of the film’s most buzzed-about moments is the juke joint scene—a kaleidoscope of music, dance, and cultural homage.

Lawson said, “That one scene sold me on the whole film. I read that page and said, ‘I’m in.’ I couldn’t wait to see how Ryan would pull that off. Getting to perform it? Unreal.”

Li Jun Li, who plays a sharp-eyed, barroom server Grace, lit up describing the energy. “It was magical. I’m a former dancer, so watching all the styles merge was like a dream. I was in the corner with the girls twerking and asked, ‘Can you teach me?’”

She also spoke to the spiritual lineage in the scene. “Our characters had ancestral elements too—Chinese opera, the Monkey King—it was all there.”

Delroy Lindo chimed in, “That’s Ryan’s connection to authentic history. He doesn’t just reference culture—he respects it. And audiences have told us how much that scene resonated. It’s a beautiful thing.” Lindo plays Delta Slim, a respected and once-revered local musician known for his talent—and his taste for the bottle.

Omar Benson Miller, who plays Cornbread—the muscle and doorman of the juke joint—added, “Ryan swung for the fences with that scene. He took risks that paid off.”

Laughter in the Dark

Though Sinners has the edge-of-your-seat tension and haunting energy, the cast shared that filming wasn’t always so serious.

“There was a scene,” Lindo said with a smile, “I won’t spoil it, but we couldn’t get through it without breaking. Ryan had to leave the room. But that speaks to the camaraderie we had. We liked each other. A lot.”

“Except Omar,” someone joked.

“There’s always one,” Miller deadpanned, drawing laughs all around.

What Stays With You

Before wrapping, I circled back to the core question: Did this film change their view on music’s power?

Lindo didn’t hesitate. “It strengthened it. One reason Ryan’s work resonates is because he represents. He understands what this music means—not just sonically, but emotionally, spiritually.”

In Sinners, the music is the message, as well as setting the mood. It soothes, it heals, and in this film, it’s a direct line to the soul. It’s not only about the sound but the experiences tied to each note—how music drives our motivations, connects us to our heritage, and, at times, catalogs our history. Watch Sinners in theaters on Friday, April 18th!